Today, I continue my journey of finding my ancestors in Puerto Rico. I will focus on my great-grandmother on my father, Raul Resto Y Mijon, mother’s side, Rafaela Mijon Y Rivera. Meet my great-grandmother Juana Rivera Y Hernandez. It took me a long time to find this document because this book isn’t indexed. So you have to go page by page based on information you already know. Such as the name of her parents and grandparents.

Meet my great grandmother: Juana Rivera Y Hernandez

• Baptism: 15 April 1866, Nuestra Senora de la Conception de las Piedras, Diocese de Caguas, Puerto Rico
• Birth: 15 Mar 1866
• Father: Don Juan Pablo Rivera Y Lopez
• Mother: Dona Ramona Hernandez Y Pinero
• Grandparents Father’s Side: Don Pedro Rivera, and Dona Juana Lopez
• Grandparents Mother’s Side: Don Pedro Hernandez, and Dona Lucia Pinero
• Godparents: Don Pedro Hernandez, and Dona Lucia Pinero

In Puerto Rico school was required by law until the age of 9 years old. The Gazeta de Puerto Rico, Periodico Official Del Gobierno, 7 Aug 1875, listed Don Manuel Arce Y Alvarez as the Elementary School Teacher of Las Piedras. This is the school Juana Rivera Y Hernandez would have attended in 1875. In 1875 an Elementary School Teacher made 75 pesetas a month, at today’s rate conversion it would be about $2,500 per month.

I was excited at the thought that Juana had a elementary school education. Juana would have learned: reading, grammar, religion, geography and history of Spain, arithmetic, sacred history, calligraphy, agriculture and virtue. I hope Juana was able to walk to school with friends to share stories with, and friends to share in her joys. I hoped I could find Juana in a Superior Class List (High School) in the newspaper, but I couldn’t. At least not yet.

Juana was the oldest daughter of many siblings. Juana’s parents had a total of 11 children! They are all around 2 years apart which is average for that time period. I imagine part of being part of such a big family included helping around the house, and farm. Most likely she helped her mother with her younger brothers and sisters. Housekeeping chores around the house and farm was most likely a full time job. Juana turned 22 years old, on 15 March 1888. Did she dream of becoming a teacher like Don Manuel Arce Y Alvarez? Did she dream of having children of her own, like her own mother, Ramona? What did a young 22 year old girl in Puerto Rico dream of becoming in 1888? I’ll assume it was right around that time that she met her husband to be, Guadalupe. Then, on September 1st and 2nd, 1888, Hurricane “San Gil” passed over Puerto Rico, the wind and the heavy rain, caused severe flooding. Crops were damaged, boats destroyed, and livelihood, and lives changed. Over 100 people died. I’m sure that was a scary time for everyone, especially Juana. Did she feel life was over as she knew it?

Guadalupe Mijon Y Cintron, came from a well connected family with money, and prestige. His father Francisco Mijon Y Pena was a ship merchant, carrying cargo to and from different ports around the world. That’s a whole different story which I will get into in a future post. Guadalupe is a widow with 5 children. Ruffino, 15, Telesforo, 12, Juana, 10, Ricarda 7, and Ana 4. He needs help around his house, farm, and especially his kids. Guadalupe needs a wife and he needs her now! He proposes marriage to Juana, and on 21 December 1888, in Nuestra Senora del Rosario, Naguabo, Puerto Rico, they get married.

Guadalupe Mijon, Humacao, Puerto Rico, Widow of Eulogia Morales

• Marriage: 21 Dec 1888, Nuestra Senora del Rosario, Naguabo, Puerto Rico
• Spouse: Dona Juana Rivera Y Hernandez
• Father: Don Juan Pablo Rivera
• Mother: Dona Ramona Hernandez

I love a good romance movie. I want to believe Guadalupe and Juana were in love, and all that comes along with being newlyweds. Holding hands, running through fields with birds singing. The fact is life is different than a romance movie. Guadalupe has four children, cows that needed tending, and crops which needed tilling. I want to believe they were in love.

Juana and Guadalupe welcomed their 1st baby girl, Maria Encarnacion Mijon Y Rivera in May 1889, 5 months after their wedding. Yes I did the math. Did they have to get married? Were they married for all the wrong reasons? Who really knows? What I do know is Maria dies 3 months after her birth, 7 August 1889. The cause of her death, bronchitis.

I’ve never lost a child, but I do know friends who have. I’ve heard it described as an overwhelming sadness and despair, such that facing daily tasks or even getting out of bed can seem impossible. But Juana had to get out of bed. She had to put on a brave face. She had to clean her house, wash clothes, make dinner and she had to take care of her stepchildren. I’ll assume both older boys, Ruffino, 16 and Telesforo, 13, were already working on the family farm. I’ll also assume Juana, 11, Ricarda, 6 and Ana, 5 needed the care and love of a mother. I’ll assume Juana did her best to persevere. How many times did she get down on her knees to ask God why?

On 12 November 1889, Juana’s step daughter, Juana Mijon Y Morales died.

Juana Mijon Y Morales, Age 11.

• Death: 12 November 1889, Naguabo, Puerto Rico,
• Father: Guadalupe Mijon
• Mother: Euolgia Morales

Juana was a mere 11 years old when she died. Cause of death, Anemia. According to the National Library of Medicine, at the beginning of the twentieth century, anemia was the principal cause of death in Puerto Rico. But Juana didn’t know that. And although neither death was her fault I’m sure she took on some of the blame.

At some point between 13 November 1889 and 24 October 1890, Juana and Guadalupe moved to Humacao, Puerto Rico which is about 10 miles south of Naguabo. Maybe the living conditions were better. Maybe Guadalupe wanted to make everything better for his wife. I want to believe love conquers all. In this case, I think it did.

Meet my grandmother, Rafaela Mijon Y Rivera

Rafaela Mijon Y Rivera

• Baptism: 22 Nov 1890, Dulce Nombre de Jesus, Humacao, Puerto Rico
• Born: 24 October 1890
• Father: Jose Guadalupe Mijon
• Mother: Juana Rivera
• Grandparents Fathers Side: Francisco Mijon and Visitacion Cintron
• Grandparents Mothers Side: Pablo Rivera and Ramona Hernandez
• Godparents: Catalino Villafane and Leonarda Delgado

Juana’s prayers were answered. She must have been overjoyed and ultra cautious with arrival of her beautiful, blue eyed baby girl, the name Rafaela means “God has healed”. Nothing was going to happen to this baby, I’m sure Juana prayed, “Please God Keep My Baby Safe”. Juana would make sure Rafaela was fed, warm, and safe. Juana’s heart must have been full of joy. Juana was healed.

Two years later Juana and Guadalupe welcomed another baby girl, Juana Mijon Y Rivera.

Juana Mijon Y Rivera,

• Baptism: 10 July 1892, Dulce Nombre de Jesus, Humacao, Puerto Rico
• Born: 17 February 1892
• Father: Guadalupe Mijon
• Mother: Juana Rivera
• Grandparents Father’s Side: Francisco Mijon and Maria Visitacion Cintron
• Grandparents Mother’s Side: Pablo Rivera and Ramona Hernandez
• Godparents: Primitivo Carromero and Juliana Castro

What happened to Juana’s fairy tale after the birth of her daughter, Juana? I’ve yet to figure out. I’ve combed through the newspapers, and historical accounts trying to find answers. I’m hoping somehow, somewhere I could make some sense of her tragic death on 30 March 1893 in Humacao, Puerto Rico I didn’t want to focus on how Juana died.

I wanted to concentrate on how Juana lived, dreamed, and loved.

I pray my great-grandmother Juana knows her prayers were answered. My grandmother Rafaela, a woman with a strong faith, and inner strength, lived a long, happy life with lots of love. I am here today because Juana prayed and trusted God to keep her beautiful, blue eyed baby girl safe.

Hasta Luego Primos,

Lilly Resto Gunderman