Tapia, Elías (Albuquerque, NM)

Authors

• mss 565 013

Document Type

Audio

Publication Date

5-31-1984

Comments

94 years old, originally from San Ignacio in the Río Puerco area. Memories of his childhood in Río Puerco and Atrisco. La Hacienda del Ojo en Cañoncito donde su papá criaba ganado al partir. Los Indios Navajoes used to pass to El Ojo to ask for coffee. Life in El Ojo, poverty and las matanzas de becerros para vender los cueros en Albuquerque. When his mother died they moved to Atrisco. Family genealogy. Memories of working in la Borrega as a young man. He was the campero [the food and water carrier]. He used to shepherd a large herd of about a thousand sheep. They used to walk with the heard miles from Atrisco to San Ignacio. Los carros de caballos  y caballos as means of transportation. Los Herreras were the owners of la Hacienda del Ojo.  Había mucha agua en El Ojo. People were religious and used to got to church in San Ignacio. Memories of his work at the school in Armijo. Many people from El Ojo moved to Atrisco. His father moved to Atrisco when his mother died and remarried Predicanda Herrera, who used to have lands and orchards in Atrisco. La Plaza de Atrisco and the heirship system for holding land property in Atrisco. More memories of his life as 'borreguero' [sheep shepherd] and how he moved permanently from Escobosa to Atrisco after he married and his family started to grow. Life during the Great Depression and his time working with the WPA , life as a farmer and raising horses.

Recommended Citation

Atrisco Oral History Project (MSS 565), Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University Libraries, University of New Mexico.