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From the Autobiography of Louis Vasquez I recall my dad, Simon, telling me about hard times in Mexico, on a farm nearby Irapuato. Born in 1893, he was one of eight brothers (at present there is only one left, Abraham, in his nineties.) Porfirio Diaz was Prersident of Mexico during his youth. Francisco Madero took over form Diaz and was assassinated in 1912. My grandfather on my father's side died young at the age of 44. Being a farmer during the revolution, hisfamily was at the mercy of the soldiers, whether from Pancho Villa's army, Emiliano Zapata's or the Federalistas from Mexico City. Corn, or anything else grown on the farm, might be confiscated by these troops. During these raids the men had to hide out to avoid being impressed into one of the conflicting armies. Imagine the suffering. According to my dad, the years folowing the revolution were hard times again. World War I was underway and opportunities north of the border looked good. So Simon came to the United States, despite knowing no English. It was no problem crossing the Rio Grande into Laredo, Texas. Because of the war, jobs were plentiful. Compared to what they had in Mexico, any employment was welcome. Thus Simon took a chance for a better life and, thanks to his courage, provided an opportunity for a family that grew to number six children. My Dad worked in a roundhouse in Iowa and on farms in Texas and Kansas until my maternal grandfather, Emiliano Beltran, told him that a steel mill was hiring in Northwest Indiana. In 1919 my Dad started working at Inland Steel, located on the east side of East Chicago in an area known as Indiana Harbor, or, simply, the Harbor. He wrote his brothers urging them to follow him up to Indiana, where, he exaggerated, one could make a full day's wages in a half a day. Two of them did and moved into the basement dwelling at 3422 Block Avenue that was my first home. My dad put in 40 years at Inland and retired in 1959. My poort mom, Esther, passed away at age 52, on February 5, 1952. Simon died on August 26, 1969, at the age of 75. Thanks to them I was born on August 18, 1923, and named Louis Vasquez. Lane, James B., editor. Weasal; The autobiography of Louis Vasquez. Steel Shavings Volume 24 (1995), p. 1. Used with permission.
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