Tito P. Rivera
R. I. P.
In memory of
Tito P. Rivera
Jan. 4, 1843, Dec. 3, 1894
Gone
but not forgotten
Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales
1. Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller-Times (June 13, 2001). Available on microfilm
Source: Corpus Christi Caller
Special Illustrated Edition, November, 1889
3. Invoice
Provenance: Corpus Christi Public Libraries
4. Obituary
...in marriage to Miss Mollie Holloway. Shortly after this Mr. Rivera and his young bride moved to Corpus Christi and since then this city has been made their home. Five children were born to them, Fred S., Misses Blanche and Mattie and Lula and Tito, the two last-named being twins, and the youngest. No man was ever more devoted to his wife and children, and to make them happy seemed to be his chief pleasure. All were at his bedside when he breathed his last, and his devoted wife, who remained almost constantly beside him during his illness, though herself an invalid, is completely prostrated with grief at the blow which deprived her of a loving husband and her children of an affectionate father. He was generous to the furthest degree and if for every kindly act that he has done a flower were placed upon his grave, they would build a monument above him that would kiss the purpling clouds.
Source: Unidentified newspaper clipping fragment from scrapbook of Bertha Halsey Wright,
El Carro Ranch, Alice, TX
Transcription by: Geraldine D. McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission
5. News Item, 1884
Election of Officers At a meeting of the new board of directors of the Corpus Christi Building and Loan Association last week, the following officers were elected: T. P. Rivera, president: T. J. Turpin, vice president; J.E. Weymouth, secretary and G. R. Scott, attorney. Depository-Doddridge & Davis bank.
Source: Corpus Christi Caller, November 23, 1884, p. 5, col. 1
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcription by: Geraldine D. McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission
6. Research by Frank Wagner
RIVERA, TITO P., b. 4 January 1844 in western Mexico (Sinaloa), eldest son of Julian and Josefa Herrera Rivera, natives of Spain. His father was a silver mining engineer. In March, 1852, he was permitted to accompany a packtrain over the mountains to buy food for the miners, and on their return they were attacked and captured by Comanches, who took the boy with them into Texas, near Ola on the Brazos River. He was surrendered in December, 1855, on payment of $125 ransom by Major Robert S. Neighbors, Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Chief Govaro-choo-koospy employed Rivera to read and write letters to General John R. Baylor and Major Robert S. Neighbors, and in one such letter he added a note that resulted in his ransoming. Neighbors took him to his own home in San Antonio, where he was made a part of the household until 1859, when Neighbors was killed. He lived at the home of William Albert Wallace up to the time he enlisted in Confederate service, April, 1861. He served under Captain William A. Pitts, 1st Regiment Texas Mounted Riflemen on the frontier for a year. He then enlisted in Company E, 33rd Texas Cavalry and served in Louisiana, Arkansas and Indian Territory. In partnership with William H. Gasley, he drove cattle to northern markets, accumulating sufficient capital to buy some land in Victoria County. He worked at a commission house in Victoria, later at Port Lavaca. M. Mollie H. Holloway, daughter of William P. Holloway at Port Lavaca 12 October, 1870. He obtained a position with B. L. Mason & Co., Galveston, as bookkeeper which he held until the financial panic of June, 1873, when he moved to Corpus Christi. He was cashier of Doddridge & Davis, bankers, until the firm failed in February, 1891. He twice served as city councilman, vestryman of the Episcopal church at Corpus Christi and was prominent in civic and lodge affairs. D. in Corpus Christi 13 December, 1894.
Reference: Record of Southwest Texas, Goodspeed Brothers, Publishers, Chicago, 1894.
Research by: Frank Wagner
Transcription by: Rosa G. Gonzales