The following information was received in Oct 2005 from John Virgil Montoya.

My grandfather was Juan Jesus Montoya, the son of Juan Antonio Montoya and Soledad Casias. Antonio Montoya's parents were Jose Domingo and Maria de la Cruz Martinez. Soledad's parents were Manuel Casias and Teodorita Maria Silva, and Soledad's grandparents were Jose Mariano Silva and Maria Manuela Martin.

My grandfather Jesus was born in 1865 and died in 1941. He wanted to cut this tree down so he could built a bridge to cross the river. My grandfather and my brother Joe cut the tree down, but it landed wrong. Joe had to leave because he had to take some feed to the sheep. He was cutting some branches off and the tree rolled on him. He was under that tree until my uncle Damian (Jesus son) and my brother Robert found him. He even helped to pull himself out, but once they pulled him out, blood circulated and he died a few seconds later. My grandfather married my grandmother, Filomena Sisneros in 1889 and she died in 1954. Her parents lived in upper Lucero about a mile from Julian Montoya home. Jesus lived about 2 miles east of Lucero The first house that you see coming from Rainsville is the house of Damian Montoya (son of Jesus) and then Jesus Montoya's house. Very little is left of it. The next house is Epifanio Montoya's house, who is my dad.

My brother tells me that the Antonio Montoya (my great grandfather) house was about 50 yards below Damian's house. Joe tells me that the house was a real big round empty house that he used to play in when he was little. My brother Joe is in his upper 80s so he gives me a lot of good info. It is possible that the house was the house of Domingo Montoya before it became Antonio's home. There is a big Montoya ranch between Ojo Felez and Ocate that my dad used to say was his uncle Domingo Montoya's ranch. That was probably Antonio Montoya's brother.

That old cemetery by our house was where most of our relatives on my dad's side were buried. Even my oldest sister Rachel is buried there. Thanks to my brothers Joe, Max, and Robert for giving me a lot good information. Thank you too Gerry.

..... John Virgil Montoya

Note: John also sent a photograph, which I'll post here in the next few weeks.

Thanks to John (aka Virgil) for his input about his family history.

If anyone else wishes to add information to this web page, please send it to me at my yahoo email address. I'll be glad to make this as informative as you would like.

...... Gerry