Juanita Garza (1888–1943)
Juanita Garza was the daughter of a merchant family with deep roots in the borderlands of Marín, Nuevo León, and Reynosa, Tamaulipas. After her family migrated to Texas in the late 1890s, she became a foundational figure of the Herrera family in Wilson County. As the wife of Jesus Herrera-Godina (1886-1961), she raised a sprawling family during the transition of South Texas into a major agricultural hub.
1888 - MAY 26 - BIRTH
Location: Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Juanita was born in the 5th Section of Reynosa Diaz. Her birth was formally registered on November 5, 1889.
- Father: Anastacio Garza (b. c. 1840, Marín, Nuevo León – d. bef. 1923). He was an artisan and merchant.
- Mother: Guadalupe Valenzuela (b. c. 1850 – d. aft. 1923).
- Paternal Grandparents: Manuel Garza and Nicolasa Quintanilla.
- Maternal Grandparents: Agapito Valenzuela and Margarita Garza.
1890s - Migration to Texas
Location: Wilson County, Texas
Following the pattern of many families in the Reynosa/Hidalgo area, the Garza family moved north into Texas. By 1900, Juanita is recorded living in Justice Precinct 2, Wilson County, as a daughter in her father's household.
1905 - MARRIAGE - To Jesus Herrera-Godina (1886-1961)
Location: Floresville, Wilson County, Texas
At age 17, Juanita married Jesus Herrera. This union solidified the connection between the Garza and Herrera families in the Poth and Floresville areas.
- Spouse: Jesus Herrera-Godina (1886-1961)
- Family Impact: Juanita was the mother of a large household
1910 - Family Snapshot
Location: Mercedes, Hidalgo County, Texas
While Juanita was established with her husband, the 1910 Census for her mother, Guadalupe Garza (recorded as a widow), shows the family’s presence in Mercedes. This record notes that Guadalupe had given birth to 13 children, with only 5 surviving by 1910.
Juanita's Known Siblings
- Apolinaria Garza (b. 1870): Married Teodoro García in 1885.
- Margarita Garza (b. 1872): Married Rómulo Sánchez in 1891.
- Teresa Garza (b. 1877).
- Gumesinda Garza (b. 1878): Married Antonio Garza in 1898.
- Cleofas Garza (b. c. 1888): A twin or born close to Juanita; tragically shot and killed in Reynosa in 1923.
- Pablo Garza (b. c. 1895).
- Sophia Garza (b. c. 1897).
1923 - Sibling Tragedy
Location: Reynosa Diaz, Tamaulipas
The death of her brother Cleofas Garza from gunshot wounds in 1923 highlights the continued cross-border life of the family. The legal records of his death confirm their father, Anastacio, had passed away by this time, but their mother, Guadalupe, was still living.
1943 - JUN 04 - DEATH
Location: Precinct 8, Poth, Wilson County, Texas
Juanita passed away during the height of World War II. Her death closed a chapter of the family's first-generation immigrant experience in the Poth area.
Genealogical Summary Table
| Relation | Name | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Father | Anastacio Garza | Marín, Nuevo León | Merchant/Artisan |
| Mother | Guadalupe Valenzuela | Mexico | Resided in Mercedes, TX in 1910 |
| Paternal GF | Manuel Garza | Mexico | — |
| Paternal GM | Nicolasa Quintanilla | Mexico | Lived to at least age 65 (1891) |
| Maternal GF | Agapito Valenzuela | Mexico | — |
| Maternal GM | Margara Garza | Mexico | — |
### **Sources**
- **Civil Registration:** Birth of Juana Garza (Reynosa, 1888); Birth of Teresa Garza (Reynosa, 1877).
- **Marriage Records:** Teodoro Garcia & Apolinaria Garza (1885); Antonio Garza & Gumesinda Garza (1898); Rómulo Sánchez & Margarita Garza (1891).
- **Death Records:** Cleofas Garza (Reynosa, 1923); Austacio Garza (Mier, 1875).
- **Census Records:** 1900, 1910 (Wilson and Hidalgo Counties, TX).