Sandoval Family History
Benigno (Benito) Sandoval
Benigno (Benito) Sandoval was born to Lazaro and Anastasia (Loza) Sandoval on February 13, 1885 in Mexticacan Jalisco, Mexico. Benigno's paternal grandparents were Gabriel and Juliana (Garcia) Sandoval. His maternal grandparents were Nicolas and Guadalupe (Ynique) Loza. Benigno's baptismal godparents were Estanislao Aranda and Antonia Torrez. Besides Benigno, Lazaro and Anastasia had only one other child; a girl, Eulojia.
Benigno's parents died when he was only a young teenager, so he decided to search for work in the southwestern region of the United States. After leaving Mexico, he resided in California, New Mexico, and Arizona. While in this region, he was joined by his sister, Eulojia Sandoval. Upon arriving in the United States, he decided to change his name to Benito.
Benito's sister Eulojia married Jose Gonzales and also moved northward. They resided in Kansas City, Kansas, with their children, Joe and Frank Gonzales.
Herminia Porrez
In 1902, Herminia Porrez was born to Eleno and Luz (Galvan) Porrez in San Lorenzo, Guanajuato, Mexico. Herminia's paternal grandparents were Tomas and Camilia (Riverra) Porrez. Her maternal grandparents were Manuel and Alejandra (Sanchez) Galvan. Herminia's baptismal godparents were Gregorio Quiroz and Nemecia Cisneros.
After the death of Herminia's father Eleno, Luz married Pedro Navarro. Due to poor economic conditions in Mexico, an aunt and uncle (tomasa (Mama Alejita's daughter) and Pablo Cruz, decided to migrate to the United States along with their three children: Jose, Guadalupe, and Jesus.
Herminia's brothers, Guadalupe Porrez and Jeronimo Porrez remained in Mexico after Herminia's departure. Mama Alejita later brought Guadalupe to California. He later hired an investigator to help him locate his sister. Upon locating Herminia in Iowa, Guadalupe Porrez joined his sister in Fort Madison, securing employment with the railroad. Guadalupe later sent for his brother, Jeronimo Porrez, who also joined them in Iowa.
Tomasa and Pablo Cruz opened their home in Fort Madison to railroad workers employed by the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. Benito was one of those boarders.
Marriage of Benito & Herminia
At the age of 12, Herminia Porrez spent her days attending school and cooking for the Cruz family and their boarders. It was under these circumstances that Benito and Herminia met.
Without the approval of the Cruz family, Benito and Herminia eloped on December 12, 1914. A copy of their marriage certificate showed that the couple was married as Benito Sandoval and Erminia Cruz. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that marriage between two baptized persons is a sacrament, so being of the Catholic faith, Benito and Herminia later repeated their vows in the church.
Starting a Family
Shortly after their marriage, there was a railroad strike in Fort Madison and the young couple moved to Minnesota seeking work on the railroad. It was here that their first son Paublo was born and later died in infancy due to a stomach disorder. Their son John and daughter Guadalupe (Lupe) were also born in Minnesota. As soon as the strike was over they returned to Fort Madison, Iowa to work again for the Santa Fe Railroad.
In the late 1920's, Benito and Herminia opened a grocery store, in addition to Benito's work at the railroad. Like most businesses during the depression, the Sandovals were unable to collect debts owed to them and the small grocery store closed in the early 1930s.
During their marriage, they had 12 children. During this time, doctors delivered babies at the patients homes. The remaining 9 children were born at 2306 Avenue N: Maria (Mary) in 1921, Rosa (Rosie) in 1923, Manuel in 1925, Jesus (Teddy/Joseph) in 1927, Baltazar in (1929), Eulalia (Toni) in 1930, Luz (Lucy) in 1932, Ernestine (Tinnie) in 1934, and Frank in 1938.
Later Years
On May 13, 1960, Benito Sandoval passed away from colon cancer at the age of 75. Following Benito's death, Hermina continue to live in her home at 2230 Avenue N in Fort Madison for the next 29 years. During these years, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren gathered at her home for Sunday dinner, where the aroma of delicious food and the sounds of laughter filled the air.
As Herminia's health slowly declined, her children lovingly assumed the responsibility of her daily care, allowing her to remain in the comfort of her home until her death on February 25, 1989.