Elena Redondo was born in 1862, probably on the family ranch outside of
Yuma. She was one of eight children born
to Piedad Contreras and Jose Maria Redondo.
She married Henry Garfias on April 13th, 1883, in Yuma, Arizona Territory. The newlyweds subsequently established their home in Phoenix. They had two children: Maria Claudina, born in 1884, and Emmanuel Henrico “Manuel Henry” in 1887. Elena died 22 March 1890, apparently due to complications from her third pregnancy.
Elena’s husband, Henry Garfias, led a colorful and well-documented life in Phoenix. However, his wife's family history is also a notable record of Hispanic influence in the Arizona Territory, California and Sonora, Mexico.
The Redondo family's roots go back to Spain but they had been in Sonora, Mexico, for several generations prior to Elena's father and other family members going to the goldfields of California in 1849.
Jose Maria Redondo married Piedad Contreras in California and in 1859, they and their two children (with one more on the way), moved to Yuma, Arizona Territory, along with Piedad's extended family. They first established a home in Laguna outside of Yuma, where they ran a bakery and store in the mining community.
Eventually, Jose acquired a very large ranch in Yuma called Hacienda de San Ysidro. He dammed the Gila River and used the water to irrigate vineyards, orchards and fields of grain and vegetables as well as growing fodder for cattle, horses and sheep. He was the first grower of lettuce in Yuma County.
He had mining interests as well and served in the Arizona Territorial Legislature, where he was instrumental in getting the Territorial Prison located in Yuma.
Elena's brother, Jose “Joe” Redondo, ran the first Hispanic newspaper in Phoenix, El Progresso.
Although there is little information about Elena after her marriage, Henry Garfias' status in Phoenix must have meant they were socially active in both the Hispanic and white communities.
Elena is buried in the City/Loosley Cemetery at the Pioneer Military and Memorial Park in Phoenix, Arizona.
-story by Susan Wilcox
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