José María Rodríguez was the son of Ambrosio Rodríguez and María de Jesús Olivarri. As a child he witnessed the storming of the Alamo from a ranch southeast of San Antonio, where his mother had taken the family when the Mexican dictator Santa Anna entered the town of San Antonio. In 1855 Jose took part in the Vidaurri Revolution in Mexico. Rodríguez was a first lieutenant, however, the only time he was in actual battle was during the takeover of Matamoros. The Vidaurri Revolution was aimed at removing the Mexican dictator Santa Anna from power; however, neither General Vidaurri (namesake of the revolution) nor Rodríguez participated in the actual overthrow of the dictator. After Santa Anna's fall, Rodríguez returned to San Antonio, where he was tax assessor and collector for Bexar County and alderman for San Antonio in 1857-58.
About 1861 he moved to Laredo as a schoolteacher. He studied law and began his practice in 1864. He also served as county clerk for four years during the 1860s. In 1879 Rodríguez was elected county judge of Webb County, Texas, a position he held for thirty-five years. Not only was he was a politician and attorney, but he was also a prosperous cattle rancher and trader. Throughout his life Rodríguez was seen as a public-spirited man who influenced the politics and daily life of San Antonio and Laredo.
He married Feliz Benavides around 1861, and they had two children. He was a Democrat and a Catholic. Rodríguez died in Laredo on February 22, 1913. His book Memoirs of Early Texas was published the year of his death.
(Re: Excerpts courtesy of "The Handbook of Texas Online". Jose's memoirs can be read at www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/rodmemoirs.htm)
About 1861 he moved to Laredo as a schoolteacher. He studied law and began his practice in 1864. He also served as county clerk for four years during the 1860s. In 1879 Rodríguez was elected county judge of Webb County, Texas, a position he held for thirty-five years. Not only was he was a politician and attorney, but he was also a prosperous cattle rancher and trader. Throughout his life Rodríguez was seen as a public-spirited man who influenced the politics and daily life of San Antonio and Laredo.
He married Feliz Benavides around 1861, and they had two children. He was a Democrat and a Catholic. Rodríguez died in Laredo on February 22, 1913. His book Memoirs of Early Texas was published the year of his death.
(Re: Excerpts courtesy of "The Handbook of Texas Online". Jose's memoirs can be read at www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/rodmemoirs.htm)
José María Rodríguez was the son of Ambrosio Rodríguez and María de Jesús Olivarri. As a child he witnessed the storming of the Alamo from a ranch southeast of San Antonio, where his mother had taken the family when the Mexican dictator Santa Anna entered the town of San Antonio. In 1855 Jose took part in the Vidaurri Revolution in Mexico. Rodríguez was a first lieutenant, however, the only time he was in actual battle was during the takeover of Matamoros. The Vidaurri Revolution was aimed at removing the Mexican dictator Santa Anna from power; however, neither General Vidaurri (namesake of the revolution) nor Rodríguez participated in the actual overthrow of the dictator. After Santa Anna's fall, Rodríguez returned to San Antonio, where he was tax assessor and collector for Bexar County and alderman for San Antonio in 1857-58.
About 1861 he moved to Laredo as a schoolteacher. He studied law and began his practice in 1864. He also served as county clerk for four years during the 1860s. In 1879 Rodríguez was elected county judge of Webb County, Texas, a position he held for thirty-five years. Not only was he was a politician and attorney, but he was also a prosperous cattle rancher and trader. Throughout his life Rodríguez was seen as a public-spirited man who influenced the politics and daily life of San Antonio and Laredo.
He married Feliz Benavides around 1861, and they had two children. He was a Democrat and a Catholic. Rodríguez died in Laredo on February 22, 1913. His book Memoirs of Early Texas was published the year of his death.
(Re: Excerpts courtesy of "The Handbook of Texas Online". Jose's memoirs can be read at www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/rodmemoirs.htm)
About 1861 he moved to Laredo as a schoolteacher. He studied law and began his practice in 1864. He also served as county clerk for four years during the 1860s. In 1879 Rodríguez was elected county judge of Webb County, Texas, a position he held for thirty-five years. Not only was he was a politician and attorney, but he was also a prosperous cattle rancher and trader. Throughout his life Rodríguez was seen as a public-spirited man who influenced the politics and daily life of San Antonio and Laredo.
He married Feliz Benavides around 1861, and they had two children. He was a Democrat and a Catholic. Rodríguez died in Laredo on February 22, 1913. His book Memoirs of Early Texas was published the year of his death.
(Re: Excerpts courtesy of "The Handbook of Texas Online". Jose's memoirs can be read at www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/rodmemoirs.htm)
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