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Victor Gonzales and the Hispanic legacy in McCook
Susan Doak
SW Nebraska Genealogy Society
McCOOK, Neb. -- In order to tell this story I must back-track for a moment to lead into how our country became the melting pot it is. North America had land, lots and lots of land, and not enough people to settle it or to provide the labor to build it into what we are today. The United States, along with Brazil, Argentina and Australia, wanted the immigrant populations (well, at least the healthy, hard-working ones) and those four countries were proving to be an opportunity unavailable in the old countries left behind.
In the Red Willow County censuses preceding 1930, there were few names indicating anything but European decent but in 1930 with the railroad running hard, that changed! Appearing in Willow Grove Township, on railroad right-of-way, you find many Hispanic surnames: Rodrigues, Monzon, Cuellar, Acosta, Enriques, Ortiz and Gonzales. Those families listed box cars or other company owned property as their homes and among them was little Victor Gonzales, 6 years old, son of James and Mary. Additionally, Jessie Gonzales, Jessie Rangel, Frank Grayer and John Deise (Mexican nationals) lived with the family. The 1940 census finds him in his first year of high school, living in the same building as in 1935 located on railroad property just west of the viaduct. The following siblings were listed with Vic: Andrea, Joseph, Peter, Raymond, Virginia, Angelina, Alfred, Paul, Cecilia, and baby Susanne. Fred Moran, Hazel Spencer and Hazel Snyder show as additional members of the household.
According to the census, his father James had been born in Mexico but his mother Mary was born in Texas and for all the families while the parents spoke Spanish, similar to the Germanic immigrants I knew, the children were apparently encouraged to be, and were listed as, English speaking.
The heads of every Hispanic surname family above listed laborer for the steam railroad as their occupation and so, as it did for the Irish, the Chinese, and many other men seeking a different life for themselves and their families, the railroad opened the door to moving into another economic level for these immigrants. It was not an easy door to open, and no one would imagine there was not some blatant discrimination, but they all worked hard to make sure their families could walk through that door with their heads held high.
Education was the second key to their children's success and again the United States provided something unavailable in a lot of other countries: free education to all children within its boundaries. Vic took advantage of this education having finished all three years of high school before enlisting in the service.
War becomes the great equalizer as men enter into military service to protect those families left behind. On Jan. 22, 1943, at the age of 19, Victor L. Gonzales enlisted in the military in Denver, Colorado. His status was: Single, without dependents. Height: 5' 7" Weight: 134.
His friend, Joseph Cuellar, enlisted shortly afterward on May 3, 1943, in Denver, Colorado and was also single, without dependents, 5' 3" tall and weighed 104 pounds.
And so the story of dedication to their country of birth (their parents' country of choice) begins as Vic and Joe (and many of their friends and family) set out to become a part of what is considered "The Greatest Generation."
My next installment will venture into the years with the Nebraska National Guard.
SWNGS meets this Saturday, June 7th, 1 PM, 110 West C, Suite M-3. Join us to learn how to explore your own family history!