Paula 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, and an important gathering spot for worship, discussion, and more. Taylor donated land to create a Catholic cemetery, a fort, and schools in Del Rio.

Biography

Born in Guerrero, Tamaulipas,^[2] Paula Losoya de Rivera moved from Rio Grande City, between 1860 and 1870, with her husband, James H. Taylor, and her sister, Refugio, and brother-in-law. Paula Taylor had at least one child.^[3] Also in 1862, Taylor built the first hacienda in Del Rio.^[4] The remains of the hacienda are known locally as the Rivers Home.^[5] Taylor and her sister began to cultivate the land of their hacienda right away, hiring workers from Las Zapas.^[2] Their hiring of Mexican workers increased migration from Mexico into the San Felipe area of Del Rio.^[6] Taylor was also involved, along with her husband, with creating the first acequias in the area, the first of which was called Acequia Madre.^[2]

On April 4, 1876, her husband, James, died and left her his possessions. Some sources indicate that she later married another man, who may have been known as Charles Rivers or Rivera, in December 1876.^[2]

On the estate, the two sisters and Taylor's family continued to work and grow. She helped raise some of her relative's children.^[2] The two sisters also arranged to have Catholic priests from Eagle Pass say mass for the estate, and many of the residents of San Feilipe Del Rio would attend.^[3] Residents attended mass at her hacienda until 1895, when the church established Sacred Heart in Del Rio.^[1] The hacienda also included a sugarcane mill, flour mill, a gin, and a Mexican-style candy factory.^[2]

Mexican people in the area had no place to bury their dead, so, in 1884, Taylor donated four acres of her land to create a cemetery for Mexican people.^[7][8] The land she donated was marked by a cross at the top of the hill and already had five burials.^[9] This area later became Cemeterio Viejo Loma de la Cruz.^[7] Taylor also donated 60 acres of her land to build a fort for defense of the town and more land to build area schools.^[2]

Taylor 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