Spanish speaking peoples in Utah, oral histories: book 1, numbers 1 through 10

Page 170

The following is an interview with Senor Santos Cabrerra, conducted by Vincent Hayer, at Salt Lake City, Utah, on January 4, 1971. VM: "Hr. Cabrerra, when and where were you born? sc: In Mexico, Salamanca, the state of Guanajuato. VM: In what year were you born, Mr. Cabrerra? SC: In 1886. VM: What were the names of your parents? SC: My father was named Alcaldio Cabrerra, and my mother Cresensiana. My mother's maiden name was Flores. VM: Mr. Cabrerra, what type of work did your father do? SC: He was a laborer. Nothing more, just a laborer. VM: How many were in your family? SC: My father had four sisters, and my mother had two sisters. I have one sister who is still living today, the rest are dead. VM: What do you remember about your childhood in Mexico? SC: It was all work. I can remember since the time I was able to make six centavos until the present. I've known nothing but work. VM: What type of work did you do, Mr. Cabrerra? SC: From about seven or eight, I tended the herds of goats and cattle as well as the other animals. That was my first job. Later I became a cowboy herding and working with the cattle, and then thirdly, I worked as a laborer until I came to this country. And when I came to this country, I began to work in Texas with the Southern Pacific, on the railroad. VM: What year did you come to this country, Mr. Cabrerra?