Gregorio Esparza (1802–1836), my grandfathers older cousin and Tejano defender of the Alamo under Captain Juan Seguin. Gregorio was the last defender to enter the Alamo with his wife, Ana Salazar, and their five (5) children through the church window under nightfall. He was the only Texan defender given a christian due to his brother, Francisco, in the Mexican army who petition Santa Ana for his body and burial at Campo Santo cemetery. All other 188 defender bodies burned for several days in large pyres. He died for freedom with the Anglos yet his Tejano people lost everything following the Texas Revolution.

Carlos Villareal Esparza (1828–1885), my third great grandfather & brother of Juan N. Cortina, my third great uncle. Juan and Carlos married their wives on the same day, Jan 30, 1850, in Brownsville, TX. They fought the Cortina Wars to defend Tejano land rights against Anglo expansion; Carlos the spy, intelligence, & survillance and Juan the force. . The “Cortinistas” twice defeated The Texas Rangers before U.S. President James Buchanan sent federal Army troops to Brownsville. After Juans capture, Carlos became the Brownsville sheriff where he correct false documents and anglo forged land records. He died on his 57th birthday on 25 September 1885 – he lived in the darkest period & place of American History. In the Journeys he left my 2nd Greatgrand father he said ”

Gregorio Esparza (1802–1836), my grandfathers older cousin and Tejano defender of the Alamo under Captain Juan Seguin. Gregorio was the last defender to enter the Alamo with his wife, Ana Salazar, and their five (5) children through the church window under nightfall. He was the only Texan defender given a christian due to his brother, Francisco, in the Mexican army who petition Santa Ana for his body and burial at Campo Santo cemetery. All other 188 defender bodies burned for several days in large pyres. He died for freedom with the Anglos yet his Tejano people lost everything following the Texas Revolution.

Carlos Villareal Esparza (1828–1885), my third great grandfather & brother of Juan N. Cortina, my third great uncle. Juan and Carlos married their wives on the same day, Jan 30, 1850, in Brownsville, TX. They fought the Cortina Wars to defend Tejano land rights against Anglo expansion; Carlos the spy, intelligence, & survillance and Juan the force. . The “Cortinistas” twice defeated The Texas Rangers before U.S. President James Buchanan sent federal Army troops to Brownsville. After Juans capture, Carlos became the Brownsville sheriff where he correct false documents and anglo forged land records. He died on his 57th birthday on 25 September 1885 – he lived in the darkest period & place of American History. In the Journeys he left my 2nd Greatgrand father he said ”