Jesus & Rosario Villanueva

Jesus Villanueva married Rosario Gonzalez on July 4, 1917 in Kansas City, MO. Yeah, that surprised me too! Why did two Kansas residents get married in Missouri? Their wedding license identified a few interesting things to me besides the State they got married at.

It also identifies Rosario's father, Aquilino Gonzalez. I first became aware of Aquilino from my cousin Helen Brewer in May of 2024. Aquilino needed to consent to the marriage. The application records Rosario's age as 17, although she may have been 15. Also noted on the license is it was issued on July 2, 1917 with the couple united in marriage on the 4th of July (a Wednesday). The Catholic Priest who performed the ceremony was Rev. Joseph Munoz at 1120 West 24th St, KCMO.

Marriage Application - Jesus & Rosario

Marriage License - Jesus & Rosario

For context, Jesus and Rosario were recent immigrants. The United States had entered WW I three months earlier.

I looked into the Priest and location where the marriage took place. I discovered Father Munoz was one of the first Mexican priest to immigrate to Kansas City and began to provide services to the Mexican community on the West Side. When we think of the Catholic community on the West Side we immediately think of Our Lady of Guadalupe parish. The parish came into existence in 1922. Records indicate Father Munoz, and another priest, began conducting services in rented store fronts and warehouses. The 1120 West 24th St location is included in those records. Additionally, Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in Amourdale did not come into existence until 1923 (the church was destroyed in the 1951 flood).

Jesus and Rosario had at least eight children. Of which six lived into adulthood. Those children are:

Pilar 10/12/1919 - 5/31/1956

Filemon 3/8/1921 - 11/5/1993

Jesse 8/6/1923 - 1/7/2015

Joseph 4/14/1926 - 10/27/1975

Elias 7/14/1928 - 8/24/2007

Luis 4/21/1930 - 12/1/1989

Remember when birth announcements were published in the newspaper. A very proud day for parents. Here are a couple for my grandparents babies. The misspelled names certainly made it challenge to locate them!

Pilar's birth

Filemon's birth

There are records of two children that died shortly after birth. I had an awareness that Uncle Jesse was a twin, but knew nothing of the twin. A search of Kansas City death certificates uncovered a female child born on same day as Uncle Jesse, but died just over a month later on September 19, 1923. Her name appears to be Rosario.

Infant Death - 9/10/1923

The second infant death was a shocking discovery. Searching the Kansas City Star archives I uncovered a news article of a daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. Jesus Williams of 510 Shawnee. Their child had a rare abnormality with a pessimistic outlook. Although the last name used in the article was incorrect, there are other records with this last name. Other details in the article are similar to my grandparents, including number of other children and home address.

KC Star - April 21, 1922 - Rare Medical Case

While most of my research produces data points of our family history (i.e. names, dates, locations, and events), occasionally I uncover a bit of family history that is heart breaking. Unfortunately I was unable to uncover the immediate outcome of their daughter, not even if they named her. I can't help but think of the deep sorrow they must have experienced. There were deaths of many children I have documented during my search. It is a sad reality of the conditions our families lived in.

Census records provide unique snapshots of the family. They include where they were living, who was living with them, age, occupation, and year of immigration. While these are official records, they frequently provide conflicting data. I have learned to accept these with a grain of salt and sometimes have to depend on other records to determine what is fact.

From the 1920 Census we know the family was living at 510 Shawnee, Kansas City, KS, in the Amourdale district. Jesus is 23 and Rosario 18. Rosario is shown to immigrate in 1917. It is unclear what year Jesus immigrated. Jesus was working in the Dry Salt work area of a packing house.

1920 Census - Jesus & Rosario Villanueva

1920 Census - Pilar, Calixto & Rita Lopez, Aquilino, Jacoba, & Mike Gonzalez

The more interesting fact on the record is who they are living with. Their daughter Pilar is 4 months old, Rosario's sister and family (Calixto & Rita Lopez), Rosario's parents (Tranquilito (sic) & Jacoba Gonzalez), and Rosario's brother, Mike (Miguel).

The discovery that I had great-grandparents who had also immigrated was a huge surprise!

In its a Small Small World category, the 510 Shawnee home would eventually become the home of my Uncle Rudy and Aunt Isabel (Esa). Aunt Esa is my mom Amelia's sister. My Mom would live at this same house in 1950 preceding her wedding to my father.

In 1919 there is a newspaper record of Jesus getting a building permit to build an addition to the home on 510 Shawnee.

Building Permit - 10/7/1919

In the 1930 census the family resides at 631 South 4th Street. All of their children are identified, although the names have some unique spellings and my father's name (Luis) looks closer to Juan! This record indicates both immigrated in 1915, and the age at marriage for Jesus was 22 and for Rosario it was 15.

1930 Census - Jesus & Rosario Villanueva

The 1940 Census records doesn't offer much new information. It does show the Jesus still worked at Packing Meat Company, Aunt Pilar did not work outside of home, and Uncle Phil worked at Coal Yard. It appears that 1 year of high school was the standard level to achieve.

1940 Census - Jesus Villanueva (page 1)

1940 Census - Jesus Villanueva (page 2)

We have seen our Villanueva surname errantly recorded as Williams. I recall a story this occurred involving property, but I have no proof of this. I found a news article identifying Jesus Williams as receiving a Proficiency Certificate for night school. I would like to believe this is my grandfather.

Night School Commencement - 3/11/1920

Jesus (and his sons) were required to register for the draft. From Jesus's 1917 registration (dated a month before his wedding), he list an address of 604 Packard. Also is recorded a birth year that varies from other records. Was he born in 1890, 1894, or 1895? He identifies his birth location as Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. He was working for Cudahy Packing Company. There were also three additional pieces of information that I found fascinating.

First, this record shows he is solely supporting his wife & mother. Was his mother here? I haven't been able to confirm that.

Secondly, the record shows he was a Major in the Mexican Calvary with 3 years service. Family folklore has always described his military experience, sponsored by his uncles. The tales insinuated his father had passed away, although I can not confirm that.

Third, Jesus describes scars from wounds he received when shot in the shoulder and left hip.

Jesus's draft registrations

Rosario passed away in 1936, at 34 years of age. I haven't requested her death certificate yet, but will. If you happen to have it please share with me.

Jesus did remarry, but it did not last long. I can only find newspaper clippings of the filing for the divorce and it being granted. I do not know Conception's full name.

Divorce Filing in Wyandotte County - 8/7/1948

Divorce Granted in Wyandotte County - 10/23/1948

Jesus passed away on November 15, 1949.

Jesus Villanueva obituary

Jesus Villanueva Death Certificate

We learn from the death certificate Jesus's parents name. The information was provided by Uncle Phil. Jesus's father is Estanilado Villanueva and his mother Ursula Higareda. I have not been able to find firm information of Jesus' birth in Mexico or his immigration.

Jesus and Rosario are buried in Mt. St. Mary's Cemetery in Kansas City, MO

There is much more information about the Gonzalez side of the family which I will include in a separate blog. For clarity, Rosario's parents are Aquilino and Jacoba Gonzalez. They are from Mexquital del Oro, Zacatecas, Mexico.

I plan on additional blog pages with further information about my Aunts and Uncles. I invite my cousins to author these pages and I will include them here on this blog.

Steve