Juan De Leon

Juan De Leon was the eldest son of Pedro De Leon and Petra Rivera. He was born 28 Jan 1904 in Mexico (if the records are right, in Guadalajara) and died in Texas in 1 Aug 1971 in Laredo Texas at age 67.

The 1920 census shows Juan at age 16 living in Webb Texas with his father, Pedro, and five of his siblings, Juanita 12, Severa 9, Victoria 8, Pedro 6, and Pascual 2. It lists his mother's name as Refugio, but his mother's name was Petra Rivera. This was some kind of error which happened often in census' taken especially by anglo census takers. By 1920, she would have been age 19. I do not find her in the census for 1920 anywhere else, but the chances are this is Petra Rivera, as she is listed as age 36.

The 1930 Census for Webb County, TX has Juan living with his wife Lilia 22, son Rodolfo 5, Olivia 2, and Edwardo age 1. It lists his occupation as truck driver for an oil company. His age is 24. It also states he and both of his parents were born in Texas. They had another family living with them at that time, listed as boarders: Simon Perez (age 25), Victoria Perez age 16, and Roberto Perez aged 6 mos.

In 1923, there is a record of a border crossing from Mexico to Texas by Juan De Leon aged 19. States he was born in Guadalajara. But this may be a different person because because Juan was born in the states.

Juan and Lilia had 9 children altogether; Rodolfo DeLeon (1925-1990), Amada DeLeon Webb, Olivia DeLeon (Deceased), Eduardo DeLeon (Deseased), Juan DeLeon (Deceased), Mario DeLeon, Elva DeLeon Bivings, Lauro DeLeon, Elsa DeLeon Garza.

More information is needed about Juan's family and more photos.

Refugio "Cuca" De Leon Pena

"Cuca" De Leon Pena was the eldest daughter of Pedro De Leon and Petra Rivera. She was so much older, she served as a second mother the the younger kids, and Cousin Mary Margaret Garcia says she learned a lot about life from tia Cuca.

She was born 23 Oct 1901 in Webb County, TX (which is where Laredo is, and where most of the other kids say they were from, Mirando City). There is one record of a Refugia Pena crossing the border from Mexico in 1913, at age 12, but it is unclear if this is she, because this person she was alone at the time and Cuca was born in the US, so why would she be crossing the border from Mexico into the US alone?

There is a 1910 census which shows a Refugio Pena, age 9, living in Guadalupe, TX with her mother listed as Anna Pena, and little brother Pedro, 4. Cuca has a brother Pedro, but her mother was Petra Rivera, so that may not be the right person.

In 1930 census, however, there is an entry in Harris County, TX for Refugio, age 26, Pedro Pena (spouse age 25), son Juan age 5, Gonzalo age 2, and Maria age 4 mos.

I cannot so far find records of her marriage to Pedro Pena.

Cuca had 5 children, her son Juan "Johnny" Pena was born in 1925, Gonzalo "Chango" b. 1927, Mary Pena b. 1929, and Jose "Joe" Pena year of birth unknown. Pedro "Pete" Pena, birth date unknown.

Cuca passed away in Harris County, in 1982 at age 81.