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Paula Losoya TaylorPaula Losoya Taylor[1] (died July 17, 1902) was one of the founders of San Felipe Del Rio (later Del Rio) in Texas. Her hacienda in Del Rio became a major employer in the region, for workers in farming and ranching. It was also an important gathering spot for worship, discussion, and more. Taylor donated land to create a Catholic cemetery, a fort, and schools in Del Rio. BiographyShe was born Paula Losoya de Rivera in Guerrero, Tamaulipas.[2] She married an Anglo-American, James H. Taylor. Between 1860 and 1870, Losoya de Rivera and her husband; her sister, Refugio, and brother-in-law moved from Rio Grande City into the countryside. The Taylor couple had at least one child.[3] In 1862, Losoya Taylor built the first hacienda in Del Rio.[4] Taylor and her sister quickly arranged to cultivate the land of their hacienda right away, hiring workers from Las Zapas.[2] Their hiring of Mexican workers attracted migrants from Mexico into the San Felipe area of Del Rio.[5] Taylor and her husband developed the first acequias in the area, the first of which was called Acequia Madre.[2] On April 4, 1876, her husband, James, died. He left her his possessions. Some sources indicate that she married again in December 1876, to a man who may have been known as Charles Rivers or Rivera.[2] On the estate, the two sisters and Taylor's family continued to work and thrive. She helped raise some of her relatives' children.[2] The two sisters arranged to have Catholic priests from Eagle Pass say mass for workers at the estate, and many residents of San Feilipe Del Rio also attended.[3] Catholic residents attended mass at her hacienda until 1895, when the church established Sacred Heart in Del Rio.[1] The hacienda also operated local industry: a sugarcane mill, flour mill, a cotton gin, and a Mexican-style candy factory.[2] The remains of the hacienda are still known locally as the Rivers Home.[6] Because of discrimination, Mexican people in the area were prevented from burying their dead at the Anglo-American cemetery, restricted to Protestants. The American cemetery did not allow them. In 1884, Taylor donated four acres of her land to create a cemetery for Mexican people.[7][8] The land she donated was at the top of the hill: marked by a cross, it already had five burials.[9] This area later became known as Cemeterio Viejo Loma de la Cruz.[7] Taylor also donated 60 acres of her land to build a fort for defense of the town. She donated more land to build area schools.[2] Legacy and honorsTaylor died on July 17, 1902.[2] In 1976, La Hacienda was published, which described the history of Del Rio and featured Taylor's estate.[10] Taylor is depicted in a mural at Moore Park in Del Rio.[11] A Texas Historical Marker is located at her hacienda and was erected in 1982.[12] References
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