Luis Terrazas
Encyclopedia
Luis Terrazas, born José Luis Gonzaga Jesús Daniel Terrazas Fuenteshttp://www.nevadaobserver.com/Mexican%20Revolution%20-%20People/Mexican%20Revolution%20-%20Terrazas,%20Luis.htm (20 July 1829, Chihuahua, Mexico
-18 June, 1923, Chihuahua), was a Mexican politician, businessman, rancher and soldier. He was a pivotal figure in the history of the state of Chihuahua from the middle of the 19th century through the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution
. He was a leader of the Cientificos during the regime of Porfirio Diaz
and was the founder of the influential Creel-Terrazas Family
.
First elected Governor of Chihuahua
in 1858, Terrazas was a host, political ally and confidant of President Benito Juárez
during the French Intervention, when Juarez was living with his cabinet in exile in Chihuahua City
from 1864 through 1866. He served as governor for various terms of office between 1858 and 1904.http://www.nevadaobserver.com/Mexican%20Revolution%20-%20People/Mexican%20Revolution%20-%20Terrazas,%20Luis.htm
There are two anecdotal tales addressing Terrazas' wealth: When approached by American meat packer Swift and asked if he could provide a hundred thousand head of cattle, his rejoinder was, "in what color?". And when asked once at a social function if he were from Chihuahua, he was reported to have asserted, "No soy de Chihuahua; Chihuahua es mío"("I'm not from Chihuahua; Chihuahua is mine").
His ranches had once totaled more than 7 million acres (28,000 km²).
He acquired his properties in a number of ways; one significant advantage was that, as governor of the state, Terrazas was able to move armed forces into and out of portions of the state and buy good rangeland where prices had reduced due to instability.
In 1902 he sold a ranch, Hacienda Humboldt
at Julimes
near Delicias, Chihuahua
, to a group of sponsors organized by President Theodore Roosevelt
for a colony of South African Boer
refugees. Roosevelt was represented by Edward Reeve Merritt and Marshall Latham Bond
.
Terrazas was said to have faced-down his enemy Pancho Villa
in a confrontation during the early days of the Revolution; he had suspected Villa of rustling his cattle and refused to have any dealings with him, leading to a mutual enmity between the two. Villa was also the leading suspect in the abduction of Terrazas' eldest son, Luis, during the Revolutionhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/MexicanRevolution/message/96?l=1. He and Villa died in the same year (Terrazas from old age; Villa by assassination).
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
-18 June, 1923, Chihuahua), was a Mexican politician, businessman, rancher and soldier. He was a pivotal figure in the history of the state of Chihuahua from the middle of the 19th century through the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
. He was a leader of the Cientificos during the regime of Porfirio Diaz
Porfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican-American War volunteer and French intervention hero, an accomplished general and the President of Mexico continuously from 1876 to 1911, with the exception of a brief term in 1876 when he left Juan N...
and was the founder of the influential Creel-Terrazas Family
Creel-Terrazas family
The Creel-Terrazas family is a powerful and wealthy family based in the Mexican state of Chihuahua.- Events: During the rule of President Porfirio Díaz and the Mexican Revolution, this family was part of the científico faction. The científicos were conservative civilian technocrats and...
.
First elected Governor of Chihuahua
Governor of Chihuahua
According to the Political Constitution of the Free and Sovereign State of Chihuahua, Executive Power in that Mexican state resides with a single individual, the Constitutional Governor of the Free and Sovereign State of Chihuahua, who is chosen for a period of six years and cannot for any reason...
in 1858, Terrazas was a host, political ally and confidant of President Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez born Benito Pablo Juárez García, was a Mexican lawyer and politician of Zapotec origin from Oaxaca who served five terms as president of Mexico: 1858–1861 as interim, 1861–1865, 1865–1867, 1867–1871 and 1871–1872...
during the French Intervention, when Juarez was living with his cabinet in exile in Chihuahua City
Chihuahua, Chihuahua
The city of Chihuahua is the state capital of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It has a population of about 825,327. The predominant activity is industry, including domestic heavy, light industries, consumer goods production, and to a smaller extent maquiladoras.-History:It has been said that the...
from 1864 through 1866. He served as governor for various terms of office between 1858 and 1904.http://www.nevadaobserver.com/Mexican%20Revolution%20-%20People/Mexican%20Revolution%20-%20Terrazas,%20Luis.htm
There are two anecdotal tales addressing Terrazas' wealth: When approached by American meat packer Swift and asked if he could provide a hundred thousand head of cattle, his rejoinder was, "in what color?". And when asked once at a social function if he were from Chihuahua, he was reported to have asserted, "No soy de Chihuahua; Chihuahua es mío"("I'm not from Chihuahua; Chihuahua is mine").
His ranches had once totaled more than 7 million acres (28,000 km²).
He acquired his properties in a number of ways; one significant advantage was that, as governor of the state, Terrazas was able to move armed forces into and out of portions of the state and buy good rangeland where prices had reduced due to instability.
In 1902 he sold a ranch, Hacienda Humboldt
Hacienda Humboldt
Hacienda Humboldt is an ejido in the municipality of Julimes , Chihuahua which was once a private cattle ranch. It belonged for a period of time to Luis Terrazas and was sold by him for the formation of a colony of South African refugees from the Anglo Boer War. The refugees were assisted in their...
at Julimes
Julimes (municipality)
Julimes is one of the 67 municipalities of Chihuahua, in northern Mexico. The municipal seat lies at Julimes. The municipality covers an area of 2,767.3 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 4,507.-Towns and villages:...
near Delicias, Chihuahua
Delicias, Chihuahua
Delicias is a city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua and serves as the seat of the municipality of the same name. It is located southeast of the state capital, Chihuahua. Delicias was declared an official municipality of the state of Chihuahua on January 7, 1935...
, to a group of sponsors organized by President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
for a colony of South African Boer
Boer
Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for farmer, which came to denote the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th century, as well as those who left the Cape Colony during the 19th century to settle in the Orange Free State,...
refugees. Roosevelt was represented by Edward Reeve Merritt and Marshall Latham Bond
Marshall Latham Bond
Marshall Latham Bond was one of two brothers who were Jack London's landlords and among his employers during the autumn of 1897 and the spring of 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush. They were the owners of the dog that Jack London fictionalized as Buck....
.
Terrazas was said to have faced-down his enemy Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
in a confrontation during the early days of the Revolution; he had suspected Villa of rustling his cattle and refused to have any dealings with him, leading to a mutual enmity between the two. Villa was also the leading suspect in the abduction of Terrazas' eldest son, Luis, during the Revolutionhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/MexicanRevolution/message/96?l=1. He and Villa died in the same year (Terrazas from old age; Villa by assassination).