In a conversation with my grandaunt about our family and how my grandmother got to the United States, her uncle, my great-granduncle came up in the conversation. It seems like he played a vital role in getting my grandmother (or helping her to some extent) get part of her life started in the United States.
Except, despite my grandmother’s adoration for her uncle and their connection – somehow our family lost exactly that. This was due in part to his passing and later my grandmother’s own passing but our respective families didn’t have any connection afterwards. My great-aunt asked that I write about Eligio Torres and see if through the magic of the internet, we could reconnect to his family – and so, here’s my attempt!
Humble origins
We know that Eligio was born in Lares, Puerto Rico just like my great-grandmother (Eligio’s sister). Eligio was one of José Avilés’ many children, except that Eligio himself was not recognized by his father at birth. Based on his birth record we know that Eligio was born as “Eligio Torres” the 5th of November 1921 in Río Prieto, Lares, Puerto Rico. His mother, who declared his natural birth, was listed as “married”, when she declared his birth yet it states that “dicho niño es hijo natural de Vicenta Torres y Sánchez, natural de Lares de treinta y cinco años de edad, blanca, casada…” (that said child is a illegitimate son of Vicenta Torres y Sánchez, native of Lares, 35 years old, white, married…).
This leads us to believe that though Vicenta was married, Eligio was a son born out of wedlock. Vicenta lists her parents as Carlos Torres and Antonia Sánchez, both of Lares, he was alive (listed as 80 years old) and she was listed as deceased. Though José Avilés was not listed as the father, he was listed as one of the witnesses of the birth.
Searching in the 1920 Census gives a better view/potential understanding into the complex relation between José Avilés and Vicenta Torres and how each came into each other’s lives. Despite Vicenta being married, which is also noted in the 1920 Census as “C” (Casado/a), we can see that she is listed as criada (maid) in the Avilés household. Below you can see the image where she appears living in the same household as José Avilés (widowed and living with his three children) and the head of the household was Lorenzo Avilés (José’s brother) married and living with his wife and children. At the bottom of the family’s entry we can see that right after Vicenta is listed a daughter named “Juana”, this is also very likely to be José’s daughter as well, born just one year before Eligio.
I imagine there were serious social implications to having children born out of wedlock as a married woman!
By 1930, Eligio is listed as living with José Avilés and his second wife Ramona López, here we can see that Eligio is listed with the surnames “Avilés Torres” and listed as “hijo” along with José’s other children. The census however can not be used as direct evidence that José was the biological father for Eligio, however given the information we know it is likely the highest possibility.
A move to the capital
Eligio Torres can be found in 1940 living in San Juan, Puerto Rico, having left Lares behind probably for good. In the 1940 Census he is listed as “cuñado” (brother-in-law) to the head of the household, Félix Vélez (my great-grandfather). Also listed in the household is my great-grandmother Rosalia Avilés (sister to Eligio) and Félix’s and Rosalia’s first son José Antonio Vélez Avilés (my granduncle). Currently, this is the last census where my family would have been listed that is publicly available. Next year in 2022, with the release of the 1950 Census we will hopefully know more about my family’s life and Eligio’s as well. Would Eligio still be living in San Juan, for example?
A look into Eligio Torres’ WWII Registration Card shows us that he was living on Calle Virtud in Santurce, Puerto Rico.
1940s-1970s
These years for me are a blackhole when it comes to documentation and information. According to my grandaunt, Eligio Torres did serve which is what ultimately brought him to the United States. I was able to find the enlistment of a “Eligio Torres”, Puerto Rican, who enlisted the 25th September 1942 – however there isn’t much more identifying information so I’m not sure 100% if it’s him. The height and weight listed in this enlistment is close to his WWII Registration Card but not exact (though likely this is him). I have no passenger record for him listing his arrival into the United States, and this is fairly common to not have. Since most of my family arrived fairly recently I don’t have records showing arrivals into New York, for example.
However, by searching newspapers I was able to discover fours mentions in the “Daily News” of an Eligio Torres. interestingly enough, they had photos of him – when I showed my dad and asked if this was the Eligio Torres he knew and met when he came to New York, he quickly said yes! So we know that by the 1970s, Eligio was living in New York City.
This of course makes sense since my own paternal family moved in the mid-1970s here.
The inquiring photographer
Thanks to a series called “The Inquiring Photographer” written by John Stapleton, Eligio Torres was interviewed on various topics: legalization of prostitution, adoption, gambling, the “pampering of baseball players” and being cautious on Friday the 13th.
What caught my attention when I found the articles and before confirming that it was my Eligio Torres was the fact that it listed him as an assistant manager, specifically in 1971 article it lists him as the manager of a restaurant. Growing up, I had always heard stories of how “Tío Eligio” worked at a fancy restaurant and occasionally my dad got a chance to visit him at work with his mom where they were treated to a nice meal.
Seeing these articles, and a glimpse into his opinions was super interesting. Especially since it seems that Eligio knew enough English to answer these questions, which makes sense if by then he was already in the United States for about 30 years. Finally, having photos of a person I had heard about but had never met was a great addition as well.
1970s-1989
This is where another gap of information exists. I was able to find the marriage record for an Eligio Torres who married in Queens, New York in 1980 to a Julia Cruz. Likely this is my Eligio Torres who I knew through family stories lived in Queens, New York. However, my grandaunt can’t remember much about his wife.
Similarly, we know that Eligio had children but my grandaunt can only remember one daughter who went by “Magda” Torres likely short for Magdalena Torres, yet since this name is fairly common and without birthdates we can’t confirm or find her. Also, was Julia Cruz the mother of “Magda” or was she born to a different mother?
Finally, Eligio Torres likely passed away the 26th July 1989 based on the information I found and from what we know. I don’t have a picture of his gravestone and no idea where he is buried besides the fact that the Social Security Death Index lists him as having died in Flushing, Queens, New York which is the last place we knew he had lived.
Hopefully this post will reconnect me to Eligio’s side of the family and provide me some more information about the missing gaps I have in Eligio’s life. My blog has brought me connections to others in my family before so I won’t rule out the possibility yet!