Tejanos
Since 1712
Houston,
Galveston
Col.
Juan N. Seguin
Chapter
Added
11/13/06 
Current Seguin Family Pictures
On
10/03/03
SDHP
Researchers E-mail: Texan1836@seguindescendantshp.com
SDHP
Attends
Tejano
Association for Historical Preservation Meeting.
And Mr.
Rubio lectured about the research it took to write his book
Stolen Heritage.
Mr.Richard Perez, Mr.
Martinez, Mr. Vasquez, Mr.Marquez, Reading certificates
Mr. Richard Perez, &
Mr. Gunny Vasquez presenting Mr. Rubio with a korean veterans cap
This is a speech that
Mrs. Loretta Williams read at the dedication of the
Raul C. Martinez East
End Court house Annex
Sept 17, 2003
Raul C. Martinez
was a ninth generation Texan born on Nov. 30, 1923 in Goliad,
Texas. He was the second of 11 children born to Paula and
Placido Martinez, who worked as a sharecropper.
Raul C. Martinez
served in the Civilian Conservation Corp and joined the Army in
WWII. He was the first Hispanic Police officer hired by the
Houston Police Dept. in 1950 and would also be the first Hispanic
to rise in the ranks of the dept. In 1973, County Judge
Bill Elliott appointed him as Harris County Constable Precinct 6
a position that he would be elected to and served for five terms.
After years of public
service, Raul C. Martinez passed away on Aug. 23, 1990.
Commissioner Sylvia
Garcia, Precinct 2 spearheaded the naming of the East End Annex
and it was approved unanimously by Commissioners court.
On Sept. 17, 2003 a
Dedication Ceremony was held, and the following is the speech
that I presented.
Speech
given by Loretta M. Williams on Sept. 17, 2003 at Dedication
Ceremony
Author
Abel Rubio, family historians Estella Zermeno and Benny Martinez,
contributed
with
the following information:
We’re
here today to honor a man who opened new avenues for minorities,
was the first in many areas and would also help others be first.
He was an inspiration to us all. Raul. C. Martinez, was a
Tejano, a Mexican Texan and a proud American. Raul’s
family on his maternal side came from the Canary Islands,
Lanzarote, a Spanish province. This Cabrera Family was one
of the 16 chosen families who were sent by King Philpe V of Spain
to found the Villa de San Fernando and established the first
civil municipal government in Texas, now the city of San Antonio.
They arrived March 9, 1731, were honored with Spanish Titles and
granted land. But like so many other immigrants trying to
arrive to this great land, Raul’s 6th
great grandmother and 6th great
grand father Juan and Maria Cabrera died enroute on the Via Appa Road
from Veracruz.His fifth great grand Uncle Joseph Cabrera was a
Spanish Soldier in Tejas by 1735. In 1749 he was stationed
at the Presidio La Bahia, Goliad. His brother Marcos
Raul’s 5th
great grandfather served as a cavalryman in the Spanish army and
died in battle with the Indians on March 8, 1769.On Raul’s
paternal side his 4th
great grandfather Pedro Becerra was born in Louisiana in
1730 and his son Miguel, Raul’s 3rd
Great Grand Uncle was born in 1757 at La Bahia, Goliad. Miguel
was listed in the 1780 Census at La Bahia as a Spanish Soldier
and took part in a trail ride to carry cattle and sheep to
Bernardo Galvez' troops during the American Revolution. Miguel
Becerra was also the grandfather to Col. Juan N. Seguin, the only
native Texan to fight both at the Alamo and at San Jacinto. Manuel
Becerra, Raul’s 3rd
Great Grandfather served as the firstAyuntamiento (City
Secretary) of Goliad in 1820 and held various public offices
until 1835. Manuel Becerra would be a land grantee, guide of
Stephen F. Austin, and as sindico, civil judge signed peace
treaties with the Karanakawa and Coco Indians.Raul’s 4th
Great Grandfather, Vicente Cabrera was a Spanish Cavalry Soldier
for 49 years 10 of which was with the Alamo Company. His 3rd
great grand father Juan Manuel Cabrera was also a Spanish soldier
and after the Independence of Mexico from Spain, served as a
Mexican Soldier. Raul’s 3rd
Great Grand Uncle also named Juan Manuel Cabrera served under
Seguin in the fight for Texas Independence and his name is listed
in the barracks of the Alamo under Seguin’s 9th
Company of Texas Volunteers. Mariano Cabrera, Raul's 2nd
great grandfather along with other families was ordered by the
Mexican Gen. Filisola to leave Goliad during the Texas Revolution
in 1836 bearing witness to Goliad’s darkest period of
history.Raul’s great grandfather Macario Cabrera served in
the Confederate States of America. Once again in times of
war the family would be split as others would follow to muster in
the Confederate Army. Raul’s great grand Uncle
Anacleto Cortinas would be the only member from the family to
serve with the Union Army as aSgt. in the First Texas Cavalry. Raul’s
great grand mother Paula Martinez, unhappy about the segregation
of schools in Goliad served in 1933 as President of the Ladies
Auxiliary LULAC Council #2. His Father Placido served in 1937 as
President of LULAC Council #21 in Goliad and became involved in
the court case of Delgado vs. Bastrop that ruled segregation was illegal
of Mexican American children in Bastrop ISD and three other
districts. This case began a 10-year struggle led by LULAC
and the GI Forum in the courts against the segregation of Mexican
American children in the Texas Public School Systems.The legacy
of this family for over 270 years, includes pioneers, founders
and defenders of Texas. They were tough Tejanos proud to be
Americans. To quote the eloquence of my Uncle Roy
himself, “Our dues have been higher than most, we will
continue to pay them. We will continue to preserve our
colorful heritage.Our glorious past is as beautiful as America
and we love America.”
1st Priority
Search & Recovery
SDHP Col. Juan N. Seguin Postage Stamp Project
Sign
On Line Petition Here
for the issuance of a postage stamp of Col. Juan
N. Seguin
Webmasters E-mail: Tejano1836@seguindescendantshp.com
SDHP
10076 C. R. 311 Plantersville TX, 77363
Copyrighted
© Mrs. L. Williams 2003,2007
Copyrighted © 2001-2007
Angel Seguin Carvajal
Garcia
Founders SDHP & 1st Priority Search & Recovery
No copying without
written permission"