Velda's Hurst/Riggs/Waldrip/Cowherd/Abel Genealogy Site
Velda's Hurst/Riggs/Waldrip/Cowherd/Abel Genealogy SiteUpdated April 12, 2004 | Velda Sue Espinoza-Saldana [email protected] |
This homepage has the details of the research done by Velda Saldana covering the surnames; Hurst, Riggs, Waldrip, Abel, Cowherd, Connelly, Laswell, and others... A little about me.My name is Velda Sue Espinoza-Saldana.I was born in 1962 in San Jose, California to Rudolph J. & LeeOna Hurst-Espinoza.I had a very normal and happy childhood.We lived in the same house all my life, so I never had to move and make new friends.Though we lived far from Mother's relatives we always kept in touch through cards, letters, phone calls and the "Round Robin".We were very close physically & emotionally to Dad's family so there was never a shortage of cousins for me to play with. Father's parents came to the US in the early 1900's.I don't suppose I'll ever really know why. Unfortunately I waited too long to start asking questions, and even then people are reluctant to give out information.In the latin culture it is considered rude to be "nosey".If you want to see your elders eyebrow's raise, just have the audacity to ask for things like date and place of birth or date they married - including year! This is not an easy or popular quest.In addition most of us do not realise the value of our history and the memories of our elders until it is too late. Dad left school in 8th grade to go to work with his Father and Brother in order to provide for his 11 younger siblings.They did migrant farm labor, set dynamite in the rock quary, and the other various jobs that welcomed Mexicans.Dad was always determined that his children would finish school and not work so hard.One of my happiest memories is watching his face as I walked across the stage to get my AA.I'm glad he was there for that. Mama's people were no less hardworking, her parents, grandparents and greatgrandparents were "settlers" or "Homesteaders" and they left settled areas to stake claims in unsettled aresa, so their lives were not easy.I can trace Mother's lineage back to the 1700's.Mother was able to stay in school right up through to a formal High School Graduation and some of her siblings even went on to college. Mama had a HS education, and she could have chosen a different, less laborious job.How many timesmany times she was offered work in the offices or as a "forewoman" but Mama always said she liked it better working right alongside the women on the line.This she did for almost 40 years here in San Jose.Frist for Contadena Cannery then later for USA Cannery. I am one of the last baby-boomers. My father was a sergeant in WWII and spent a couple of years of active duty combat in Europe.Italy mostly.Upon his discharge he returned to Lawton, Oklahoma and helped his Father's family move to San Jose, California.Once settled here in San Jose Rudolph returned to Lawton, married LeeOna and soon after they came to California to join Rudolph's family. Rudolph went to trade school and bought his home using his GI Bill benefits. Eventually becoming a dry-cleaner, a profession he worked at for 45 years; first for Ecenomy Cleaners on 2nd and Santa CLara Streets in San Jose, then later for San Jose Cleaners on San Carlos where he eventually retired from and LeeOna worked in the canery with her sisters-in-law for many years. Together they raised two daughters and one son, they paid their taxes, voted regularly and contributed to the city San Jose has become, and the nation the USA has become. This website is dedicated to Rudolph, LeeOna and their ancestors. May we, their descendants honor them with our conduct in this life. |
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