http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/
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A NEW ENGLAND YANKEE IN KING SANTA ANNA'S COURT
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By <strong>Juan Montoya</strong><br />When I used to work for Cameron County's Road and Bridge Precinct No. 1, we used to tease foreman Joe Cuellar because he had blue eyes. Of course, everyone called him "El Borrado," because of his colored eyes, somewhat of a rarity in short, dark people like Joe.<br />Now we find out that Cuellar, like a few other South Texas residents is part of the region's living history.<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCJfOjCjm3ZcrFUqoLIIgvbsktuXthM-rvA2tV8z_p9NfxNqsymtrT2RBmT7Xxr-jk72JtbgC3In2oDTcKX124dx6L-nT3u_PYZOWSrYdJcRhu__C8kR1KaO_u2Lkw5YlAKAgksEp5Qra/s1600/webber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCJfOjCjm3ZcrFUqoLIIgvbsktuXthM-rvA2tV8z_p9NfxNqsymtrT2RBmT7Xxr-jk72JtbgC3In2oDTcKX124dx6L-nT3u_PYZOWSrYdJcRhu__C8kR1KaO_u2Lkw5YlAKAgksEp5Qra/s320/webber.jpg" width="276" /></a>During a genealogy search, his children found out that they were descendants of a Vermont Yankee named John Ferdinand Webber who came to Texas in 1826 with Moses Austin's colony in 1826.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Webber was born in 1876 (?) in Danvaille, Vt., and served as a private in Capt. S. Dickinson's company, Thirty-first United States Infantry from May 13, 1813 to May 31, 1814 and fought in the Battle of Shadage Woods.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A genealogy website (Geni) confirms a Texas Online account of this unusual (and progressive) historical character.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">He served in the War of 1812 as a medical technician. In 1832, Webber settled in Wells Prairie on the Colorado River sixteen miles below present Austin. He built a fort as protection against Indians, which developed into the village of Webberville. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Webber bought Silvia (hector), slave of a neighbor, freed and married her. He provided private tutors for his eleven children (another was born later). Seeking tolerance for his biracial family, he moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 1851. </div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In 1853, he purchased 8,856 acres in Agostadero del Gato Land Grant for his Webber Ranch and other property in La Blanca Grant. As a Yankee, he supported the Union cause, and moved the family to Mexico during the Civil War.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">However, when he returned from Mexico in May 1865, he started receiving a small pension from the United States in 1872. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Webber sold the northern half of his ranch to Edward Dougherty in 1877. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">His other tracts, about 4,000 acres, were gradually broken up until his death on July 19, 1882. He bequeathed each of his children 34.5 acres; his daughter Marcella received the family cemetery in her share. That cemetery on the levee road, a short distance above the Donna, Texas pump, still exists. His widow died in September 1892. His heirs sold most of his property to Alamo Land & Sugar Company by 1918.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Much of it has been recombined and is now part of Krenmiller Farms of San Juan.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Cuellar said he and his family were always curious about their ancestor and his wife and are seeking more information on Sylvia Hector, the slave woman who married Webber. Some of his family still lives in the Donna area on land originally acquired by Webber.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If you can help them to trace the origin of Sylvia to her reported Louisiana birthplace, please email your information to <a href="mailto:rrunrrun@gmail.com">rrunrrun@gmail.com</a> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-3176262520014918277?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-england-yankee-in-king-santa-annas.html
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BLUE FLU HITS BROWNSVILLE FIRE DEPT. OVER CHRISTMAS, LENNY SHUTS ST. CHARLES FIRE STATION NO. 2 DOWN
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By <strong>Juan Montoya</strong><br />What if they had a fire and nobody went?<br />That totally intolerable situation developed over the weekend when Brownsville Fire Station Number Two at at 536 West Saint Charles Street was left unmanned Saturday afternoon.<br />Brownsville Fire Chief Lenny Perez said too many Brownsville firefighters (a source said there were 10 firefighters) called in sick.<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9io6QbPN5yWdL-moHyISJF4iTjq-_bre6M-AzhFSFMXjuX44RUzZnPV1cOsJewdnlknnLpIu6F8ZYjPWMkUWU0VR-GUoa3a1facmfm7p5EboQB5v9hH41xFeP1Om7eEQ5qbtebak0F1m/s1600/FireStation2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9io6QbPN5yWdL-moHyISJF4iTjq-_bre6M-AzhFSFMXjuX44RUzZnPV1cOsJewdnlknnLpIu6F8ZYjPWMkUWU0VR-GUoa3a1facmfm7p5EboQB5v9hH41xFeP1Om7eEQ5qbtebak0F1m/s320/FireStation2.jpg" width="320" /></a>As a result, Perez said that he had to move firefighters from that location to make up for the lack of firefighters at other stations.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Unmindful of exposing the residents of that populous neighborhood to danger, Perez and his assistant chiefs decided to abandon that station to provide fire protection elsewhere in the city.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7v3bxQfDn4dDIJjY7_5PsjXIsXbdu-4YkaB29wcbIf2IGbM4I8asDOp_sZZjoE2Wn72A8pOO4skugpGbTgR9fz8McfuphvRCk_nGoEmHLABrxEt411JSkXTeUSRwG8yJEVLeMlX2c_wTp/s1600/lenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7v3bxQfDn4dDIJjY7_5PsjXIsXbdu-4YkaB29wcbIf2IGbM4I8asDOp_sZZjoE2Wn72A8pOO4skugpGbTgR9fz8McfuphvRCk_nGoEmHLABrxEt411JSkXTeUSRwG8yJEVLeMlX2c_wTp/s200/lenny.jpg" width="200" /></a>A firefighter who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals said that the so-called Blue Flu came about as a result of the recent decision by the city administration to eliminate overtime for firefighters. Not only did some call in sick, but others also refused to man the stations because they would not be paid for the extra time they were required to stay during the holiday.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In response to the anonymous firefighter who complained that citizens in the area were exposed to danger,<br />Perez responded by saying firefighters should not be complaining.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"This is their own doing," he said, apparently forgetting that he and the firefighters union have been at loggerheads over the overtime issue and the "me too" clause that says the city should compensate firefighters and police when a contract with either compensates them more than the other for their services.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The station was reported open and fully manned after the Christmas holiday.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-8333054261452294738?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2011/12/blue-flu-hits-st-charles-fire-station.html
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LUCIO DECLARES SELF PALADIN OF U.S. HISPANICS
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<em>"Lucio said he would be researching what Gingrich said because he has not seen the offending remarks come directly out of his mouth."</em> Steve Taylor in the <em>Rio Grande Guardian</em><br /><br /><br />By <strong>Juan Montoya</strong><br />Even though he admits that he has not personally heard Republican presidential nominee front runner Newt Gingrich speak eveil of his fellow Hispanics and their language and culture, Texas Sen. Eddie Lucio is making like the Cowardly Lion saying he will campaign across the Southwest to urge Republicans to defeat his bid.<br />"Put 'em up, Newt. Put 'em up," you could literally hear Eddie challenging the former Speaker of the U.S. House.<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdvajC3w9AYow36fSwWJ4F-_z8WKuV7i_21kbKwAwEIer0EQw3THPO7qw2SL4mcoIIA-Zeaamv7J9EHt6Fy5Wx1wUEC8qg4GTVEF6xOsABj9n5stfxy7an4dmDKg5k8oLrR5ygjn730vQ/s1600/lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdvajC3w9AYow36fSwWJ4F-_z8WKuV7i_21kbKwAwEIer0EQw3THPO7qw2SL4mcoIIA-Zeaamv7J9EHt6Fy5Wx1wUEC8qg4GTVEF6xOsABj9n5stfxy7an4dmDKg5k8oLrR5ygjn730vQ/s200/lion.jpg" width="200" /></a>One could just imagine Lucio's wrath(?) echoing across the hustingas as he gets ready to seek reelection.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Lucio, D-Brownsville, is going on his 21st year representing District 27 in South Texas which includes all of Cameron County, a slice of Hidalgo, and the empty stretches of farmland in Kleberg and Kenedy counties, told the Guardian's Steve Taylor that he was "outraged" by remarks Gingrich reportedly made about the Spanish language. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In 2007, Gingrich told the National Federation of Republican Women that that Spanish is the “language of living in the ghetto.†In the speech, he blasted bilingual education and the law that allows states to use more than one language on ballots and other government documents. In Texas and other states across the southwest, English and Spanish are used.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">“We should replace bilingual education with immersion in English ... so they learn the language of prosperity, not the language of living in a ghetto,†Gingrich famously said. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCY1MUC0UOZQ64M-lkADEa6sudp0XQplkpdA7d7Ft8HavGLsozf_M46SoWlh2Tatr2iZ1v53VW6F2S4wGpM1fXBAU38X41nYllD_IPTtzHE7JQNnoMF7dCSG3R-s7AKTdzuu2tAaW3DRF/s1600/lucio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCY1MUC0UOZQ64M-lkADEa6sudp0XQplkpdA7d7Ft8HavGLsozf_M46SoWlh2Tatr2iZ1v53VW6F2S4wGpM1fXBAU38X41nYllD_IPTtzHE7JQNnoMF7dCSG3R-s7AKTdzuu2tAaW3DRF/s1600/lucio.jpg" /></a>Lucio, in his best West Texas drawl so alien to his poverty-stricken constituents, he said he was "deeply offended that anyone who wants to be president of this country, a country of immigrants, a country that was formed by taking Mexican land to begin with, would utter such comments,†Lucio told Taylor.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">During the current presidential campaign, Gingrich has recanted, putting out a video in Spanish that says, “The words I chose to express myself with were not the best.†He is currently ahead in a number of opinion polls among Republican presidential hopefuls.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Gingrich’s apology is not good enough for Lucio, a fifth generation American.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">“"I will start blasting away. I will campaign in Texas, in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, all the states that have high numbers of Latinos, in opposition to Newt Gingrich,†Lucio said.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">“How dare Gingrich say Spanish is the language of the ghetto? It is a slap in the face for anyone of Hispanic origin,†Lucio said. “Spanish is the loveliest language around, a most beautiful language, if you speak it well. I want to make sure everyone in the world knows what he said.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now, we at <em>El Rrun-Rr</em>un don't know what the rest of our three readers will think of Eddie drawing his six-shooters and taking a bead on Gingrich, but we must say that this bombast is not at all characteristic of Lucio, who is best content to use his public position to milk the lobbyists for all the loot he can. Whether you want to build a prison, an international bridge, or any other structure within his reach, he will suddenly appear as a paid consultant to contractors building (or not building) the boondoggles.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">He is currently pushing for the construction of a second causeway to South Padre Island, a multi-million dollar undertaking pushed by the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority. If we were him, we wouldn't go off running after Newt across the desert wastes of the Southwest to defend our honor while the possibility exists that he may get a slice of the pie while the taking is good.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-4959939797983225657?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2011/12/lucio-declares-self-paladin-of-us.html
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