Benigna Rivas was the daughter of Manuel Rivas and Maria Paulina Espinosa. She was born in Fresno County, CA where her father had been working as a farmer in New Idria when her parents married. Benigna's brother Pedro was born 2 yrs later in 1885.
By 1888 Benigna's mother was married to Jose Castro and beginning their family in Firebaugh. Benigna and her brother were raised in Firebaugh with their 7 Castro half siblings.
At age 18 Benigna married another Firebaugh resident, Roberto Estrada and they had a daughter Fidelia Alexandra Estrada, born in 1904. This was their only child. By 1910 Benigna was a widow living in her mother's home with her 7 Castro half siblings and her brother Peter (Pedro) Rivas. Her mother is again a widow. Fidelia is not with the family and is thought to have also been deceased.
In 1911 Benigna married Andrew Pico, a friend and co-worker of Benigna's brother Peter Rivas. Both men had been working in Bannock, Idaho the previous year, along with Benigna's half brother Ventura Castro. Witnesses for this marriage were Joe Gonzales of Firebaugh and Miss Mercedes Dobales of Clovis. Sadly, Andrew Pico died in 1916 leaving Benigna once again a widow.
By 1920 Benigna was again living in her mother's home along with her half siblings Ventura, Mariano, Basilio, Lucy, Teresa, and Dometilla Castro.
In 1927 Benigna married for a third time. Willie C Dominguez was from Bakersfield but living in Stockton, San Joaquin County, CA when the two married. Benigna's half brother Mariano Castro and his wife Albina DelPolita Castro were the witnesses to this marriage. Benigna was also a resident of Stockton, perhaps living at the home of Mariano and Albina taking care of their infant daughter Marian.
The 1940 Census identified Benigna as once again living in her mother's home, however she was listed as married. Her husband Willie Dominguez was not with the family. This census infers that Benigna was living in Bakersfield, Kern County, CA in 1935.
When Benigna died she was listed as "Bennie Domingez", with her mother's maiden name listed as "Spinosa" and her father's name as "Rieves" instead of the correct spelling of Espinosa for her mother and Rivas for her father.
Her burial location was listed in Holy Cross Cemetery according to the records from the Cemetery Office.
She is in an unmarked grave.
Bio provided by Sheila Ruiz Harrell
By 1888 Benigna's mother was married to Jose Castro and beginning their family in Firebaugh. Benigna and her brother were raised in Firebaugh with their 7 Castro half siblings.
At age 18 Benigna married another Firebaugh resident, Roberto Estrada and they had a daughter Fidelia Alexandra Estrada, born in 1904. This was their only child. By 1910 Benigna was a widow living in her mother's home with her 7 Castro half siblings and her brother Peter (Pedro) Rivas. Her mother is again a widow. Fidelia is not with the family and is thought to have also been deceased.
In 1911 Benigna married Andrew Pico, a friend and co-worker of Benigna's brother Peter Rivas. Both men had been working in Bannock, Idaho the previous year, along with Benigna's half brother Ventura Castro. Witnesses for this marriage were Joe Gonzales of Firebaugh and Miss Mercedes Dobales of Clovis. Sadly, Andrew Pico died in 1916 leaving Benigna once again a widow.
By 1920 Benigna was again living in her mother's home along with her half siblings Ventura, Mariano, Basilio, Lucy, Teresa, and Dometilla Castro.
In 1927 Benigna married for a third time. Willie C Dominguez was from Bakersfield but living in Stockton, San Joaquin County, CA when the two married. Benigna's half brother Mariano Castro and his wife Albina DelPolita Castro were the witnesses to this marriage. Benigna was also a resident of Stockton, perhaps living at the home of Mariano and Albina taking care of their infant daughter Marian.
The 1940 Census identified Benigna as once again living in her mother's home, however she was listed as married. Her husband Willie Dominguez was not with the family. This census infers that Benigna was living in Bakersfield, Kern County, CA in 1935.
When Benigna died she was listed as "Bennie Domingez", with her mother's maiden name listed as "Spinosa" and her father's name as "Rieves" instead of the correct spelling of Espinosa for her mother and Rivas for her father.
Her burial location was listed in Holy Cross Cemetery according to the records from the Cemetery Office.
She is in an unmarked grave.
Bio provided by Sheila Ruiz Harrell
Benigna Rivas was the daughter of Manuel Rivas and Maria Paulina Espinosa. She was born in Fresno County, CA where her father had been working as a farmer in New Idria when her parents married. Benigna's brother Pedro was born 2 yrs later in 1885.
By 1888 Benigna's mother was married to Jose Castro and beginning their family in Firebaugh. Benigna and her brother were raised in Firebaugh with their 7 Castro half siblings.
At age 18 Benigna married another Firebaugh resident, Roberto Estrada and they had a daughter Fidelia Alexandra Estrada, born in 1904. This was their only child. By 1910 Benigna was a widow living in her mother's home with her 7 Castro half siblings and her brother Peter (Pedro) Rivas. Her mother is again a widow. Fidelia is not with the family and is thought to have also been deceased.
In 1911 Benigna married Andrew Pico, a friend and co-worker of Benigna's brother Peter Rivas. Both men had been working in Bannock, Idaho the previous year, along with Benigna's half brother Ventura Castro. Witnesses for this marriage were Joe Gonzales of Firebaugh and Miss Mercedes Dobales of Clovis. Sadly, Andrew Pico died in 1916 leaving Benigna once again a widow.
By 1920 Benigna was again living in her mother's home along with her half siblings Ventura, Mariano, Basilio, Lucy, Teresa, and Dometilla Castro.
In 1927 Benigna married for a third time. Willie C Dominguez was from Bakersfield but living in Stockton, San Joaquin County, CA when the two married. Benigna's half brother Mariano Castro and his wife Albina DelPolita Castro were the witnesses to this marriage. Benigna was also a resident of Stockton, perhaps living at the home of Mariano and Albina taking care of their infant daughter Marian.
The 1940 Census identified Benigna as once again living in her mother's home, however she was listed as married. Her husband Willie Dominguez was not with the family. This census infers that Benigna was living in Bakersfield, Kern County, CA in 1935.
When Benigna died she was listed as "Bennie Domingez", with her mother's maiden name listed as "Spinosa" and her father's name as "Rieves" instead of the correct spelling of Espinosa for her mother and Rivas for her father.
Her burial location was listed in Holy Cross Cemetery according to the records from the Cemetery Office.
She is in an unmarked grave.
Bio provided by Sheila Ruiz Harrell
By 1888 Benigna's mother was married to Jose Castro and beginning their family in Firebaugh. Benigna and her brother were raised in Firebaugh with their 7 Castro half siblings.
At age 18 Benigna married another Firebaugh resident, Roberto Estrada and they had a daughter Fidelia Alexandra Estrada, born in 1904. This was their only child. By 1910 Benigna was a widow living in her mother's home with her 7 Castro half siblings and her brother Peter (Pedro) Rivas. Her mother is again a widow. Fidelia is not with the family and is thought to have also been deceased.
In 1911 Benigna married Andrew Pico, a friend and co-worker of Benigna's brother Peter Rivas. Both men had been working in Bannock, Idaho the previous year, along with Benigna's half brother Ventura Castro. Witnesses for this marriage were Joe Gonzales of Firebaugh and Miss Mercedes Dobales of Clovis. Sadly, Andrew Pico died in 1916 leaving Benigna once again a widow.
By 1920 Benigna was again living in her mother's home along with her half siblings Ventura, Mariano, Basilio, Lucy, Teresa, and Dometilla Castro.
In 1927 Benigna married for a third time. Willie C Dominguez was from Bakersfield but living in Stockton, San Joaquin County, CA when the two married. Benigna's half brother Mariano Castro and his wife Albina DelPolita Castro were the witnesses to this marriage. Benigna was also a resident of Stockton, perhaps living at the home of Mariano and Albina taking care of their infant daughter Marian.
The 1940 Census identified Benigna as once again living in her mother's home, however she was listed as married. Her husband Willie Dominguez was not with the family. This census infers that Benigna was living in Bakersfield, Kern County, CA in 1935.
When Benigna died she was listed as "Bennie Domingez", with her mother's maiden name listed as "Spinosa" and her father's name as "Rieves" instead of the correct spelling of Espinosa for her mother and Rivas for her father.
Her burial location was listed in Holy Cross Cemetery according to the records from the Cemetery Office.
She is in an unmarked grave.
Bio provided by Sheila Ruiz Harrell
Gravesite Details
"Based on a map and a list of all the people next to Benigna. They had headstones and she didn't." According to photographer Mike Hopper.
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