La Asuncion Cathedral





Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion Cathedral

Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico

 

My Grandmother Lucia Romero was baptized here. My great-grandparents, and my 2nd great-grandparents were married here, and their children were also baptized here.

 

 



 

 

 

Bisbee History Today

Today Bisbee has evolved into an attractive artist colony and retirement community, known for its relaxed quality of life. Travelers from all over the world come to Bisbee to savor its unique charm... an uncommon blend of creativity, friendliness, style, romance and adventure — all wrapped in the splendor of the Old West. To stop in Bisbee is to stop in time. Nestled in the mile-high Mule Mountains of southern Arizona, Bisbee has maintained an Old World charm seldom found anywhere in the United States.

The fine collection of well-preserved turn of the century Victorian structures are full of old west history and copper mining lore. Old miners' boarding houses have been refurbished into many charming small bed and breakfast establishments, of which no two are alike. Former saloons are now quaint shops, antique stores or art galleries, cafes and restaurants.
Come stay in Bisbee. Stroll its sidewalks and find delight in the many art galleries, gourmet restaurants, coffee houses, book stores and specialty shops. Visit the charmingly restored neighborhoods of Victorian and European-style homes perched miraculously on the hillsides. Unwind...relax...and find soothing respite from your everyday world.
The most popular activity in Bisbee is the Queen Mine Tour, a trip down into the now inactive copper mine. Bisbee’s Queen Mine was once one of the richest copper mines in history when the mine originally opened in 1877. The mine eventually closed when mining operations were discontinued in Bisbee in the mid–1970’s. The Queen Mine opened once again as a tour for visitors in 1976, nearly 100 years after the mine originally opened. Visitors don yellow slickers, hard hats, and miner’s lanterns as they descent on the mine train deep into the mine and experience the life of miners as they toiled in the subterranean tunnels.

A must for history buffs is a visit to the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum, the West’s first rural Smithsonian Institute affiliate. At the museum, visitors learn more about life on Bisbee’s “Urban Frontier”. Also a stop at the historic Muheim House is important for an outstanding example of 19th century architecture and elegance.

Another popular activity is Bisbee's excellent Bisbee Treasure Hunt walking tour. A brochure of the Treasure Hunt can be picked up at the Visitor Center. The tour details many historic structures and allows the visitor to search for special places

Bisbee, 90 miles southeast of Tucson and

nestled amongst the Mule Mountains, is the picturesque county seat of historic Cochise County. The community was founded in 1880 and named after Judge DeWitt Bisbee, a financial backer of the Copper Queen Mine.

Once known as “th Queen of the Copper Camps”, this Old West mining camp proved to be one of the richest mineral sites in the world, producing nearly three million ounces of gold and more than eight billion pounds of copper, not to mention the silver, lead and zinc that came from these rich Mule Mountains. By the early 1900s, the Bisbee community was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco.

Bisbee, with a population of over 20,000 people in the early 1900’s, had become one of the most cultured cities in the Southwest. Despite its culture, however, the rough edges of the mining camps could be found in notorious Brewery Gulch, with its saloons and shady ladies. Brewery Gulch, which in its heyday boasted upwards of 47 saloons and was considered the "liveliest spot between El Paso and San Francisco". Bisbee offered other recreational pursuits in that it was home to the state’s first community library, a popular opera house, the state’s oldest ball fields and the state’s first golf course.

In 1908, a fire ravaged most of Bisbee's commercial district along Main Street, leaving nothing but a pile of ashes, but the residents of Bisbee quickly began reconstruction and by 1910, most of the district had been rebuilt and remains completely intact today.

Bisbee was a thriving community until the large scale mining operations became unprofitable in the mid 1970’s. As mining employees left to go elsewhere, many artistic free spirits found Bisbee an ideal, attractive, and inexpensive location to settle and pursue their artistic endeavors. The small town's legacy has long been preserved not only in its architecture and mining landscape, but is world-renowned for its diverse minerals and wealth of copper. Although its mines closed in the 70s, a museum has welcomed, educated and entertained more than a half-million visitors ever since. Featured among its exhibits is "Bisbee: Urban Outpost on the Frontier", an in-depth look at the depths - and heights -

 

Census

 

To view, click on picture to make it larger.



 



Picture of My Mother

 

 On the left is Mary Baldenegro,

and on the right is my Mother, Dolores Baldenegro

Baptism Records

To make larger to view, click on documents

Maria Baldenegro



Dolores Baldenegro

Angel Baldenegro

Candelario Baldenegro (Great-Uncle)

Brother of my Grandfather Angel

Dolores Baldenegro (Great-Aunt)

Sister of my Grandfather Angel

City Directory

 Bisbee 1924

 Bisbee 1926

 Bisbee 1940

Obituaries

Laura Baldenegro, 84, a longtime Tombstone, Ariz., resident, died Nov. 24 in Tucson of complications from Alzheimer’s disease. Laura was born in Tombstone on April 29, 1916, to Ralph and Laura Maldonado. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Angel; brothers, Joe and Ralph; and a granddaughter. Survivors include three sons, Richard of Sierra Vista, Ariz., Angel of Tombstone, and Ralph of Santa Clara, Calif.; two daughters, Barbara of Florence, Ore., and Martha of Anchorage, Alaska; 17 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. She was a retired career civil service employee of the U. S. Army at Fort Huachuca. Funeral Mass will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Sacred Heart Church in Tombstone, followed by interment at the Tombstone Cemetery.

In Memory of 

Socorro Swanney Sanchez

August 10, 1916 - January 26, 2008

Socorro "Cora" Swaney Sanchez was born on August 10, 1916, in Bisbee, Arizona to parents Charles Swaney and a very young Rosa Gonzalez.

Cora was raised by grandparents Angel and Lucia Baldenegro, along with their children Mary, Angel, Bertha and Dolores.  She loved to visit her mother Rosa and her eleven Chavez brothers and sisters.

Raised in Bisbee she had many jobs, including working in her mother's restaurant.  During this time she had a son Albert Amparan.  Soon after she married Francisco Sanchez with whom she had three children Elvira 'Vera" Eduardo "Eddie" and Rodolfo "Rudy."  She basically raised four children alone

while also working as many as four jobs at a time.  In 1961, she separated from husband Francisco.

In 1965, she came to Los Angeles to be with her children and grandchildren Cindy, Liz, Barbara, Christopher and Valerie.  She retired on disability, but stayed active as the manager of the senior citizen apartment complex she lived at.  At this time she also worked on her hobbies of baking and crocheting.  Being devout Catholic she also remained active within the church-she was an extremely religious woman.

Her later years found her living with her son Rudy and daughter in-law Yolanda where she enjoyed reading, sewing, TV and spending time with her grandchildren and especially her great-grandson Nicholas Sakowski.

By 1999, she had survived her husband and three children and beaten cancer no less than five times-an incredibly strong willed and loving individual.



Border Crossing Records from Mexico

 Angel Baldenegro (My Grandfather)

 

 

Dolores Baldenegro

 

 

Dolores (sister of Angel Baldenegro)

Click on images to make it larger

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bisbee Marriage Records

  

Death Records

My Maternal Grandmother

My Maternal Grandfather

In Memory of my Brother

In Loving Memory of

"David Joel Apodaca"

 

David, the son of Benjamin Apodaca and Dolores Baldenegro was born on Septemeber 14, 1953 in Los Angeles, California. Passed away on October 12, 1995.

 

David enjoyed life in all aspects and had a great compassion for his family and friends.  He was a good hearted person and touched our lives in many ways.

 

David loved to free-hand draw in his spare time.  He liked to write poetry. He loved all types of music, such as, Motown, Spanish and especially liked to dance.

 

David had a love for horses.  When he was about 10 years old he collected toy horses and at times he would even pretend to be one.  He was known to be a practical joker and will be missed very much for his great sense of humor.

 

David's favorite meal of the day was breakfast.  He enjoyed that first cup of coffee and bowl of cereal.  Cousin Karen Apodaca remembers as kids how upset she would get when her mother Francis would only allow David to select his favorite cereal.

 

David love to travel.  As a flight attendant on the various airlines, he visited many countries and really enjoyed his job.

 

David will always be remembered for all the Love and affection he gave to his nieces and nephews.  He spent a lot of quality time with each and everyone oof them.  He took them to the movies, to amusement parks, roller skating, horseback riding and so many other activities.  he was always there for them on their birthdays and other special occasions.

 

David loved gardening. He is now in greener pastures preparing the gardens for when the times comes for the rest of us to join in on the rejoicing in the house of Heaven.


He is survived by his parents, Benjamin and Dolores Apodaca of Downey, California. Brothers:  Alex Garcia, Joe Garcia, Paul Garcia, Archie Garcia, Benjamin Apodaca Jr. Anthony Apodaca, Tom Apodaca, and John Apodaca. Sisters: Clara G. Villanueva, Linda G. Villanueva, Margaret Lopez, Lydia A. Marquez, Rosemarie A. Martinez. 26 nephews and nieces, 6 great nieces and nephew, many relatives and friends. He was laid to rest on October 17, 1995 at the Forest Lawn Cemetary in Covina, California.

 

"David's Poem"

 My son, what has bewildered you



And caused you so much pain

Come as you are, humble and true

For I will wash sins, crimson stains

Do not worry about one's past

I paid that debt on Calvary's tree

And now my Love so boundless and vast

Can mend one's heart even such as thee

 

Take my hand and walk in faith

And be not troubled or dismayed

For even though you can't see the way

Trust in me and in what I'll say

That I'll never leave nor forsake you

Your cares are my constant concern

Yes, in me you shall have peace anew

If within your soul, to me you'll turn

 

For truly I desire one's deepest Love

That I'll exalt me higher than one's own life

Truly eternity is that place above

That one's passion must burn bright

Nothin on earth could ever quite compare

To Heaven's haven, that sweet abode

So long as you hold to my eternal word

That sweet abode will be your treasured home

 

Your brother who Loves you so much,

Tommy Apodaca

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Photos of Bisbee

Copper Queen Hospital

My mother's two sons were born in this hospital

Main Street, Bisbee

Bisbee High School

Bisbee Grand Front Hall

Central School

Copper Queen Hotel

St. Patrick Catholic Church

Old Bisbee

Sacred Heart Church

circa 1800's

Sacred Heart Church (present day)

Courthouse

Fire House

Rosa Gonzales Chavez Family (Offsprings of Lucia Romero)

Rosa Gonzalez Chavez

(daughter of Lucia Romero)

Josephine Chavez

(daughter of Rosa Chavez)

Eduardo(son of Rosa Chavez

Gregorio Leyvas & Rosa Gonzalez

(son & daughter of Lucia Romero)

 Left to right - Lucia (Lucy), Jesusita (Jessie), and Belia.

Three of the younger Chavez sisters

(daughters of Rosa Chavez)

Circa 1964