Paula Losoya Taylor

Paula Losoya Taylor (also Paula Losoya de Rivers,?^[1] - 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[]

Taylor was born in Guerrero, Tamaulipas.^[2] Taylor and her sister, Refugio Losoya de Rivera first came to the Del Rio region known as Las Zapas in 1862, moving from Rio Grande City with their husbands.^[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 died and left the property and possessions to Taylor.^[2] Some sources indicate that she 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 the 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 .^[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[]