On Aug. 4, 1961 Emilio Gonzales was driving on US 59 in New Caney when he suffered a serious cardiac episode and died at the age of 73.
His name is not known today, and though there are documents that trace his life journey, his contributions to a community might never have been known without the curiosity generated by “The Latino Journey of Montgomery County” exhibit at the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County.
The exhibit was curated by Texas Familias Council committee members, Alejandra Tapia, Magda Macias, Adriana Flower, Devery Goss, Janice Vasquez, and Maria Baños Jordan. It’s the first official historical exhibit to share stories of Latino traditions and the families that have lived in Montgomery County. It includes oral history videos of local residents, a historical timeline of the community, Latin American artistry and music, an interactive temporary sculpture named “Luz” (light) by Conroe native artist, Janice Vasquez, and much more.
The timeline begins with the indigenous Atakapan-speaking peoples of the region including the Bidai, Akokisa, and Patiri. Many Latinos are a mixture of Indigenous, European, African, and Asian peoples whose stories were shaped by conquest and intermarriage over centuries. The indigenous people of the Americas travelled and interacted with one another across the Western continents, building great trade and social systems.
Emilio was born Aug. 10, 1886 or 1887 in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. He was near the borderlands where generations of trade and family relations pushed and pulled countless people across two nations. These communities had formed a unique Tejano culture and identity shaped by the flow of ideas and traditions across borders. Emilio would have seen a diminished voice of the once-influential Tejanos in Texas, and he would have known the rising tensions in Mexico on the verge of the Mexican Revolution in 1910.
Emilio crossed the U.S. border in 1914, as the Revolution was underway. Like many men, he sought work, and workers were needed to pierce through the thick piney woods of East Texas to build the railroad and feed the growing lumber needs of Houston. He found work with Livingston Lumber Company in New Caney, Texas and settled there at the age of 28.
World War I began the year Emilio arrived in New Caney. As a Mexican national he wasn’t obligated to register for the war, nonetheless he did register on June 5, 1917 in New Caney. The war ended on Nov. 11, 1918, and though he might not have been deployed, we know that Emilio returned to Texas.
Emilio married Benita Espinoza in 1924 in Harris County, the couple had 7 children, and mostly lived in Montgomery County. Two of their sons would register to serve in World War II, and at the age 55 Emilio Sr. also registered.
The Gonzales story is important because it reminds us of American determination above challenges. The family experienced unexpected tragedies with the loss of three sons, and Emilio would have persevered through painful segregation and other social limitations throughout the 20th century.
Mexican and Mexican American history in Texas is long and complex. Tejanos lost rights after the Texas Revolution and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. At the time of his death in 1961, Emilio’s civil rights were still restricted until the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
There’s not a photograph of Emilio, but there is a copy of his military registration card from 1917 signed by registrar, C.L. Reinhardt in New Caney, his World War II registration card from 1942, his birth and death certificates and other documents.
Emilio’s footprints allow us to see into his world and into his humanity. His is one of many military contributions from the Latino community. These stories in history ask us to remember the dignity and struggle of the human experience.
“The Latino Journey of Montgomery County” exhibit displays the colors and sounds of many Latin American cultures. It reveals the roots of a community, the importance of strengthening young people through their history, and building bridges between people. The curators will also host special gatherings for the public in partnership with the museum.
The exhibit will be in place through the end of the summer.
Make time to visit fascinating history at the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County in Conroe, and drop by the gift shop for gifts that support the museum. Free admission Wed. through Saturday 9-4pm located at 1506 I45 77301. www.heritagemuseum.us www.Texasfamiliascouncil.org