Juana Maclovia Gonzalez
Early Childhood and Family Background
Maclovia was seen as very peaceful and as a teacher. Maclovia was born in Salinas Victoria, Nuevo Leon, Mexico on March 28, 1898. She was the fourth child and was named and baptized Juana Maclovia by her parents, Jose Maria Gonzalez, 45 at the time, originally from Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon and her mother, Elfega Morales Arrambide who was 29 years old and from Salinas Victoria, Nuevo Leon. Her paternal grandparents were Justo Gonzalez and Luisa Gutierrez, both originally from Guerrero (Revilla), Tamaulipas while her maternal grandparents were Pedro Morales and Petra Arrambide both from Salinas Victoria. When Maclovia was 14 days old, her birth was registered in the Villa de Salinas Victoria on the 11th day of April in 1898. Witnesses to this birth record were Pedro Gonzalez, her paternal uncle and Francisco Garza.
Her father, Jose Maria Gonzalez Gutierrez de Lara, was in the transportation business, both of good and of passengers traveling to northern Mexico as well as into Texas. Her mother, Elfega Morales Arrambide, was a homemaker. Their residence was next to the town church, Iglesia Parochial de Nuestra Senora De Guadalupe de las Salinas. Their home as well as the church faced Plaza Principal de Salinas Victoria which still stands as a city center plaza.
Maclovia was 14 years old when her father died on Christmas Day 1912 in Monterrey, Mexico. It is believed that she was attending school at the time. Though it is not known how the family was supported during the following three-year span, in the height of a civil war; her mother, Elfega, was now a widow alone caring for her eight surviving children. Maclovia was 17 when her mother, Elfega and children, left Salinas Victoria, Mexico to seek safety. With assistance from a paternal uncle, Agustin Gonzalez who lived in Laredo, they departed Salinas Victoria, arriving in Nuevo Laredo and crossed over the Rio Grande River into Laredo, Texas via a footbridge. Maclovia lived in Laredo for the remainder of her life, traveling into Mexico only to visit with family who lived there. Three of Maclovia’s siblings had died at infancy, and they remain buried in Salinas Victoria; as does a brother who, due to illness, returned to live and be cared for in Salinas Victoria as an adult and was buried there as well in El Panteon Municipal.
Family Life
Maclovia arrived in Laredo at the age of 17 on July 19, 1915. It is believed that she and her brother Jose Maria, then 16, arrived in Nuevo Laredo and that her first residence was at their paternal uncle, Agustin Gonzalez’ family home on 404 Lincoln St, Laredo, Texas. By 1920, she was 22 and living at 1017 San Eduardo with her mother and five siblings. Her formal education in Mexico afforded her the opportunity to teach and thus she was teaching at a private school at this time while two younger brothers were clerks at a local grocery store.
Maclovia was 26 years old when she married Emerico Gonzalez Peppi, 28 years old and eldest son of Manuel Gonzalez, a Merchant, and Maria del Refugio Peppi, both from nearby Zapata, Texas. They married at San Agustin Church in Laredo, Texas on November 16, 1924. Maclovia and Emerico had their first child the following year, a daughter they named Emma, in 1925 and their home address was 1008 San Jorge in Laredo. They then had their first son, Emerico Jr. in Bruni, Texas where they continued to live. Maclovia was a homemaker while Emerico was a clerk at the local grocery store in Bruni. The 1930 Census would note their home as Dwelling number 487, two properties next to Mr. Bruni who had founded the community. They had added a daughter Ninfa who was now three years old.
By 1940, the family had moved to Laredo, Texas and consisted of Maclovia, Emerico Sr. and their 8 surviving children who had all been born in Webb County, Texas. They were now living at 2214 Moctezuma in Laredo. Maclovia’s husband, Emerico, was employed at the Laredo Coca Cola Bottling Company which was across the street. Ten years later, in 1950, Maclovia was 50 years old and with her husband and six children, now lived at 2301 Zaragoza St. They would both raise their family and live the remainder of their lives in this home. By then, her two oldest children had left the home. Her oldest son Emerico Jr. had enlisted and served in the Army in Korea and Japan. He had been living in various places with the military and then as a civilian with his wife, Leonor Ramirez who was from Laredo, Texas. Maclovia’s oldest daughter, Ninfa also had married and had begun to live in Edinburg, Texas with Alfredo Longoria whose family was from Edinburg. Two of her children has died in childhood and both were buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
Maclovia sought Naturalization at age 56 and was sworn in on February 10, 1955. At that time, she was noted as being a housewife and the family continued to live on Zaragoza St. Two of her sons never married and continued to live with their parents on and off. Maclovia had eight children who survived to adulthood, five who would marry and provide her with 26 grandchildren who visited her in Laredo and who have fond memories of her loving and pleasant nature. Her simple and humble home was always open to extended family and truly was a multigenerational home as her adult children and their family would seek refuge in her home as needed. Her children and grandchildren were always welcome to visit and stayed as long as needed.
Education and Career
In her childhood while living in Mexico, Maclovia attended school and studied to become a teacher which was customary at that period for young women. She pursued her teaching career shortly after her arrival in Laredo. Her earliest known teaching position is documented in photos with her students around 1918. She initially taught students at private schools with photos showing her sisters assisting. She continued teaching students in a one room schoolhouse, the front room of her family residence on Zaragoza St. The room was surrounded by chalk boards and filled with desks and chairs. She was seen, by those that knew her, as a very pleasant woman and teacher, she was also adept in art and enjoyed having her grandchildren visit her school. She was known to treat her students to homemade Kool-Aid popsicles after school. She instilled art and teaching as valuable skills in her extended family and many of her descendants pursued both.
Accomplishments and Recognitions
Maclovia was one of the first teachers in Laredo, initially in private schools with children of all ages and then maintaining a one room schoolhouse which was part of their family residence. Many of her students recognized her as their first teacher, including Vidal Trevino who is photographed among her students and who later grew up to be the Superintendent of Laredo ISD. Maclovia was a devout Catholic. She and her husband were members of The San Francisco Javier Church.
Retirement
Maclovia retired from teaching as public school became more available to communities in Laredo.
Maclovia had a stroke and received medical care at Mercy Hospital for three weeks prior to her death at the age of 66 on December 6, 1966. Information provided for her death certificate at the was provided by her surviving husband and he indicated that her occupation was kindergarten teacher. Her final services were coordinated through Joe Jackson Funeral Home. Funeral Mass was at the family parish and church, San Francisco Javier Catholic Church a few blocks from their home. Burial was at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Maclovia had a very large extended family, was well regarded in her community for her involvement in the church and as being the first teacher for many Laredo citizens. Her spouse, Emerico Gonzalez Peppi, would join her a year later and be buried at her side. Her mother, Elfega, had died 30 years earlier in 1936 and is also buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery while her father, Jose Maria, is buried in the family’s original hometown, Salinas Victoria, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.