Arriaga-Gonzales Family
The Arriaga-Gonzales family, with roots in Purísima del Rincón, Guanajuato, boasts a rich legacy through Ygnacio Arriaga (seated second from left), a dedicated member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, the Comité Patriotico, the Confederation of Mexican Workers, and a Southern Pacific Lines foreman since arriving in Austin in the early 1900s.
His profound commitment to public service, faith, and community involvement, including organizing numerous annual 16 de Septiembre and 5 de Mayo celebrations, has left an enduring mark, evidenced by the family’s over 100 descendants living in the Austin area today, including current AISD District 6 Trustee, Andrew Gonzales.
Limon Family
The Limon family traces its roots back to 1889 when José Limon moved to Austin, Texas from Mexico. Upon arrival, José met Bernabe, who became his wife and mother of their 11 children. Over the past century, their family quickly grew and became heavily involved within the Austin community through political involvement, business, and advocacy.
Many Limon’s have resided on Calle Limon, a street renamed in the family’s honor. Each year, the Limons gather at Webberville Park for a family reunion that draws hundreds of direct relatives. This tradition reflects the family’s moto “Siempre Unidos” as a testament of the strong family bonds. The Zamarripa family are direct descendants of the Limon family dating back to the early 1900’s. For decades, both families have been trailblazers within the Austin community. John Treviño, a brother to Josephina Zamarripa and cousin to Johnny Limon, was Austin’s first elected Latino city council member and Austin’s first Latino Mayor Pro Tem selected by city council members.
Saldaña Family
The Saldaña family history began in central Texas and Austin when their great-grandmother Sebastiana Tavetas moved from Mexico after the start of the 1910 Mexican Revolution. Their great-grandfather Santos Saldaña, born in 1888, also moved from Mexico to Austin. As devout Catholics, they were parishioners of the original Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic.
The church and school were built in 1907 on East 5th and Guadalupe. In 1926, prior to the infamous 1928 Master Plan, the church was torn down, and the leftover materials were used to build the current church at 9th and Lydia. Felipe, son of Santos and Sebastiana, worked as a trusted employee at the Calcasieu Lumberyard for over 30 years and was one of very few keyholders of the yard. Calcasieu was started in 1883 and part of Austin’s original square mile located at Lavaca and 2nd Streets. Felipe’s wife Mary worked at the L. East Poultry Plant, founded in 1913, was originally located in downtown Austin. Felipe and Mary Saldaña had six children who attended the original Palm Elementary School from 1946 through 1960. The Saldaña family is now six generations strong and remains active church parishioners and community leaders in Austin.
Quintanilla Family
The Quintanilla family resided on Rainey Street, and their children, Anita, Linda, Ralph, and Catherine (Cat), all of whom were born in the Rainey Neighborhood, are among the earliest Mexican American families to settle in the Rainey Street Historic District and among the best known for their leadership on behalf of Mexican Americans in Austin.
By the 1940s, the Quintanilla family lived at 71 ½ Rainey Street, and the patriarch, Sam Quintanilla, was well known as a salesman and later realtor and insurance broker, with offices on 6th street. In the 1970s, Sam Quintanilla was a founding member of the Greater Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Quintanilla family led at Palm School, where Sam served as PTA chair, and daughter Anita as 4th grade queen, safety patrol captain and president of the Girl Scouts. Cat Quintanilla was honored as Queen of the Palm School. Quintanilla family members have served the community in capacities as activists, educators, artists and politicians. Anita has been a strong advocate for preservation and protection of the Rainey Street Historic District, Palm School and Palm Park. Linda Quintanilla provides invaluable volunteer services at the Austin History Center, and Cat Quintanilla has served as Mayor of the City of Sunset Valley.
Zamarripa Family
The Zamarripa family, rooted in a deep commitment to education, faith, and public service, began with the marriage of Guillermo Zamarripa and Josephina “Fina”Moreno in 1945. Settling into life together, they built a family that grew to include 14 children. A testament to the family’s emphasis on education, all 13 surviving children graduated from high school, 8 graduated from college and 2 earned law degrees. Throughout the decades, family members have followed in Josephina’s footsteps by being active in public service, volunteering with various organizations, and active in their respectedCatholic churches. Zamarripa family members continue to share and grow their wealth of knowledge by means of writing and documenting family stories, nursing, and teaching catechism and bilingual classes.
Pacheco Family
The Pacheco Family emigrated to the US from Tamaulipas, Mexico due to the Mexican Revolution. Mr. Jose Pacheco came to the US accompanied by his padrino Eustasio Cepeda, a teacher who fought for immigrant rights. There is now a library in his honor over Springfield and 7 Street.
Mr. Pacheco’s father was a humble philanthropist and respected restaurateur (his restaurant was located in downtown and existed over 30 years). During his teen years Joe Pacheco worked as a newspaper delivery boy and helped his father with his business, further strengthening the Pacheco’s connection to the 5 St. corridor.