Florenzio Figueroa Acuña

Florenzio Acuña (spelling is correct as evidenced in his original handwriting on his WWI registration card signed 1918) was born August 19th, 1879 in Mexico. His father was, Jose Maria Acuna; and his mother's maiden name was Demetria Figueroa, both of Mexico.

In the period before and during WWI, the mining companies of Arizona heavily recruited Mexican and European immigrants to work the mines. In the villages south of the Mexican border there existed an abundance of capable workers, many of them experienced in working ores. It was a natural move for Florenzio and his family to follow the work north from the Buenavista Mining Camp in Sonora to the mines of Bisbee, a melting pot Mexican, Irish, Welsh, and Eastern European immigrant miners. In 1917 there would have been upwards of 5000 men working the mines of Bisbee 24 hours a day. Documents list Florenzio’s occupation as blacksmith assistant at the Higgins Shaft Mine in Bisbee. [ Read about mining conditions in Bisbee in 1917 ]

When did the family move from Sonora to Arizona? Florenzio’s first son, Fransisco (Chico) was born in the Buenavista Mining Camp, Sonora in 1905. His birth was recorded by Florenzio & Mercedes before a civil judge in Sonora in October of 1909. Second son, Jose Maria was born July 15, 1909 in Buenavista and died in infancy, November 22, 1910 in Cananea, Sonora. Third son, Florencio (Lencho) was born 1912 in Cananea. Daughter, Demetria (Meta) was born 1914 in Cananea. Daughter, Socorro was born June 10^th, 1916 in Cananea and she died a year later, June 30^th, 1917 in Bisbee, Arizona. Records show the family living in the Moon Canyon neighborhood of Bisbee in 1918. Other children were born in Bisbee, including: Trinidad, born August 10, 1917 and died February 22, 1918; Mercedes (Maya) born 1920, Alicia born July 19, 1921. A wonderful photo of the Acuna children was taken around 1920. [ See the photo ]

As for the date of the family move: Florenzio, Mercedes, and their family of four children immigrated to Arizona between June 1916 and June 1917 as evidenced by the place and dates of Socorro's birth & death. There is a contradiction, though, as Demetria's permanent residence declaration recorded in Cochise County Superior Court in 1944 states that her point of entry to the US was at Naco, Arizona on August 11, 1915. [ See the document ]

Florenzio registered for the WWI draft in Bisbee in 1918. [ Click here to see the registration card] Two months later the Armistice was signed ending the war. Florenzio died September 19, 1921. [ See the certificate of death ] Oral family history reports that Florenzio died when he took too much herbal medication for a digestive problem. The death certificate confirms this was the case as the contributing factor of “Valerian,” an herbal, is indicated. The certificate reports the cause of death as “shock” following “Laparotomy,” a surgical incision into the abdominal wall done to examine internal organs. Shock was a common cause of unexplained sudden death during surgery.

Cemetary records show Florenzio was buried in Bisbee’s Evergreen Cemetary on 09/20/1921 in Grave #13 of Section 20 of the East General division of the cemetery.

There is only one known photo of Florenzio taken about 1913 in Mexico. [ See the photo] The occasion of the photo is unknown, but includes Florenzio’s mother, sister and nephew as well as Mercedes, Chico & Lencho. Since Florenzio’s father, Jose Maria, is not in the photo, it is presumed that he died before 1913. If you know of another photo of Florenzio, could you please scan and e-mail the photo to me or send me an unfolded printed copy by mail? Thank you.