It has been a while, but I've been so distracted with the vast amounts of information I've been finding that I haven't had time to update the blog.
The information I've found in the past couple of days have been so exciting I have to get it out.
I recently discovered an interesting resource on ancestry.com. They are message boards dedicated to specific last names. I decided to browse them in the names of Lujan, Avila and Arvizu. The latter proved to be fruitful. I found a message responding to someone's inquiry about Domingo Arvizu. This person claimed to be a great great grandson of Domingo and suggestioned searching somoprimos.com for more info. I was very very confused by the site and thus turned of by it and gave up.
The message also said that Domingo was buried in Glendora, CA. Seeing as this message board is over 7 years old I decided not to reply and ask for info. I didn't think it would help. So instead I googled cemeteries in Glendora and called the one that seemed closest to Azusa. Low and behold, he was there. Lot A, Block 65, Space G. Unfortunately the records say nothing other than he was Mexican and he's buried with 3 other people. I suspect this would be his wife and the 2 children he had that died at infancy.
I didn't want to stop there so I decided to google his name and surprisingly a lot came up. Why? Well it turns out a man by the name of John Arvisu has done extensive research on Domingo Arvizu who was ALSO his great great grandfather. He wrote several article for this somoprimos.com site and once I got the hang of the sites layout, I was able to find what John knew about Domingo.
Apprently Domingo and his wife Francisca kept a log. From what I understand it is a book of all of their children's births: date and time, some journal entries, family tree, a drawing from one of his sons and a sort of love letter to his wife.
My next step was tracking down John and seeing what else he knew:
Hello Mr. Arvizu,
I found your email on an old Ancestry.com message board from 2003 and I'm hoping this email is still active and finds you. Further looking into your research I also found the articles you wrote for somoprimos.com.
I'm writing to you today for possibly some more info on Domingo Arvizu. Upon starting my family history research a week ago I've discovered that Domingo Arvizu is my great great grandfather.
His daughter, Guadalupe Arvizu, married a man by the surname pacheco and had two daughters while livivng in Azusa with Domingo and her siblings in 1910 (according to census records.) it seems Franchesca had passed by then. According to the 1920 census Domingo has passed and the head of house was listed at Julian. The suddenly she moved to Arvin, Ca in Kern County, I wasn't sure why until I realized her brother Julian had moved there as well (raised a family and later passed in that county). I suspect she moved with him as her husband died sometime between 1910 and 1920. Here is where she married (or not) a man by the name of Andres Avila (supposedly) and she had a son by him named Ernest Avila. He was my grandfather.
What I really have been looking for was this Andres Avila, however in my unfruitful quest for information about him I have been finding links here and there to other members of my family. I found your article interesting about the descendants of Domingo Arvizu and the leather bound notebook he left behind. I was also able to find his grave site today and am planning on taking my mother there this weekend as its only 20 minutes from our home. If you can direct me of any other articles youve written or other information you know I would greatly appreciate it. My mother (Ernest Avila's daughter) has found this information very interesting as she never knew anything about this part of her family.
Thank you so very much,
-------------------------------------
John Arvizu
-------------------------
Next I plan to visit Domingo's gravesite, a mere 20 minute drive from home AND check out John's books from the Azusa library and see what he has to say.
[sources:http://www.somosprimos.com/sp2005/spjun05/spjun05.htm#Arvizu ]
The information I've found in the past couple of days have been so exciting I have to get it out.
I recently discovered an interesting resource on ancestry.com. They are message boards dedicated to specific last names. I decided to browse them in the names of Lujan, Avila and Arvizu. The latter proved to be fruitful. I found a message responding to someone's inquiry about Domingo Arvizu. This person claimed to be a great great grandson of Domingo and suggestioned searching somoprimos.com for more info. I was very very confused by the site and thus turned of by it and gave up.
The message also said that Domingo was buried in Glendora, CA. Seeing as this message board is over 7 years old I decided not to reply and ask for info. I didn't think it would help. So instead I googled cemeteries in Glendora and called the one that seemed closest to Azusa. Low and behold, he was there. Lot A, Block 65, Space G. Unfortunately the records say nothing other than he was Mexican and he's buried with 3 other people. I suspect this would be his wife and the 2 children he had that died at infancy.
I didn't want to stop there so I decided to google his name and surprisingly a lot came up. Why? Well it turns out a man by the name of John Arvisu has done extensive research on Domingo Arvizu who was ALSO his great great grandfather. He wrote several article for this somoprimos.com site and once I got the hang of the sites layout, I was able to find what John knew about Domingo.Apprently Domingo and his wife Francisca kept a log. From what I understand it is a book of all of their children's births: date and time, some journal entries, family tree, a drawing from one of his sons and a sort of love letter to his wife.
My next step was tracking down John and seeing what else he knew:
Hello Mr. Arvizu,
I found your email on an old Ancestry.com message board from 2003 and I'm hoping this email is still active and finds you. Further looking into your research I also found the articles you wrote for somoprimos.com.
I'm writing to you today for possibly some more info on Domingo Arvizu. Upon starting my family history research a week ago I've discovered that Domingo Arvizu is my great great grandfather.
His daughter, Guadalupe Arvizu, married a man by the surname pacheco and had two daughters while livivng in Azusa with Domingo and her siblings in 1910 (according to census records.) it seems Franchesca had passed by then. According to the 1920 census Domingo has passed and the head of house was listed at Julian. The suddenly she moved to Arvin, Ca in Kern County, I wasn't sure why until I realized her brother Julian had moved there as well (raised a family and later passed in that county). I suspect she moved with him as her husband died sometime between 1910 and 1920. Here is where she married (or not) a man by the name of Andres Avila (supposedly) and she had a son by him named Ernest Avila. He was my grandfather.
What I really have been looking for was this Andres Avila, however in my unfruitful quest for information about him I have been finding links here and there to other members of my family. I found your article interesting about the descendants of Domingo Arvizu and the leather bound notebook he left behind. I was also able to find his grave site today and am planning on taking my mother there this weekend as its only 20 minutes from our home. If you can direct me of any other articles youve written or other information you know I would greatly appreciate it. My mother (Ernest Avila's daughter) has found this information very interesting as she never knew anything about this part of her family.
Thank you so very much,
-------------------------------------
Hello Lynelle:
I read your email with a great deal of interest. we are indeed related through Domingo. I have been researching our family for most of my life. What I have learned you will find very interesting and it would take me hours and countless emails to bring you up to date. You should start with two books which I have written. If you want to see some very old pictures of your family, you should start with this one: Eyes to the Past-A Pictorial History from Families of Azusa, Baldwin Park and Irwindale
If you want to read about your ancestry dating back to 1620 you should read this one: Building California - 200 Years of Arvizu History
Also there is an upcoming Arvizu family reunion to take place in Bakersfield in October. My Aunt Tiny Pacheco used to come to these all the time and I have pictures of her at our 1980 reunion. You should come if you want to connect with your cousins. We had 150 attend the last one in 2002.
-------------------------
Next I plan to visit Domingo's gravesite, a mere 20 minute drive from home AND check out John's books from the Azusa library and see what he has to say.
[sources:http://www.somosprimos.com/sp2005/spjun05/spjun05.htm#Arvizu ]
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