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History of the Cano Family…
The earliest records start with Don Antonio Cano (1812-1877) and his wife, Doña Mauricia Fernandez de Cano (1814-1906), as settlers of the Tampacuas Ranch just north of Mercedes, Texas on a portion of the Llano Grande Land Grant. They married in Reynosa on April 18, 1836. It is not known exactly when he left Reynosa but his first purchase of property on the Llano Grande grant was in 1862. Don Antonio had a brother, a half-brother and four half-sisters. His older brother, Andres, remained in Reynosa. His younger brother, Eugenio, also moved to the ranch and his descendants are buried in the family ranch cemetery. His sisters were Maria Antonia Cano, Jesusa Cano married in 1852 to Carlos Castaneda, Maria del Rosario Cano , and Maria Salome Cano.
Based on a review of the Marriage records of Reynosa in the early 1800's:
Don Antonio Cano's parents were listed on his 1836 marriage registry as Jose Maria Cano and Guadalupe Perez. Dona Mauricia's parents were Mauricio Fernandez and Maria Zeferina Loya.
Don Jose Maria Cano married Guadalupe Perez on November 13, 1808. Don Jose Maria Cano's parents were Don Eugenio Cano and Rafaela Zamora. Guadalupe's parents were Santiago Perez and Beatriz Guajardo.
The Cano property like the others along the river were fronted with access to river water and they stretched back about 15 miles to the back of the original grant. Geographically to present day landmarks, this included roughly the areas from the Mexican border at Nuevo Progreso and back to Edcouch in the north. The Title Transfer deed records show that the first purchase of land from the Hinojosa's, the original Spanish Crown Land Grantees, was in 1862 from Cirildo Hinojosa's 5th share. The original grant of 25 1/2 leagues was made about 1767 from the King of Spain to Captain Juan Jose Hinojosa. This was roughly 11 1/2 miles of river frontage that extended back 15 miles for a total acreage of about 113,000 acres. The property was partitioned and assigned to legal heirs into eight parts for the children and heirs of Captain Hinojosa in 1848. These were all narrow strips fronted on the Rio Grande river at the south end and extending to the back of the grant. The Cano tracts came out of the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th shares. The Texas archives for the Tax Rolls reported Antonio Cano ownership of 2,700 acres in 1865. In 1878, a year after his death, his widow Mauricia is recorded with 8,100 acres. Property ownership peaked in 1886 with Mauricia having 13,000 acres, Guillermo her son with 7,000 acres, and her son-in-law Florencio Saenz with 12,000 acres married to Sostenes Cano the youngest daughter of Antonio and Mauricia. Don Antonio Cano's Last Will & Testament.
The Hidalgo County Tax Roll records for 1865-1890 provide the record of ranch size and growth spanning those 25 years for the Guadalupe or Tampacuas Ranch.
The ranch was named "El Rancho de Guadalupe" and it was located on a "plano" or flat plain next to the present day Carter's Lake. The present roads put the Ranch at around Mile 9N and Mile 1W. The only surviving northern ranch property is the Cano Family cemetery, called Tampacuas or Campacuas. An interesting side note is that this area was found inhabited by the Campacuas Indians before the Spanish moved in to settle the area. A guess is that the area retained its Campacuas name out of habit with reference to a tribe established by the lake. In any case, the name that stuck was Rancho Tampacuas not Rancho de Guadalupe.
The cemetery contains many of the descendants from Don Antonio's family. The plot was laid out in the rising sun shadows of the Ranch Chapel or "Capilla". The site has been closed to any more burials because of lack of space. The cemetery was dedicated on November 5, 1988 as an Hidalgo County Historical Landmark and it provided a magnificent example of the early Rancho cemetery monuments.
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- Florencio Saenz and Sostenes Cano Saenz (155 KB)
Florencio Saenz and Sostenes Cano Saenz
Owners of Toluca Ranch.
- The Saenz Coat of Arms (265 KB)
The Saenz Coat of Arms illustrated was drawn by an heraldic artist from information officially recorded in ancient heraldic archives. Documentation for the Saenz Coat of Arms design can be found in Rietstap Armorial General.
- The Toluca Ranch House (73 KB)
In 1880, Toluca Ranch was a kingdom that spanned nearly 10,000 acres and which stretched 17 miles north from the Rio Grande. The ranch was declared a historical site in 1980 by Texas Society of the Colonial Dames of the 17th Century. The headquarters complex consists of St. Joseph's Church, based on a design by the Rev. Peter Keralum and built in 1896; the hacienda, completed in 1903; and the store and the school, both opened in 1908.
- The Toluca Ranch St. Joseph Church (32 KB)
St. Joseph Church at Toluca Ranch was built in 1896, and it is known for its collection of relics and famed for the artifacts brought from Spain. At its entrance is a pair of angels to hold holy water.
- Another look at St. Joseph Church at Toluca Ranch (79 KB)
What got this church built was Saenz's need for good water to make his ranch a success. He searched for a good location for a well on his land, but he didn't have much luck. So he made a promise to God that if he would find water, he would build a church on the land. Saenz dug a final time and found good, sweet water.
- Inside the St. Joseph Church at Toluca Ranch (77 KB)
Its floor is built from large bricks made at the ranch, and its old pews can still accommodate 85 people. In the front sanctuary is a statue of Mary holding Jesus.
- Toluca Ranch Well (43 KB)
This is the famous well dug and built by ranch founder Saenz in the late 1800s. Mr Saenz kept his promise when he found sweet water and he built the chapel in 1896.
- Toluca Ranch Historic Marker (70 KB)
Toluca Ranch was declared a historical site in 1980 by Texas Society of the Colonial Dames of the 17th Century. Today, the famous ranch still retains vestiges of its grandeur.
- Don Florencio Saenz Homestead Plaque (99 KB)
DON FLORENCIO SAENZ HOMESTEAD
Built on family spainish land grant in 1902. Headquarters for Toluca Ranch. Which at one time stretched 17 miles north from the Rio Grande. Here Saenz operated a merchantile store, promoting cattle ranching and river farming as successful buisness ventures for the valley.
Site of 1915 bandit raid in which a private was killed when U.S. soldiers discovered and fought off desperadoes trying to burn the house.
- Campacuas Memorial Cemetery (73 KB)
Campacuas Cemetery is maintained by the Campacuas Memorial [cemetery association]. Historic Texas Cemetery 2003. Texas Historical Marker 2004.
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