BIRTH NAME: Ramon Pedro Solares
BIRTH: 1848 Asturias, Spain [age 59 at death in 1907]
FATHER: R Solares [1] [b. Spain]
MOTHER: Theresa Benita[2] [b. Spain]
SIBLINGS: Sebastian Solares
probably Romain Solares
MARRIAGE 1: 1870 11 17 New Orleans, LA age 23
SPOUSE 1: Joanna Vinet age 21
Witnesses = Juan Cumalat, Joseph Fontcuberta, John Vinet
CHILDREN 1: Ramon Pedro Solares (Jr) [M] b.1872 New Orleans
Joseph Maria Ramon Solares [M] b.1874 New Orleans
Esperanza Magdalena Solares {F} b.1876 New Orleans
John Roman Solares [M] b.1878 New Orleans
Seraphin Francisco Solares [M] b.1880 New Orleans
Modesto Arcadio Solares [M] b.1883 New Orleans
Maria Marguerite Solares [F] b.1885 New Orleans
MARRIAGE 2: 1895 01 31 New Orleans, LA
SPOUSE 2: Honorine Georgina Mary Houidobre "Marie"
CHILDREN 2: George Alice Solares [F] b.1896 New Orleans
Clemence Solares [F] b.1897 New Orleans
VOCATION: Cigar classer
MILITARY: WWI draft registration card on file; no service record
RELIGION: Roman Catholic
DEATH: 1907 05 09 New Orleans
INTERRED: Spanish Amer tomb at St Louis Cemetery no 2
OTHER: Census 1900 - arrived in US 1868
[1] Father's name may have been Jose Ramon Solares
[2] Mother's maiden name probably 'de la Venta'
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Ramon Solares
Wedding Portrait - 1870
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Ramon Solares
Bio Timeline & Narrative
by great-grandson Wayne Hepburn, Sept 2006
1848 - Birth
Ramon was born about 1848 on Spain's northern Atlantic coast in the province of Asturias.[1]
His father was Jose Ramon Solares [2] and mother was Theresa Benita [3] . He had at least two known brothers; Romain born 1860 [4] and Sebastian born 1863 [5] , both in Spain.
1868 - Emigration
At the age of twenty he came to America and took up residence in New Orleans.[6]
It is not known whether he came alone or with others in his family but no other persons
surnamed Solares show up in passenger records from the time. However, two of the three
witnesses to his marriage may have been relatives or simply friends.
Ramon was by trade or profession a cigar maker. Records show that his brother Sebastian as
well as some sons also worked in the cigar industry. There may have been a family connection
among various people in his social circle because of the trade.
1870 - First Marriage
In November of 1870 he married Juana Vinet [7] who also was born in Spain,
but at Port Mahon on the opposite coast ... in fact on an island in the Mediterranean Sea.
[8] . Juan Cumalat, Joseph Fontcuberta, and John Vinet witnessed the marriage.
John (Juan) Vinet was Juana's father so he obviously was present in America in 1870 to sign as
a witness. Juana's mother, Marguarita Bonas, is named on the marriage certificate but not as a
witness and she does not appear in any census records along with her husband John (Juan).
It is not known if Ramon and Juana met in New Orleans or had known each other in Spain.
The distance between their birthplaces was significant for mid 18th century travel.
Unless the family Vinet happened to relocate to Asturias, it is likely they met after
arriving in America.
Witness Joseph Fontcuberta later (1872) married Clementine Morano, and became uncle by marriage
to Alicia Morano who would later [1899] marry Ramon's yet to be born son Joseph M Solares.
1872 - First Child
In May of 1872, Juana gave birth to their first child, a son, whom they named Ramon Pedro
Solares.[9] In the 1880 US Census he is listed as Ramon Solares, Jr.
If he was a junior, then Ramon was Ramon Pedro Solares, Sr though the middle name Pedro does
not show in any records. Ramon's birth record shows the family living at 445 Bagatelle in
New Orleans.
1874 - Second Child
July in 1874 brought another son into the Solares family. He was Joseph Maria Solares.
His birth certificate shows a conflict wherein his middle name was to be Ramon then
overwritten to read Maria. In a few instances, most often online family tree files,
he is listed as Joseph Ramon. They were still living on Bagatelle Street but apparently
had moved across the street from number 445 to number 452.[10]
Joseph was known in the family as "Pep".[11]
1876 - Third Child
After two sons, Ramon and Juana are blessed with a daughter whom they named Esperanza
Magdalena Solares. Esperanza means Hope in English.[12]
Later in life she was nicknamed "Nine" (sounds like neen in Nina).
1877 - Bothers Arrive
In all probability, Ramon's brothers Romain and Sebastian arrived together in 1877.
Romain could have been a cousin ... there is no certainty he was a brother but I believe it
most likely.[13]
1878 - Fourth Child
In August of 1878 came their fourth child, a truly beautiful or handsome son, whose life
was a tragedy which I will explain further along in this narrative.[14]
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Above map locates SPAIN - the red on the Iberian Penisula, east of
Portugal and southwesterly of France. The small white area is Asturias.
Red area on above map shows province of ASTURIAS as it is defined today.
When it was a kingdom it encompassed the land out to the Atlantic on the west. Ramon was born there.
Left item is the ARMS of ASTURIAS which go back in history a long way.
At right is the flag of modern Asturias. Note the Greek characters 'alpha' and 'omega' hanging from
the cross. They represent Jesus Christ who said of himself that he was the Alpha and the Omega ... the
beginning and the end. The Kingdom of Asturias featured prominently in the effort drive the Muslims
off the Iberian Peninsual. It took the combined forces of Spain's many kingdoms about 700 years
to do the job.
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1878 - brother's death
This must have been a very trying time for the Solares family. With a new baby and three
other children under the age of seven, yellow fever struck New Orleans less than a month
after John was born. It took the life of eighteen year old Romain Solares.[15]
1880 - Fifth Child
In September almost exactly two years after Romain died came their fifth child, whom they named
Seraphin Francisco, and called Frank. He is listed as Frank in most records.[16]
1883 - Sixth Child
Right after New Year, on January 12th in 1883, child number six arrived. Named Modesto Arcadio
Solares,[17] he was nicknamed "Dutch" and I remember meeting him once at my
grandmother Maggie's home. I don't know where the names Modesto and Arcadio came from; perhaps
family members or ancestors back in Spain.
1885 - Seventh Child
July 1885 saw the arrival of second daughter, the seventh and last child born to Juana Vinet
Solares. She was named Maria Marguerite Solares, called Margaret or "Maggie".[17]
Some fifty-two years later she would become my grandmother.
1889 - Widowed
When Maggie was only four years old her mama died. Her big sister "Nine", nine years older,
must have been a surrogate mom to her. She had five big brothers too. Juana was only forty
years old at her death.[19] . She did not live to see any of her
grandchildren born but was spared seeing the early deaths of two of her sons.
1893 First Marriage of a Child & First Grandchild
In January 1893, at the advanced age of sixteen, Magdalena married Francisco Alvarez.[20] .
In November of '93 Magdalena gave birth to her first child, a daughter, whom she named
Juana Alvarez in honor of her mother.[21] Ramon was age forty-eight at this time.
1895 - Second Marriage
After six years of widowhood, Ramon remarried. His second wife was nineteen years younger
than Ramon. They were living within a few blocks of each other. Georgina (or Georgiana),
usually known as "Marie" or "Mary", lived at home with her sister Clemence, brother Emile,
and their widowed father John Houidobre.[22]
(It will turn out in future research that the families surnamed Solares, Morano, and
Houidobre, were interconnected by several marriages among the descendants of Ramon's
generation).
1895 - Brother's Marriage
Sebastian relocated from New Orleans to Chicago sometime between 1880 and 1895.
We can't pin it down because the US Census for 1890 was mostly lost in a fire.
He was living with Ramon and Juana in 1880.[5] At age twenty-two he
married a Chicago born girl named Catherine Duncan.[23]
[Date is in dispute and has not been researched in Illinois records.]
1896 - Eighth Child
One year and a month after Ramon remarried, new wife Marie gave birth to the first of their two
daughters; Georgia Alice Solares, called Alice, which in Spanish sounds like Al-eese.[24]
1897 - Second Grandchild & Ninth Child
In October 1897 grandson Sebastian Alvarez was born to Ramon's daughter Magdalena and husband Francisco.
Then, on the last day of 1897 came Marie's second child, Clemence, called "Clem" in the
family.[25] I clearly remember my Aunt Clem, my grandmother's twelve
years younger baby half-sister. In my experience they had a close relationship. Clem's Uncle
Sebastian was only two months older than her.
1898 - Second Marriage of a Child
Son Joseph married Alicia Morano, daughter of Theodore Morano and Alice Houidobre, on
September 28th, 1898.[26]
1899 - Another Child Marries - Another Grandchild is Born
Right at four months later, on January 29th of '99, son Ramon Jr married Vincenzina Lucia,
from Italy, daughter of Luigi Lucia and Margharita Lacosta. Then in September, their son
Louis Sigmund Joseph Solares came into the world. His familiar name was "Sig".
[27]
1900 - A Widowed Child Remarries
This time, widowed eldest daughter Magdalena Solares Alvarez, married Albert Bileci and
began a new line of Solares descendants.[28]
So at the close of the 19th century, Ramon ...
was fifty-two years of age and well situated,
was remarried after losing his first wife,
had nine living children, three of whom were married,
had three grandchildren; Juana, Sebastian and Sigmund.
I hope it was a happy time for him because the coming seven years are fraught with sadness.
1901 - An Infant's Death[29]
A child named Jeanne Solares was born in January 1901 and died in March same year of
congenital heart disease. Details of this sad event are in a page devoted to her. SO as not to
be overly redundant we will bypass this story here.
1901 - A Child Marries[29]
Continuing in 1901 - In June that year, son John Roman Solares married
Marguerite Mary Mandot "Margaret", daughter of Marcellin and Cecilia Mandot.[30]
1901 - Another Grandchild
In August a new grandson arrived; Roman "Bud" Bileci, son of Magdalena and new husband Albert.
[31]
1902 - A Child Dies[29]
In July, son Seraphin Francisco "Frank" Solares, all of twenty-one years old, was taken by
tuberculosis, as were many in those days before the dread disease was successfully treated.
[32]
1903-05 - Three New Grandchildren[29]
- 1903 - Thelma Solares was born to Joseph and Alicia[33]
- 1904 - Yvonne Solares was born to Joseph and Alicia[33]
- 1905 - Magdalene Bileci was born to Magdalena and Albert[34]
1905 - Another Child Dies[29]
In March of 1905, son John Roman Solares died from an overdose of the opiate laudanum. His death
certificate states cause of death as "Suicide by Laudanum" according to Dr. S. F. Murta.
We have no way of knowing whether John intentionally ingested enough laudanum to end his
life or whether he inadvertently misused it. Laudanum was a popular pain killer in the period.
John left his young wife Margaret pregnant with their first and only child Irma, born in 1906
after his death. He was 26. Margaret and daughter Irma Solares were living with her parents on
Chartres Street when the 1920 US Census was enumerated.[35]
Five months later, in August '05, death took Magdalena's husband Albert Bileci,
making her twice widowed at the age of twenty nine. How did people bear it?[36]
1905 - Another Child Marries[29]
Two months after Albert's death, a reason for joy once again.
Daughter Maria Marguerite "Maggie" Solares wed Robert Johnston "Bob" Hepburn on the 18th of
October 1905, making me and this web site possible. My sincere thanks to all of them.[37]
1907 - A Year of Mixed Blessings[29]
In January 1907, son Modesto married "Lina", Helena Ulrich Ybos, widow of Joseph Ybos, and mother
of three sons and one daughter from her marriage.[38]
A new grandson, Ashton Hepburn, the first born to daughter Maggie, will arrive in October
but Ramon will not be there to greet this grandson.[39]
Ramon developed multiple sclerosis and passed away on the 9th day of May in 1907 at age 59.[40]
I wish I had known him. WH
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R Solares and J Vinet
United States of America
State of Louisiana, (SEAL) Parish of Orleans
Office of the Recorder of Births, Marriages and Deaths.
This is to Certify, That it appears from the records of this
office, that on this day, to wit:
the Twentieth of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and Seventy and the ninety-fifth of the Independence of the United
States of America, (Nov 20th 1870,) was registered a Marriage, celebrated in the
City of New Orleans, State of Louisiana
U S of America by Rev G Raymond on the 17th day of
Nov 1870 between Ramon Solares aged twenty three
years, (23 years,) a native of Spain son of R Solares
and Theresa Benita And Juanna Vinet aged
twenty one years, (21 years,) a native of Spain daughter of
John Vinet and Marguarita Bonas, The celebration of the
marriage was performed in presence of the witnesses Juan Cumalat
Joseph Fontcuberta John Vinet
The License was issued on the 31st day of Oct 1870 by illegible
J G Banson in the presence of the witnesses N Meanancola
John Vinet
illegible signature over
Recorder of Births, Marriages and Deaths
for the Parish of Orleans
License returned and filed.
License Book No. 2, Folio 149
[Certificate is displayed at less than half file size.
To download full copy right click and 'save image']
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New Orleans, Louisiana Directories, 1890-1891
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Joseph Solares 85 Union, 3d district clerk [Ramon's son]
Raymond Solares 85 Union, 3d district classer [Ramon]
Sebastian Solares 85 Union, 3d district cigarmaker [Ramon's brother]
Raymond Solares 85 1/2 Union, 3d district clerk [puzzle]
Raymond P Solares 85 1/2 Union, 3d district classer [Ramon's son Ramon Pedro Jr]
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1907 - New Orleans, Louisiana Death Certificate
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Certified Copy of Death Certificate
Be it Remembered, that on this day to wit: the 7th of May
in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred Seven and the
One Hundred and 31 of the independence of the United States of America,
before me (Quitman Kohnke crossed out) illegible initial
O'Reilly, M.D., Chairman Board of Health and Ex Officio Recorder
of Births, DEaths and Marriages, in an
for the Parish of Orleans, personally appeared
F J Schoen, undertaker, native of city
residing on Elysian Fields Ave who hereby declares that
Ramon Solares Sr (white)
a native of Austurias*, Spain, aged 59 years
departed this life yesterday ( 9 May 1907 ) at illegible word 1620
Ursulines Ave illegible words
Cause of Death Cerebro Spinal Sclerosis (Specific)
Certificate of Dr M Landry
Deceased was married 30 years illegible
illegible illegible illegible Spain
Thus done at New Orleans in the presence of the aforesaid F J schoen
as also in that of P H Lanauze & J T O'Dowd both of this City,
witnesses, by me requested so to be, who have hereunto set their
hands, together with me, after reading hereof, this, month
and year first above written.
signature = Jas T ODowd
signature = W. T. O'Reilly M.D.
Chairman Board of Health and Ex Officio Recorder.
(* Asturias. No such place as Austurias in Spain)
[Certificate is displayed at less than half file size.
To download full copy right click and 'save picture as..']
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http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Cerebro-spinal+sclerosis
http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/Ce/Cerebro-spinal_sclerosis.html
(Med.) an affliction in which patches of hardening, produced by increase of the
neuroglia and atrophy of the true nerve tissue, are found scattered throughout the
brain and spinal cord. It is associated with complete or partial paralysis, a peculiar
jerking tremor of the muscles, headache, and vertigo, and is usually fatal.
Formerly referred to as multiple sclerosis, disseminated sclerosis, or insular
sclerosis, but now usually called only multiple sclerosis, or MS.
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[1] US Census records images 1880 thru 1900. All US Census enumeration records
were accessed through www.ancestry.com during 2006.
[2] father's name on Ramon and Juana's marriage record is listed as R. Solares.
In the IGI entry for brother Sebastian, the father is listed as Jose Ramon Solares.
[3] mother's name on Ramon and Juana's marriage record is Theresa Benita. In the
IGI entry for brother Sebastian, the mother's maiden name is given as Teresa de La Venta
and elsewhere her name has shown up as Venta. The Spanish pronunciation of 'b' like
English 'v' is well documented as, for instance, Havana, Cuba is called Habana by Spanish
speakers.
[4] Romain died in 1878 in the yellow fever epidemic. Death certificate gives his
age as 18 in 1878. Ramon provided the information in the death certificate and gave as address
his own at 115 Union Street, New Orleans, so Romain was living with Ramon and Juana when he
died. Sebastian is listed in the 1880 census at the same address and identified as brother
to family head Ramon. I surmise Sebastian aged 14 and Romain aged 17 emigrated to America
in 1877 together and lived with brother Ramon.
[5] Sebastian is well documented in census images from 1880 thru 1930 and also
appears in IGI records.
[6] US Census 1900 states he arrived in America in 1868.
[7] from certified copy of marriage record in Louisiana State Archives. Throughout
various records of births, marriages, deaths, censuses, and family trees found online, her
name is variously: Juana, Joana, Joanna and Johanna; Vinet, Vinent, Binet, Binetto.
[8] from certified copy of marriage record in Louisiana State Archives.
[9] from certified copy of birth record in Louisiana State Archives.
Ramon's birth record shows the family living at 445 Bagatelle in New Orleans. I can find
no records of a street by that name currently in existence in New Orleans. A search of
the New Orleans Public Library's online archive of street name changes during the
19th century does not index Bagatelle.
[10] from certified copy of birth record in Louisiana State Archives.
Record shows residence to be at 452 bagatelle.
[11] from a conversation with cousin Marcel Leumas Jr who remembers "Uncle Pep".
[12] New Orleans, Louisiana Marriage Records Index, 1831-1925 gives her age at 16
when married in January 1893. Birth year calculated as 1892 - 16 = 1876.
[13] the US Census of 1900 lists Sebastian as brother to Ramon, the head of the
household.
[14] from certified copy of birth record in Louisiana State Archives.
[15] from certified copy of death record in Louisiana State Archives.
[16] from certified copy of birth record in Louisiana State Archives.
[17] from certified copy of birth record in Louisiana State Archives.
[18] certified copy of birth record in Louisiana State Archives.
[19] from certified copy of death record in Louisiana State Archives.
[20] New Orleans, Louisiana Marriage Records Index, 1831-1925.
[21] New Orleans, Louisiana birth Records Index, 1790-1899.
[22] from certified copy of marriage record in Louisiana State Archives.
[23] 1893 - IGI Individual Record
FamilySearch™ International Genealogical Index v5.0 - North America
[24] from certified copy of birth record in Louisiana State Archives.
[25] from certified copy of birth record in Louisiana State Archives.
[26] New Orleans, Louisiana Marriage Records Index, 1831-1925, Ancestry.com 20060913. (Have not researched Alice Houidobre Morano whose maiden name is identical to Ramon's wife Georgina but too coincidental to not be related?)
[27] from certified copy of marriage record in Louisiana State Archives and
New Orleans, Louisiana Birth Records Index, 1790-1899, vol 120 Page: 448
[28] New Orleans, Louisiana Marriage Records Index, 1831-1925 Vol: 22 Page: 344
[29] from certified copy of birth record in Louisiana State Archives
[30] New Orleans, Louisiana Marriage Records Index, 1831-1925 Vol 23 Page: 108
[31] birth date given in Social Security Death Index. Do not have certified record.
[32] from certified copy of death record in Louisiana State Archives.
[33] from US Census 1910 enumeration record at Ancestry.com
[34] New Orleans, Louisiana Death Records Index, 1804-1949 Page: 1421 Vol: 215
[WH note: Magdalyn (or Magdalene in birth index), was known as "Sis" in our
family and I saw her many times. She was married to Marcel Leumas. Their two children,
my cousins, were Marilyn Leumas (now deceased) and Marcel Jr, "MJ" living in Louisiana
in 2006 as this is written.]
[35] from certified copy of death record in Louisiana State Archives
[36] New Orleans, Louisiana Death Records Index, 1804-1949 Page: 1421 Vol: 215
[37] from certified copy of marriage record in Louisiana State Archives.
[38] New Orleans, Louisiana Marriage Records Index, 1831-1925 Vol: 28 Page: 705
[39] birth date given in Social Security Death Index. Do not have certified record.
[40] from certified copy of death record in Louisiana State Archives
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