Juana Godina (c. 1862 – c. 1894)
Juana Godina was the daughter of the Mexican-born wagoner Leonicio Godina-Colio (c. 1810 – bef. 1880) and Florencia Trevino. Her life represents the interconnected nature of the Texas-Mexico borderlands in the late 19th century, moving between Wilson County, Texas, and Coahuila, Mexico, while raising a large family with her husband, Jose Maria Herrera-Treviño.
c. 1862 - BIRTH
Location: Texas, USA
Juana was born into a large Tejano family during the American Civil War era. She grew up in the rural precincts of Wilson County, where her father worked as a freighter.
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Mother: Florencia Trevino (c. 1830–aft. 1880)
1870 - Household and Youth
Location: Precinct 4, Lodi, Wilson County, Texas
The 1870 census captures Juana at age 8, living in a household where both parents are of foreign birth (Mexico). The family is recorded under the phonetic spelling "Godino."
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Dwelling Number: 379
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Family Members: Juana lived with her parents and five siblings: Juliana, Tula, Jesus, Antonio, and a younger infant.
1880–1894 - Marriage and Motherhood
Juana married Jose María Herrera (1850–1908) (1850–1908). Her childbearing years were marked by frequent travel across the Rio Grande, as evidenced by her children's varying birth locations in Texas and Coahuila.
1880 - NOV - 19 - BIRTH - José Guadalupe Herrera-Godina
Location - San Andrés, Nava, Coahuila, Mexico
- Baptism: Recorded at the San Andrés Church. This shows the family maintained strong ties to Coahuila despite residing primarily in Texas.
1886 - JAN - 29 - BIRTH - Jesus Herrera-Godina (1886-1961)
Location - Floresville, Wilson County, Texas
- Note: Jesus lived to the age of 75, passing away in San Antonio in 1961. His death record confirms "Juanita Herrera" as his mother.
1891 - BIRTH - David Herrera
Location - Wilson County, Texas
- Marriage Note: David married Gregoria Garcia in 1919 at Sacred Heart Church in Floresville. His marriage record identifies his parents as "Jusu Mariae" and "Joannae Godina."
1892 - BIRTH - Leonardo Herrera
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Location: Wilson County, Texas
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Note: Leonardo was born during the final years of Juana's life.
1893 - BIRTH - Florencia Herrera
Location - Wilson County, Texas
- Namesake: Named after her maternal grandmother, Florencia Treviño. She married Johannes C. Trinidad in 1910.
1894 - BIRTH - Juliana Herrera
Location - Wilson County, Texas
- Note: Born approximately the same year as Juana's death.
abt. 1894 - DEATH
Location: Texas, USA
Juana passed away at the young age of approximately 32. Her legacy continued through her children, whose later marriage and death records in Wilson County frequently cited her as "Joannae Godina" or "Juanita," preserving her identity in the sacramental registers of Sacred Heart Church.
Genealogical Summary Table
| Relation | Name | Lifespan | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Father | Leonicio Godina-Colio | c. 1810–bef. 1880 | Mexican-born Wagoner |
| Mother | Florencia Trevino | c. 1830–aft. 1880 | Native of Mexico |
| Spouse | Jose Maria Herrera | 1850–1908 | Married c. 1879 |
| Son | José Guadalupe | 1880–1946 | Born in Nava, Coahuila |
| Son | Jesus Herrera | 1886–1961 | Long-time San Antonio resident |