Comments on: Ygnacio Garcia's Gifts to the Community

By: Edward Molina

Edward Molina — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 02:36:59 +0000

I am also related to the Garcia family mentioned here,and share these same stories with my kids.
My grandmother is Theodore Garcia and is daughter to Ygnacio Garcia Sr, my grandmother also had some brothers and sisters, brothers by the name of Nachito, Bill and Johnny, sisters , marie,(Piva)and Mari elena(Lena) Garcia,and Carlota (Lota). My grandmother mentioned other cousins of hers , by the names of Ana and Vera Garcia.
If anyone would like to get in touch with me please email me @ ny_yankee27@yahoo.com

By: Glenn Brown

Glenn Brown — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 01:21:21 +0000

I was also blessed to hear these stories while growing up. I am
Ygnacio’s great great grand son and great grandson of Philipe and Carmen My grandmother was Esther Garcia De La Fuente. Having grown up surrounded and loved by this wonderful, family I am not at all surprised by these acts of compassion and generosity. I would love to hear from any family members that would like to share stories and family history with me.
Glenn Brown
P.O.Box319
Crestline, Ca. 92325

By: Rick Garcia

Rick Garcia — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:05:58 +0000

Pretty cool story. I had heard these stories from my Dad and grandfather (Gabriel Garcia), but to see them in print is pretty nice. Thanks much, the big Garcia family in the Bakersfield Ca. area are enjoying them.

Rick Garcia
Buttonwillow Ca
P.O. Box 272 93206

By: Maria Langer

Maria Langer — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 13:48:22 +0000

My understanding of the story is that although Ms. Smith was a prominent business woman and her hotel was a shining example of civilization come to the west, as outsiders began coming to town, they brought their prejudices with them. It soon became “unfashionable” to socialize with a black woman. When she passed away, the prejudices put her in the same category with the Mexicans and Chinese and she was buried with them rather than the white people who had once been her friends.

A few years back, there was a town play (for lack of a better description) that depicted several incidents in Wickenburg history. Among them was a performance by a black actress doing a monologue from the point of view of Ms. Smith. It was the most moving performance of the show. It gave me insight to the feelings of a person who had once been an outstanding member of the community and was reduced to an outcast because of the color of her skin.

There’s an article about her on the Sharlot Hall Museum site (http://www.sharlot.org/).

By: Martha Maxon

Martha Maxon — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 03:23:25 +0000

Another irony about the Garcia Cemetery is that not only are Mexicans and Chinese buried there, but at least one black person, Elizabeth Smith. She was a prominent business woman, establishing the Vernetta Hotel, a two-story brick building on Frontier Street in 1905 (currently used as offices for Remuda.) According to Fry (1997), she was also one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church in Wickenburg. She is depicted in the Desert Cabelleros Western Museum. Since I first observed her grave, I have wondered about the story behind her being buried in Garcia Cemetery. Does anyone know?
Martha Maxon
Fry, Mark. 1997. “The Town on the Hassayampa.” Desert Cabelleros Western Museum.