Crossing the Rio Grande : an immigrant's life in the 1880s

Although they are among the most important sources of the history of the American Southwest, the lives of ordinary immigrants from Mexico have rarely been recorded. Educated and hardworking, Luis G. Gómez came to Texas from Mexico as a young man in the mid-1880s. He made his way around much of South Texas, finding work on the railroad and in other businesses, observing the people and ways of the region and committing them to memory for later transcription. From the moment he crossed the Rio Grande at Matamoros-Brownsville, Gómez sought his fortune in a series of contracting operations that created the infrastructure to help develop the Texas economy—clearing land, cutting wood, building roads, laying track, constructing bridges, and quarrying rock. Gómez describes Mexican customs in the United States, such as courtship and marriage, relations with Anglo employers, religious practices, and the simple home gatherings that sustained those Mexican Texans who settled in urban areas like Houston, isolated from predominantly Mexican South Texas. Few of the 150,000 immigrants in the last half of the nineteenth century left written records of their experiences, but Gómez wrote his memoir and had it privately published in Spanish in 1935. Crossing the Rio Grande presents an English edition of that memoir, translated by the author’s grandson, Guadalupe Valdez Jr., with assistance from Javier Villarreal, a professor of Spanish at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. An introduction by Thomas H. Kreneck explainss the book’s value to scholarship and describes what has been learned of the publication history of the original Spanish-language volume. Valdez’s comments provide a lucid and engaging picture of his grandfather’s later life and his gentlemanly character. This charming little volume provides a valuable account of a relatively undocumented period in Mexican Texans’ history. Almost unknown to those outside his family, this narrative has now been “recovered,” edited by Valdez and Kreneck, and made available to a wider, interested public.

though Rarely Recorded, The Lives Of Ordinary Immigrants From Mexico Are An Important Piece Of The History Of The American Southwest. Educated And Hardworking, Luis G. Gómez Came To Texas From Mexico As A Young Man In The Mid-1880s And Would Later Publish His Recollections.

from The Moment He Crossed The Rio Grande At Matamoros-brownsville, Gómez Sought His Fortune In A Series Of Contracting Operations That Created The Infrastructure To Help Develop The Texas Economy. Gómez Describes Mexican Customs In The United States, Such As Courtship And Marriage, Relations With Anglo Employers, Religious Practices, And Simple Home Gatherings.

crossing The Rio Grande Presents An English Edition Of Gómez's Memoir, Which Was Privately Published In Spanish In 1935. It Is Translated By Guadalupe Valdez Jr. With Assistance From Javier Villarreal, A Professor Of Spanish At Texas A&m University-corpus Christi. An Introduction By Thomas H. Kreneck Explains The Book's Value To Scholarship And Describes What Has Been Learned Of The Publication History Of The Original Spanish-language Book.

This Volume Provides A Valuable Account Of A Relatively Undocumented Period In Mexican Texans' History. Translatorbio: Guadalupe Valdez Jr. Is The Grandson Of Luis Gómez.

journal Of Southern History

. . . A Vital Contribution To The Growing Literature On Mexicans And Mexican Americans. . . . Unique Because Few Documents By Mexicans Of This Period Have Been Found Or Published.

Though rarely recorded, the lives of ordinary immigrants from Mexico are an important piece of the history of the American Southwest. This book describes Mexican customs in the United States, such as courtship and marriage, relations with Anglo employers, religious practices, and simple home gatherings. An English edition of the memoirs of the life of early immigrant and pioneer, Luis G. Gomez, who came to Texas from Mexico in the mid-1800s