Lydia and Albert Dojaquez
March 1, 2009
Long-time Arivaca residents Lydia and Albert Dojaquez come from two pioneer families of Basque ancestry, which settled in the Southern Arizona more than a century ago.
Lydia’s ancestor, don Vicente de la Ossa, had land grants in California, in the mid-19th century, where his house is a historical monument. One of his sons, Antonio, was hauling freight into Arizona. He brought his family to Tucson and was hauling ore to the smelter at La Noria (Lochiel). They were on their way to Sonora when his wife, Carolina, announced that she wasn’t going any further than that—30 feet from the border, but on the American side of the line. So Antonio went on to Mexico and got some heifers and brought them back to the then open range of the San Rafael valley. Antonio farmed and sold meat to the mines in the Patagonia mountains and the family raised 13 children all together. Antonio died of an accident in 1902 but Carolina kept the ranch going. All of the sons attended school at St. Michaels’s College in Santa Fe. Lydia’s grandparents were Osbaldo & Teresa de la Ossa. Her parents were Angelita and Avelino de la Ossa.
Lydia’s mother’s family, the Eliases, was also a long-standing family in the San Rafael Valley. Her parents were Manuel and Aldina Elias. He was the son of Abundio Elias, who is mentioned in a recent Journal of Arizona History article about the parcioneros, or co-owning parcel holders, of the San Rafael de la Zanja Mexican land grant, headquartered at Santa Cruz, Sonora, but extending into what became the U. S. Instead of one family receiving a land grant, in this case a number of families owned it jointly. Of course, this caused innumerable difficulties when time came for the U. S. government to decide if it was valid and who owned it.
Lydia was raised in the de la Ossa family home at Lochiel, surrounded by her extended family, whose tenacity in holding the land was undoubted. Her grandmother’s and great-grandmother’s houses are still there, as is her own. Lydia attended the Patagonia schools and Lourdes Academy in Nogales.
Albert was born in 1930 on the family homestead near Sonoita, where his oldest brother still lives. Albert’s father was Michael Dojaquez, who was born in Mexico, of Basque ancestry, but came to Arizona and became a citizen at the age of 21. He worked as a cowboy in the Sonoita area. His mother was Felicidad Escalante, who was also from the same area and whose brother, Charlie, is in the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. Albert’s oldest brother Henry still lives on the family homestead near Sonoita. Albert attended Patagonia schools but his parents died young, so he had to go to work to help support the family at an early age. He was in demand as a cowboy, because even then his gift for understanding and handling cattle was recognized.
Lydia met Albert when he was the head wrangler at the Circle Z Ranch near Patagonia. She turned 18 in June of 1955, and after taking a nursing assistant program at Carondelet Holy Cross hospital they were married in July. At first they lived at the Circle Z, in the “Honeymoon Cottage”, but couldn’t take a honeymoon because it was screwworm season! After that they moved around for awhile until Albert got a job at the Continental Feed Lot. They have been on the west side of the Santa Ritas ever since. In fact, Albert was in the posse for the Santa Cruz County sheriff when the Boy Scouts went missing on Josephine Peak.
While at Continental, Albert learned a lot of veterinary medicine skills from Dr. Conden, which stood him in good stead in his work with cattle. When Manerd Gayler r owned the Montana Ranch, he hired Albert as a cowboy. Ramon Gonzalez had been there before him, and told Albert all the old stories and showed him all the far-back corners of the ranch. Albert worked there until 1974, when they moved to where they live now in Arivaca. This was where they wanted to raise their three boys, in a small town and rural school. Albert worked in bus maintenance and as a school bus driver for the Sopori children until he retired in 1992, but of course always doing cowboying on the side, as well as shoeing horses and butchering. For years he rode the Arivaca pasture for Dale Smith. Lydia was also hired at the Sopori School, where she was the librarian for 26 years. She would rather be nursing, however, so when the opportunity arose she became the Sopori school nurse until she also retired.
Now they both keep busy doing anything they can around the house and yard, keeping up with grandchildren. Lydia’s house is like a museum of memories. Albert always has projects and works on the local ranches whenever possible. He is a great story teller in his own right. He thrives on work, despite a couple of recent accidents. They are two of the people that make Arivaca such a wonderful place to live
References: “To win, hold, and lose the land: the families of Santa Cruz and the San Rafael de la Zanja Land Grant” by James M. Wood and Thomas A. Wood, Journal of Arizona History, Summer 2008.
“Antonio de la Ossa” by Richard G. Schaul, Arizona Cattlelog, November 1973. Lydia Dojaquez interview
Comments
4 Responses to “Lydia and Albert Dojaquez”
Got something to say?
Looking for more information on this family.
Albert was born in 1930 on the family homestead near Sonoita, where his oldest brother still lives. Albert’s father was Michael Dojaquez.
My mother is a niece of Michael Dojaquez. Her Name Eloise Carreon
As a little girl I went to the ranch, I knew that I loved horses. I now have a ranch in the east county of San Diego.
trying to find more out about my family, but it seems like a bunch of dead ends.
My Father was Jim Dojaquez born 1923, he had 2 kids myself (Stephen) and a daughter, Stephanie, my Father died in 1983, I only visited his side of the family once I was very young. I know of a Uncle Bob and Albert. is this that Albert?
This is in answer to Stephen Dojaquez….yes, this is your Uncle Albert. I’m Debbie Dojaquez, Alfred Dojaquez’s daughter. I met you when I was young before your father died and have many fond memories of my “Unlce Ray”. Uncle Bob died in July 2004 and I was at his side.
My parents would love to hear from you. Write them at Al & Delores Dojaquez, P.O. Box 659, Sonoita, AZ 85367-0659.
I have some more information to Stephen inquiry:
My mother Eloise Carreon, Micheal Dojaquez niece, said she remember that Michael had two brothers but doesn’t remember their names. The brothers lived in Santa Cruz, Mexico. So Stephen your father could be a brother to Michael. My Mon also remembers the name of Alfred Dojaquez she just doesn’t remember where his name fits in. One of these could be my Mother Godfather, she just doesn’t remember their names.
We are trying to plan a Family reunion this next year.
I have such fond memories of the ranch, I just spoke to Henry Dojaquez the other day and he will be 93 this year and still feed stock.
If you are interested please e-mail me, and I will give you updates as we get closer to the time this will be planned.
Geri Carreon