Jesús Castro
Encyclopedia
José Jesús Castro Montaño (October 14, 1905 – March 15, 1976) was a Mexican soldier of the Cristero War
. He is noted for sheltering himself, and other soldiers, inside the bell tower of the chapel of La Purísima from the federal troops after a battle that occurred in Cocula, Jalisco. The federal troops who were offering a deal of money in exchange for armistice
, actually executed several of the cristeros who came down to accept the supposed agreement.
home in town of San Jerónimo
, in the municipality of San Martín de Hidalgo
, Jalisco
. He was the first child born to the legitimate marriage between Fabián Castro Villalvaso, a farmer and ranch-hand from Barranca de Santa Clara, and his wife Francisca Montaño Quintero, a domestic housewife. Other children of born in the marriage were José Marciano, José Trinidad, Nicolasa, Mariano, José Felipe, María Rosa, Flabio, and Ángel. Jesús' father Fabián settled the area circa 1890, where he began to work as a farm-hand in the Hacienda San José de Miravalle
. Fabián later guarded a gate that prevented the revolucionary troops of Martín Calderón to enter the municipal seat in 1914.
vicinity. Doroteo was married to Eduarda Rodríguez, and they were both criollos.
It was during the period of 1875-1880, that Jesús grandfathers Ignacio Castro and Sabina Villalvaso moved to farm in the canyon river valley of Barranca de Oblatos which is near Guadalajara, Jalisco
. There Ignacio and Sabina drowned, and Fabián and his younger brother travel uphill to the state capital until arriving in the Ameca valley.
.
Cristero War
The Cristero War of 1926 to 1929 was an uprising and counter-revolution against the Mexican government in power at that time. The rebellion was set off by the strict enforcement of the anti-clerical provisions of the Mexican Constitution of 1917 and the expansion of further anti-clerical laws...
. He is noted for sheltering himself, and other soldiers, inside the bell tower of the chapel of La Purísima from the federal troops after a battle that occurred in Cocula, Jalisco. The federal troops who were offering a deal of money in exchange for armistice
Armistice
An armistice is a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, but may be just a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace...
, actually executed several of the cristeros who came down to accept the supposed agreement.
Early life
José Jesús Castro Montaño was born October 14, 1905 in a small adobeAdobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
home in town of San Jerónimo
San Jerónimo (Los Barbosa)
-Flora:Many native trees live numerously in the town and the slopes, most of them are leguminous. These trees are:-Economy:The economy in the town was mostly farming maize in cuamiles, which are crops on mountain slopes, and cattle ranching...
, in the municipality of San Martín de Hidalgo
San Martín de Hidalgo
San Martín de Hidalgo is a city and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 324.57 km².As of 2010, the municipality had a total population of 26,306; and the city had a population of 8,092....
, Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
. He was the first child born to the legitimate marriage between Fabián Castro Villalvaso, a farmer and ranch-hand from Barranca de Santa Clara, and his wife Francisca Montaño Quintero, a domestic housewife. Other children of born in the marriage were José Marciano, José Trinidad, Nicolasa, Mariano, José Felipe, María Rosa, Flabio, and Ángel. Jesús' father Fabián settled the area circa 1890, where he began to work as a farm-hand in the Hacienda San José de Miravalle
Hacienda San José de Miravalle
Hacienda San José de Miravalle is an hacienda in central-western Jalisco, Mexico. It is located near San Jerónimo .-History:It was originally founded and settled in the valley of Ameca in 1870 by Don Felipe , an aristocrat and leader of the municipality of San Martín de Hidalgo...
. Fabián later guarded a gate that prevented the revolucionary troops of Martín Calderón to enter the municipal seat in 1914.
Ancestral background
Jesús' ancestry can be traced back to his great-grandfather Doroteo de Castro, a native of the Zacoalco de TorresZacoalco de Torres
Zacoalco de Torres is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 491.27 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 25,529.To the east lies the largest lake in Mexico, Lago de Chapala....
vicinity. Doroteo was married to Eduarda Rodríguez, and they were both criollos.
It was during the period of 1875-1880, that Jesús grandfathers Ignacio Castro and Sabina Villalvaso moved to farm in the canyon river valley of Barranca de Oblatos which is near Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
. There Ignacio and Sabina drowned, and Fabián and his younger brother travel uphill to the state capital until arriving in the Ameca valley.
Cristero War
When the Cristero rebellion broke out, he journeyed with fellow townsmen to Cocula, Jalisco, to help the Cristeros. After the battle was over and the government troops sieged the town, Jesús and other soldiers found refuge in la Purísima, a chapel of Cocula. They instructed the priest to lock the doors of the chapel, to prevent the federals from barging in. Castro and his friends hid themselves on the bell tower, while the government officials persuaded them to come down and get their money compensation for their participation in the war. Castro, refused to go, but others decided it was a real agreement. As soon as they walked down to the door, the officials executed them at the site. Feared to be killed, Castro and his friends secretly left the town to head back to San Jerónimo.Later life
After the Cristiada, Castro married Antonia Gómez Barbosa (born June 13, 1908), who was the daughter of Feliciano Gómez Ramos and María Melquiades Barbosa Medina the neighbor of Fabian Castro. He had three children with her: Heliodoro, Ana, and Manuel. According to witness accounts, Castro enjoyed recounting his youth and life to his nieces and nephews in his old age. He died in the municipal seat of San Martín de HidalgoSan Martín de Hidalgo
San Martín de Hidalgo is a city and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 324.57 km².As of 2010, the municipality had a total population of 26,306; and the city had a population of 8,092....
.