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Miguel Luna Robles b: Sept 29, 1864-d: May 24, 1939
Son of Francisco & Rita Luna Robles
Son of Francisco & Rita Luna Robles
He is referred to as Don Miguel by those that I have spoken with. His grandchildren
have described him as very tall, with reddish hair, blue eyes, an his signature
handle-bar mustache. Gilberto Figueroa his grandson, has said that as a child,
his grandfather Miguel reminded him of what he thought a Viking would have looked
have described him as very tall, with reddish hair, blue eyes, an his signature
handle-bar mustache. Gilberto Figueroa his grandson, has said that as a child,
his grandfather Miguel reminded him of what he thought a Viking would have looked
like if he had seen one. Miguel also possessed the characteristically spell binding Robles story telling
ability. A trait shared by some of his children.
ability. A trait shared by some of his children.
Miguel was married three times. I am a romantic regarding his first marriage which was to Francisca
Olivas while he was living in Bisbee. They were married on July 14, 1890 at Immaculate Conception
Church in Douglas, AZ when Miguel was approximately 26 years old. He was young, she was
young....it must have been first love. We will never know, I suppose. But what little I do know is that
she was the daughter of Francisco and Josefa Grijalva. She came from Cucurpa, Mexico. There is no
concrete evidence of children between them but, I did locate an Arizona birth certificate that show a
Michael Robles as the father of a child born on 10 December 1892. again, this is just the romantic in
me because this is not conclusive proof of a child born of this union. However, I do know that their
marriage was short lived.
Olivas while he was living in Bisbee. They were married on July 14, 1890 at Immaculate Conception
Church in Douglas, AZ when Miguel was approximately 26 years old. He was young, she was
young....it must have been first love. We will never know, I suppose. But what little I do know is that
she was the daughter of Francisco and Josefa Grijalva. She came from Cucurpa, Mexico. There is no
concrete evidence of children between them but, I did locate an Arizona birth certificate that show a
Michael Robles as the father of a child born on 10 December 1892. again, this is just the romantic in
me because this is not conclusive proof of a child born of this union. However, I do know that their
marriage was short lived.
While I was in Bisbee, AZ. in May of 2006 researching the family, I happened upon evidence of her
death while looking for records regarding Harvey Buttner. Her name is slightly misspelled as
"Aleavas" but, this is common among Spanish names in official records. Regrettably, I was not able
to find her gravesite in Evergreen Cemetery. This, coupled with the date of the "mysterious" child's
birth and the fact that he married my great-grandmother Margarita on 7 November 1893, would
indicate that he and Francisca were married for less than four years and maybe less than three
years depending on when Francisca died. My guess is that she died in December of 1892 during or
shortly after childbirth.
death while looking for records regarding Harvey Buttner. Her name is slightly misspelled as
"Aleavas" but, this is common among Spanish names in official records. Regrettably, I was not able
to find her gravesite in Evergreen Cemetery. This, coupled with the date of the "mysterious" child's
birth and the fact that he married my great-grandmother Margarita on 7 November 1893, would
indicate that he and Francisca were married for less than four years and maybe less than three
years depending on when Francisca died. My guess is that she died in December of 1892 during or
shortly after childbirth.
As I mentioned, he next married my great-grandmother Margarita Lopez in
November of 1893 in Bisbee, AZ.. She was young at 16 to be his bride. Miguel
was by now 28 or 29 years old. I don't have any information about her but what I
located in the marriage records in Douglas, AZ. It states that a license was
issued but, it does not record an actual marriage being performed. Hmmm.
Together they had eight children. They were (in order of birth) Carlotta, Adela,
Arnulfo, Miguel, Carlos, Rita and Maria Anita. I also have a birth certificate for a
Geherma Robles born in 1914 to the two of them. No one seems to know who
this was. I haven't located a death certificate for her so I honestly don't know if
she is still alive or not. Does anyone know anything about her?
November of 1893 in Bisbee, AZ.. She was young at 16 to be his bride. Miguel
was by now 28 or 29 years old. I don't have any information about her but what I
located in the marriage records in Douglas, AZ. It states that a license was
issued but, it does not record an actual marriage being performed. Hmmm.
Together they had eight children. They were (in order of birth) Carlotta, Adela,
Arnulfo, Miguel, Carlos, Rita and Maria Anita. I also have a birth certificate for a
Geherma Robles born in 1914 to the two of them. No one seems to know who
this was. I haven't located a death certificate for her so I honestly don't know if
she is still alive or not. Does anyone know anything about her?
The family story goes that Margarita died on the Wilcox Trail giving birth enroute to Globe. Maybe
that was Geherma. But that would have been at least in 1914 when Margarita would have been
around 37 years old. My mother Lydia always believed that she died when my mother's mother,
Carlotta, was around 6 years old....that would make Margarita's death around 1901 as Carlotta
was born in 1895. Well, I don't believe that to be correct in light of the 1914 birth certificate. Well,
whatever the case, Miguel continued on to Globe to settle there with his family. Daughter Carlotta
was married by now to Bartola Ybarra and I believe his daughter Adela was married, as well.
that was Geherma. But that would have been at least in 1914 when Margarita would have been
around 37 years old. My mother Lydia always believed that she died when my mother's mother,
Carlotta, was around 6 years old....that would make Margarita's death around 1901 as Carlotta
was born in 1895. Well, I don't believe that to be correct in light of the 1914 birth certificate. Well,
whatever the case, Miguel continued on to Globe to settle there with his family. Daughter Carlotta
was married by now to Bartola Ybarra and I believe his daughter Adela was married, as well.
Miguel established a little ranchito outside of Globe where, from the
stores I have been told, he raised a patch of vegetables that he shared
with the family and had a horse or two. His horse was his main
transportation, I suppose. Old "Amigo" would have been more like a
trusted old friend than just some old ranch animal. There is no
evidence that Miguel worked at the local copper mines like so many
men of that time. It is imaginable that he had a difficult life having to
raise children on his own, trying to make ends meet by whatever
means available. But, I have heard that he had a wonderful sense of
humor and that he was a fabulous story teller. He probably sought out
the humor in life's everyday drudgeries rather than dwell on it's all too
apparent hardships.
stores I have been told, he raised a patch of vegetables that he shared
with the family and had a horse or two. His horse was his main
transportation, I suppose. Old "Amigo" would have been more like a
trusted old friend than just some old ranch animal. There is no
evidence that Miguel worked at the local copper mines like so many
men of that time. It is imaginable that he had a difficult life having to
raise children on his own, trying to make ends meet by whatever
means available. But, I have heard that he had a wonderful sense of
humor and that he was a fabulous story teller. He probably sought out
the humor in life's everyday drudgeries rather than dwell on it's all too
apparent hardships.
He decided to marry again. This time with a much younger woman by the name of Florita
Manriquez. She probably caught his eye at a town dance or a the laundry she worked at on Main
Street in Globe. She was 39 to his 65 when they wed on June 30, 1931. Maybe he was lonely
and just wanted some company, who knows. Well, hope his last 8 years of life were happy. The
family story goes that Flora , who wore only black and did not smile much, was thought by
Miguel's family to look like a bruja (witch). The wedding fete was held at his little ranchito on a
hot summers day. Wonder if she wore white for the wedding or her customary black?? Well,
supposedly, his daughters Carlotta and Adela didn't care for her. Probably true. My mother who
would have been 12 at the time, recalls the animosity towards Flora.
Manriquez. She probably caught his eye at a town dance or a the laundry she worked at on Main
Street in Globe. She was 39 to his 65 when they wed on June 30, 1931. Maybe he was lonely
and just wanted some company, who knows. Well, hope his last 8 years of life were happy. The
family story goes that Flora , who wore only black and did not smile much, was thought by
Miguel's family to look like a bruja (witch). The wedding fete was held at his little ranchito on a
hot summers day. Wonder if she wore white for the wedding or her customary black?? Well,
supposedly, his daughters Carlotta and Adela didn't care for her. Probably true. My mother who
would have been 12 at the time, recalls the animosity towards Flora.
Flora got all the earthly possessions of Don Miguel upon his demise on May 24, 1939. His
cause of death is noted as cerebral hemorrhage complicated by chronic nephritis & arterial
sclerosis. Back to his earthly possessions...this was also a sore point with his family because
there was an agreement that when he died properties that he acquired during his time in Globe
cause of death is noted as cerebral hemorrhage complicated by chronic nephritis & arterial
sclerosis. Back to his earthly possessions...this was also a sore point with his family because
there was an agreement that when he died properties that he acquired during his time in Globe
would revert to his children. My guess is that nothing was in writing and possession, even in
the hands of a "witch", is still 9/10ths of the law.
the hands of a "witch", is still 9/10ths of the law.
Grandfather Miguel's final resting place is in the Mexican section of the
old Globe cemetery. Craig Steele (JoAnn Robles's husband) and I are
attempting to locate the exact spot where he rests for eternity in order to
place a headstone that will withstand the ravages of time.
UPDATE MAY 2007: With the help of our Salazar cousins Grandfather
Miguel's grave site was located and his granddaughter Angela ordered
him a proper headstone.
old Globe cemetery. Craig Steele (JoAnn Robles's husband) and I are
attempting to locate the exact spot where he rests for eternity in order to
place a headstone that will withstand the ravages of time.
UPDATE MAY 2007: With the help of our Salazar cousins Grandfather
Miguel's grave site was located and his granddaughter Angela ordered
him a proper headstone.
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With his photo on it. I think the gravestones with a
person's photo on it, especially if it is your loved one,
helps to solidify the memory of the person. And for those
of us who have never met the person it gives us literally,
just a snapshot of the person below the stone marker.
Miguel's grave had been tenderly cared for by the
Salazars for over 70 years. Now, he has a marker which
will last for 7 x's 70 years and then some.
person's photo on it, especially if it is your loved one,
helps to solidify the memory of the person. And for those
of us who have never met the person it gives us literally,
just a snapshot of the person below the stone marker.
Miguel's grave had been tenderly cared for by the
Salazars for over 70 years. Now, he has a marker which
will last for 7 x's 70 years and then some.