HAVANA CEMETERY

Hidalgo Co. Cemeteries of Tx

Submitted by Frances Isbell

With Permission  of Hidalgo Co. Historical Commission (2005)

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LOCATION:  On south side of US Highway 83, 1.8 miles west of La Joya Texas

SURVEYED:  Wilma C. Kosar and Virginia G. Stinson, March 1976, for McAllen Genealogical Society.

HISTORY: Havana Ranch was located on Porcion 46 (6244 acres)  granted in 1767 to Jose Matias Tijerina, who had come to Reynosa by way of Havana, Cuba, for which he named his ranch. He sold to Juan Jose Hinojosa in 1793.

    Antonio Guerra inherited in 1854 from his parents, Jose Francisco and Maria Antonia Hinojosa de Guerra. When Guerra married Josefa de la Garza, widow of Narciso Salinas of Camargo, they moved to Havana Ranch.

    Her children Andres, Martina and Ramon Salinas inherited.  Andres was county commissioner 1876, surveyor 1880-1883, and Havana postmaster 1890-1908.  Ramon was also a land surveyor.                                        

     Martina Salinas (c1841-1905) married Patricio Perez(c1813-1908) in 1850.  In 1863, Perez enlisted in the Union Army, then occupying Fort Brown.  An experienced horseman, he joined the 2d Regiment, Texas Cavalry, became First Sergeant in 1864, and was discharged in 1865.

     Antonio Guerra died before 1880 and Josefa in 1886.  The ranch cemetery was probably established at this time.  Martina and Patricio Perez donated two acres for a church in 1887, deeded two acres for a school in 1903, and right-of-way to the railroad in 1904. Much of Porcion 46 was sold by the end of the 19^th century.