Welcome to Las Colonias. Las Colonias believes that the same pioneer spirit that first settled the Mormon Colonies in Mexico still lives in the descendants of the original colonists. However, with each passing generation the stories and the principles they teach become lost to time.
Let me share a few things about this blog:
Why this project now?
Many reasons. Here are a few:
Most families have books filled with family histories collecting dust on the bookshelf.
Many of these books are out of print.
What happens after grandfather or grandmother passes?
Who inherits the books?
What if my child wants to do a report or give a talk on an ancestor?
How do they get the information?
Who do they call? What about the rest of the descendants?
Who passes on the unique, valuable Mormon Colonies in Mexico history and stories to the subsequent generations?
Simply put – we do.
Las Colonias tells the amazing stories of the original colonists, and introduces generations new and old to the beautiful stories and landscapes that act as a backdrop on which the colonists lived their lives.
Magazine Subscription
The decision to charge and what amount to charge for the Las Colonias magazine has been a very difficult one. While I’d like every Colonist’s descendant and for that matter everyone on planet earth to learn more about the Mormon Colonies in Mexico, the realities of the expenses of software updates, web hosting, email campaign costs etc., keep me grounded in the real world. So I’ve left the decision up to you.
You have two options:
Contribute Step 1 and Subscribe Step 2.
or
Subscribe by moving directly to Step 2.
If you believe in our mission of teaching the Colonies’ descendants their shared history then please contribute to our cause. Hopefully after reading the biographies and stories, your feelings will stir and the flood of memories long-forgotten will be more valuable and precious than any amount you could have contributed.
Step 1. Make a Contribution:
Simply click on the Paypal link and contribute any amount you think fair. If you want to help us keep these stories alive then please forward our magazine on to family and friends.
If you find value in the histories and stories shared then please make an annual contribution. Each year, upon your renewal date, you will receive an email asking for another annual contribution. If you haven’t found value in Las Colonias then simply don’t contribute any more.
Step 2. Subscribe by joining mailing list:
You can receive Las Colonias magazine by simply adding your name and email address in the boxes below. Hopefully after reading the histories of these inspiring people and sharing your thoughts and feelings at the end of each story you’ll understand the value that Las Colonias brings to each reader and you’ll want to help us in this endeavor. Click the link below and simple place your name and email address and you’ll receive our next monthly edition.
Subscribe to our mailing list
Personal Histories
The personal histories are taken from books collected and compiled through the years. Most of the histories are taken from Stalwarts South of the Border compiled by Nelle Spilsbury Hatch and Carmon Hardy. All spelling and syntax have been kept the same as the original text in order to preserve the author’s voice.
Your Family Histories and Stories
If you have an interesting story of the Mormon Colonies in Mexico or a colonist bio that you would like to share please send it me. I will be happy to add it to the newsletter with attributions given. Join us on this journey to keep the memories of the Mormon Colonies in Mexico alive in the hearts, minds, and imaginations of future generations.
My mother Martha Ann [Crabtree] Foote’s sister Fannie Crabtree married Roy Adams from las colinas and I have always wanted to know, without much success, more about his heritage inasmuch as my Aunt Fannie never joined the Church and Roy was never active. I live in the same ward as Sidney Roy Adams, Roy’s grandson, who is an active member of the Church. Sid and I often talk, but any information you could help us with would be greatly appreciated.
Charles,
After consulting a couple Colony books and corresponding with Jerald Taylor, here’s what I learned. Maybe you already know these things or maybe you don’t.
The 1930 Mexican Census lists a Roy J. Adams born 1894 living in Corralitos.
Here’s what Jerald had to say about Roy:
“He was born in Colonia Díaz, Chih., the first Mormon colony by La Asención. His father, William Adams was a faithful LDS man that was killed in 1912 by a drunken Mexican official shortly before the funeral of William’s wife Domer who had died in childbirth and they were both buried in the same grave. Roy’s full name was Leroy Jefferson Adams. He was born in the Church but he left home at a very young age and I guess never went to church. Roy and his family lived on the ranches around Colonia Dublan. Roy’s wife was Fannie Ada Crabtree. About 1930 Roy moved his family to Colonia Dublan where their children went to school. Later he bought a ranch just south of Nuevo Casas Grandes ( part of south NCG is on land that belonged to Roy’s ranch called Buena Fe). I always called them Uncle Roy and Aunt Fannie, my parents and the Adams were good friends and used to play Rook quite often. Later U Roy and A Fannie were divorced and she moved to Las Cruces, NM while he stayed in Mexico. U Roy was left handed, a good roper and cowboy. I don’t remember where U Roy died, what year or where he is buried.”
A news paper from the time records William Adams being shot as he was standing on his porch, leaving his house to attend his wife’s funeral.
Spokane Daily Chronicle
In the book Pacheco History and Stories compiled by Sylvia Lunt Heywood, there is a story named “Cabe Adams, Noted Old Cowboy and Texan.” Here’s a snippet from the story:
“After hearing of Cabe Adams had died, Roy Adams claimed to be a relative, therefore he and others came to the mountains, went to Cabe Adams ranch and rounded up all his cattle to drive them to their ranches near Dublan.”
The story says that Cabe Adams died in February 1932 of a heart attack.
If you know anything more about Cabe Adams please let me know. He sounds like a quite a character with a checkered past.
Thanks,
Ryan
Ryan,
I think the Cabe Adams you asked about may be my great great grandmother’s little brother. She died in Brown Co, Tx in 1925; her obituary says her brother, Cabe Adams, lived in Pierson, Mexico. I’ve found a passport application he made in 1921 to go to Mexico on cattle business. He was born into a Texas ranching family in 1862. I think he did indeed have a checkered past.
I’d certainly like to read the story you mentioned by Sylvia Lunt Heywood, “Cabe Adams, Noted Old Cowboy and Texan”.
Thanks,
Glenda
Glenda,
I will post the story about Cabe Adams from the book Pacheco History and Stories by Sylvia Lunt Heywood.
Thanks for your interest and thanks for posting!
Here is a link to more information on Cabe Adams
Ryan, how can I get ahold of this source? Thanks! -Karen Painter
Karen,
I can ask aunt Sylvia if she has any more of these books left. You mentioned that you were interested in the names of Stevens, Rowley, and Palmer. I’ve looked through the book in search of these names without much luck. John Rowley died in 1893. I’ve looked through the lists of names in the book under the ward leadership records both before and after the Exodus and I don’t see any Rowley’s. I’m assuming they moved away after his death. The only thing I can find on Stevens in the book is the story The Walter Stevens Tragedy. They lived in Cave Valley which was branch of the Pacheco Ward. I was able to find a picture from the 1930’s that shows Evelyn Palmer standing with the Relief Society in front of the Pacheco church. I will scan it and send it to you.
Do you know who Roy’s parents were? My great-great grandfather was John Quincy Adams in the colonies *he had 3 wives there) before my great grandfather, John Quincy Adams Jr., moved back to Utah with his Mexican wife. We may be related.
Hi Camille,
I’m not sure if this will reach you but Roy’s brother Lorin was my great-grandfather and I’d be happy to talk with you about any questions you have. My email is Lhunt54@gmail.com. Feel free to reach out anytime.
I’ll do a little research Charles. Maybe one of our other Las Colonias followers can shed some light on this
Thanks for posting!
Ryan,
Marti Roe in Redding, CA sent me your site. I live in Siskiyou Co on the California border of Oregon about 2 hour drive from Marti.
Tears welled up when I realized you are saving Nellie Hatch’s “Stalwarts South of the Border” storeis cuz I have that book and just love it. I found it 20 years ago, when I was writing my Dad’s life history. His Dad was considered one of the first babies born in Colonia Juarez, when it was still a tent city, before they had to move 2 miles up river. His name was George Robert Dillman and he was born June 1885.
His wife, Rose Ann Beecroft, was born in Colorado June 22, 1888, but her family moved down to Colonia Oxacca in the early 1890s. I believe she was 5 years old. So Rose Ann’s father and brother are both in Nellie’s book. And there is John Naegle and, of course, relatives Martineau. Oh, George and Rose Ann were married in Colonia Pacheco in 1905 or 1906, I can’t remember the correct year right now. They are in the photo of the fuzzy huge covered wagon in Nellie’s book. Grandpa George was always proud that he graduated from the Juarez Academy.
Anyway, I do have stories to share and photos and will be happy to do so. The problem is finding the time, but my tears over your site made me realize that my ancestors are expecting me to share what I have.
Well that’s enough for now, but I do “thank you” for this site. What a great way to share our ancestors’ lives and photos.
One of my sites is: lizbowen.com
Thank you Liz. I agree, our ancestors are expecting us to share what we have.
Here is the picture to which Liz is referring.
http://www.lascolonias.org/?p=536
Request permission to publish “A Brief History of the Mormon Colonies” in our two monthly community newsletters.
Both publications are delivered electronically and in print format to the residents of Quail Creek in Green Valley Arizona.
Thank you
Vicki and Ron Sullivan
Vicki and Ron,
That’s no problem. Do me a favor and include a link to http://www.lascolonias.org in your newsletters and on your website.
Thanks,
Ryan
I am seeking permission to attach a Word document to Van Lee and Cabe Adams in my public family tree on Ancestry.com. The Word document contains the text, photos and references from http://www.lascolonias.org/2015/01/20/cabe-adams-noted-old-cowboy-and-texan/. I would be happy to send you the document for your review before posting.
Mark,
I don’t mind you using the text and photo, but please include the link http://www.lascolonias.org/?p=993 on your ancestry.com site. Placing links helps drive traffic to my site and also helps it rank higher in the search engines.
Thanks,
Ryan
hi im a historian that grew up in Dublan, now im working on my thesis about the origin of baseball in the state of Chihuahua, and i think the colonies might been the first ones to played in the whole state territory, so far i found the Agnes P Skousen memoirs and a picture form the JSA team both from 1903, but the colonies had been there for 15 years so i think they didnt start playing the game that year. The paradigm its that baseball was first played in the southern part of state of Chihuahua circa 1897-1898. so i would like to see if u guys have any info prior to 1897 that might mention baseball or baseball games in the colonies, would be great to prove that baseball the favorite hobby of the mexican society in chihuahua was brought by the mormon pioneers. Thanx and regards
Ryan,
do the Mormons in Colonia Le Baron and La Mora still practice the United Order?
No, I do not believe they practice the United Order.
My great grandfather is John Conrad Naegle, husband of great grandmother Regula Benz. He is said to have died and been buried in Colonia Oaxaca Sonora. I have not been able to find where this is on a map. Any help would be appreciated.
Kenneth D. Wright