San Elizario Genealogy & Historical Society

History of San Elizario
1500's - By 1531, Hernan Cortez had conquered the Aztec Empire. The Spaniards started migrating to the north. By 1535, Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca and his group were exploring what is now southwest United States, and passed through what is now San Elizario. There were other exploratory expeditions through this area-in 1582-83, the Espejo-Beltran Expedition.
Juan de Oñate & 1st Thanksgiving
After Juan de Oñate arrived in N.M., the group lived there for eighty years and from there they continued their explorations. When necessary, messengers rode back to Chihuahua and wagons transported much needed supplies on the Camino Real.
1600's - It was not until 1659 that the Mission of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe was established at El Paso del Norte (present day Juarez, Mexico), and now travelers had a place to rest before continuing their journey to and from Chihuahua.
In 1680, the Pueblo Indians, of New Mexico, revolted against the Spaniards, killing many and burning their homes. Several thousand escaped and fled south towards El Paso del Norte. The Mission could not accommodate so many people. By this time there were large Spanish settlements in the area near the Mission and a few miles east down the Rio Grande, an area called Senecu. Some of the people were settled in Senecu, others among them were the Tigua Indians who had come south with the Spaniards, some voluntarily, others brought as slaves, were settled in Isleta del Sur, (present day Ysleta, Texas). Still others were settled a few miles east in the town called Socorro (now Socorro, Texas). A military base named San Lorenzo was established where present day San Elizario now stands. Three years later this base was moved closer to the Lady of Guadalupe Mission. A small mission was also established in San Elizario around 1680. It was named “Nuestra Señora del Pilar y Glorioso San Jose”.
Some eight years later, the Spaniards went back to re-conquer New Mexico. Those who chose to remain here are the ancestors of a great number of local people, of Spanish descent, who still live in San Elizario and the surrounding area and many more who are scattered all over the United States.
The land around San Elizario was so fertile that although the Spanish army chose to relocate San Lorenzo, people chose to establish residence here. One such family was the Tiburcio Ortega family. Father and son bore the same name and their large hacienda was named “Los Tiburcios”. Others followed the Ortega family and soon there was a farming community in the area. Unfortunately, the Apaches killed some people and others moved for fear of the Apaches.
The Spanish military had established a fort about thirty miles east of Los Tiburcios (near present day Fort Hancock, Texas) which they had named San Elceario, in honor of the Catholic Church’s saint and a patron of the military.
1700's - In 1789 they relocated the military base to the Hacienda de Los Tiburcios to protect the residents from the Apaches. With the help of the local people, the military built a large presidio (garrison). A chapel was built inside the presidio to serve the military and their families. From El Presidio de San Elceario, soldiers traveled in various directions to wherever their services were needed. A town grew around the Presidio.
1800's - By 1821, Mexico won independence from Spain. The area was now under Mexican rule. The presidio was practically abandoned but the people continued to use the chapel until 1829 when a huge flood rendered it and several other buildings useless. The flood left the towns of Ysleta, Socorro and San Elceario between the two bodies of water but still under Mexican Rule.
By 1836, Texas won independence from Mexico and it became the Republic of Texas. San Elceario and its sister town were now in the Republic of Texas. The towns of San Elceario, Socorro and Ysleta had actually been a part of Mexico for only about 15 years.
In 1845, Texas joined the union, and San Elceario was now part of the United States. The United States contested Mexico to establish the southern boundary-which in this area and the rest of Texas, became the Rio Grande.
San Elceario continued to prosper. It was the largest town in the area. In 1850 it became the first county seat of El Paso County. Some of our local residents became members of the first County Commissioners Court. Many others served as commissioners in subsequent years. Many served as County Judges and Justices of the Peace. We had the first courthouse in the county. Unfortunately, the building was demolished some years ago.
The building which houses our historical museum was built around 1850 and is known as “Los Portales” (The Portals). It was once the residence of Capt. Gregorio Nacianceno Garcia, a well-known respectable member of the San Elizario community in the 1835-1898 era.
Capt. Garcia donated the building to the town of San Elceario to be used as a Public School. He hired the first school teacher and organized and became a member of the first school board. Thus, this building housed the first public school in El Paso County and served the town as such until 1936.
The building that served as a stop and rest station for the “Butterfield Stage Coach Line” still stands and is situated behind the San Elizario Church.
San Elizario had the first gristmill. The farmers from around the area brought their wheat and corn to the mill to be ground and sacked.
The early Spanish settlers established an irrigation system that still serves local farmers. The system was improved when the area became part of Texas.
The first pecan tree planted in the area was planted in San Elizario around 1850. El Paso County presently produces large quantities of pecans.
In 1870 Gregorio Nacianceno Garcia wrote the Texas Governor asking for help because the Apaches were stealing their livestock. The Rangers delayed in coming so Mr. Garcia organized a militia with the men from San Elizario to try and protect their property. Later the Texas Rangers did come and made the militia a part of the Texas Rangers. This company was given the name “Company N” Frontier Forces with Captain Gregorio N. Garcia as commander. Capt. Garcia was wounded in the arm by an arrow shot by Apache Chief Victorio. His arm was paralyzed and he could no longer continue as captain. A second Ranger Company was organized under the leadership of Captain Telesforo Montes. It was known as Company “D” Minute Men of Texas.
In 1879, the Sister of Loretto established Saint Joseph’s School in San Elizario. The school was located on “Convent Road”.
Somewhere along the way, after the area became part of Texas, the town’s name was changed from “San Elceario” to San Elizario”. Some say the reason for the name change was to aid the English speaking population with its pronunciations.