| My grandfather came from Sonoma, California and was driving a herd of about 50 head of cattle south to Durango. Federal troops under Orozco arrested my grandfather and confiscated his cattle. They then threatened to shoot him. During the night he escaped and within days had joined up with Villa's Division. He was accepted as a junior officer because of his previous military experience and served until after the Battle of Zacatecas (1914). During his time with the revolutionaries he went to the ranch owner in Durango to explain why he had been unable to deliver the promised cattle. There he met the rancher's daughter and they fell in love. She spent almost 2 1/2 years with him as his "Soldadera." In 1914 he took her home to Sonoma, California, where they lived together until his death in 1984. She lived until 1992.
I am interested in communicating anyone who has similar family histories histories of the Mexican revolution. I would like to compare stories and perhaps put out a book about American volunteers.
I can be contacted at [email protected]
Regards,
Rico Cooper-Soto |
