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Cajemé / Kahe'eme ( Yoeme or Yaqui Language for "one who does not stop to drink ater'), born and baptized José María Bonifacio Leyba Pérez (also spelled Leyva and Leiva), was a prominent
Yaqui The Yaqui, Hiaki, or Yoeme, are a Native American people of the southwest, who speak a Uto-Aztecan language. Their homelands include the Río Yaqui valley in Sonora, Mexico, and the area below the Gila River in Arizona, Southwestern United ...
military leader who lived in the Mexican state of
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 72 municipalities; the ...
from 1835 to 1887. Kahe'eme (Cajemé) is originally a family clan name, and was also used by Fernando Leyba, the father of José María Bonifacio Leyba Pérez (El Siglo, 1851).


Biography

José María Bonifacio Leyba Perez was born May 14, 1835 , at Pesiou (the Yaqui name),
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 72 municipalities; the ...
, also known as Villa de Pitic (Pitic is derived from the Yaqui word "Pitiahaquím," meaning "place surrounded by streams"), currently called
Hermosillo Hermosillo (), formerly called Pitic (as in ''Santísima Trinidad del Pitic'' and ''Presidio del Pitic''), is a city located in the center of the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. It is the municipal seat of the Hermosillo municipality, the ...
, in honor of José María González de Hermosillo, hero of the insurgency in the
Mexican War of Independence The Mexican War of Independence ( es, Guerra de Independencia de México, links=no, 16 September 1810 – 27 September 1821) was an armed conflict and political process resulting in Mexico's independence from Spain. It was not a single, co ...
against Spain. Cajemé's foremost biographer, Ramón Corral, stated in his published biography of Cajemé that he was born in 1837 (Corral, 1959
900 __NOTOC__ Year 900 ( CM) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Abbasid Caliphate * Spring – Forces under the Transoxianian emir Isma'il ibn Ahmad are ...
. This date has been used by many other writers since then. However, the baptismal record shows this to be incorrect (Iglesia Católica, 1835), and that Cajemé (José María Bonifacio Leyba Peres) was actually born two years earlier. Ramón Corral's initial series of biographical newspaper articles on Cajemé appeared in Sonora's official state newspaper, ''La Constitución'' (Corral, 1887). In the articles, José María Leyba's father is initially properly identified as Fernando Leiva. Later in the articles, José's father is called "Francisco," an error on the part of the typesetter in publishing the newspaper articles. This name has mistakenly continued to be used in later publications since then. Corral states that Fernando was born at Huirivis, Sonora, and his mother, Juana María Peres, Corral says was born at Potam, Sonora. The historic record shows Fernando was actually born January 18, 1798, at Hermosillo, Intendencia de Arizpe, Nueva España, and Juana was born February 24, 1815 at Hermosillo, Intendencia de Arizpe, Nueva España, facts supported by their recorded baptismal records (Iglesia Católica, 1798; Iglesia Católica, 1815 respectively).


California Gold Rush

At the age of 14, José accompanied his father Fernando, and many other Yaqui people from
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 72 municipalities; the ...
, during the 1849 "Gold Rush" to Upper California. José and his father returned to Sonora about two years later. José seems to have learned
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
at that time, as well as having his first experience in defending himself against armed conflict (Corral, 1959
900 __NOTOC__ Year 900 ( CM) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Abbasid Caliphate * Spring – Forces under the Transoxianian emir Isma'il ibn Ahmad are ...
. In spite of statements to the contrary, his father Fernando evidently did well in the gold fields, as José was enrolled in an exclusive private school, the only school at the time in
Guaymas Guaymas () is a city in Guaymas Municipality, in the southwest part of the state of Sonora, in northwestern Mexico. The city is south of the state capital of Hermosillo, and from the U.S. border. The municipality is located on the Gulf of Calif ...
, and one of only 20 schools in the State of Sonora in the 1850s (Molina, 1983). This was the Colegio Sonora operated by Cayetano Navarro, Prefect of
Guaymas Guaymas () is a city in Guaymas Municipality, in the southwest part of the state of Sonora, in northwestern Mexico. The city is south of the state capital of Hermosillo, and from the U.S. border. The municipality is located on the Gulf of Calif ...
. José subsequently learned to read and write Spanish. Corral correctly states that Cajemé was 16 to 18 years of age during his time attending school, supporting the actual 1835 year of his birth (Corral, 1959
900 __NOTOC__ Year 900 ( CM) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Abbasid Caliphate * Spring – Forces under the Transoxianian emir Isma'il ibn Ahmad are ...
.


Military Experience

José María Leiva (Leyba) had his first taste of military battle in 1854, while serving with the "Urbanos," the local
militia A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...
of Guaymas, which was organized by his teacher, Cayetano Navarro. This occurred when a plot to seize control of Sonora was carried out under the leadership of Count (''Comte'' in French)
Gaston de Raousset-Boulbon Charles René Gaston Gustave de Raousset-Boulbon (May 5, 1817 – August 13, 1854) was a French adventurer, filibuster and entrepreneur and, by some accounts a pirate, and a theoretician of colonialism. Early life Gaston de Raousset-Boulbon was b ...
, who had two years earlier tried to seized the city of Hermosillo by force, and had been repelled in that attempt after they had captured Hermosillo. At 14:30 hours on July 13, 1854, the battle began, with the Count's forces attacking the defenders of the
Guaymas Guaymas () is a city in Guaymas Municipality, in the southwest part of the state of Sonora, in northwestern Mexico. The city is south of the state capital of Hermosillo, and from the U.S. border. The municipality is located on the Gulf of Calif ...
town square. The attackers numbered more than 350 French, Germans and Chileans under the Count's leadership. After fighting the Mexican forces for about two hours, the invaders began to retreat. After seeing all of the men that Raousset-Boulbon had lost in the fighting, the French vice-consul, Joseph Calvo, came and requested his intervention to make peace. Calvo promised protection to all who took refuge under his flag, but hesitated for some time before extending this to include Raousset (Scroggs, 1916, p. 61). Under the command of General
José María Yáñez General José María Yáñez Carrillo (1803 – August 10, 1880) was a Mexican hero of the war of independence from Spain and the invasions by France and the United States. He was born to peasants in Valle de Santiago, Guanajuato, and ra ...
, the Urbanos and the other Mexican forces in Guaymas were victorious. Raousset-Boulbon surrendered his army, asking for no other condition than to respect their lives. The surrender took place at 6 pm the same day, giving 313 prisoners being counted among them Count Raousset-Boulbon. The Mexican Army collected 310 rifles, 10 shotguns, 7 swords, 6 flags, a campaign banner and a forge. The losses suffered by both sides included 48 dead and 78 injured foreigners, with 19 dead and 57 wounded Mexican patriots. Gaston Rausset-Boulbon was sentenced to death. The execution took place in Guaymas, on August 12, 1854, in an area located in the north of the town square. Captain Francis M. Espino led the firing squad (Berber, 1958. See also de Collet La Madelène, 1876, pp. 266–304). Now 18 years of age, José looked for new opportunities in life, and traveled to
Tepic Tepic () is the capital and largest city of the western Mexican state of Nayarit, as well as the seat of the Tepic Municipality. Located in the central part of the state, it stands at an altitude of above sea level, on the banks of the Río ...
, where he worked for a short time as a blacksmith. Later, he was caught up in the draft for soldiers to serve in the regular army, the San Blas Battalion, but deserted after only three months of service. José fled to the mountains near Acaponeta,
Nayarit Nayarit (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nayarit ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Nayarit), is one of the 31 states that, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its ...
, and worked for a while as a miner. With the Federal army still searching for him, José traveled to
Mazatlán Mazatlán () is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The city serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding ''municipio'', known as the Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip o ...
and joined a battalion comprising
Pima Pima or PIMA may refer to: People * Pima people, the Akimel O'odham, Indigenous peoples in Arizona (U.S.) and Sonora (Mexico) Places * Pima, Arizona, a town in Graham County * Pima County, Arizona * Pima Canyon Pima Canyon is a major canyon l ...
s, Yaquis, and Opatas, that was part of the ranks of Pablo Lagarma, who had declared for constitutional restoration. Not long afterward, José began service in as a trooper in the army of General Ramón Corona. Due to his previous military experience, and the ability to speak three languages, José was appointed aide-de-camp to General Corona. José ended up participating in the War of Reform, and against the forces of the French Intervention of Emperor Maximilian. It was General Corona that accepted the sword of surrender from Emperor Maximilian at
Querétaro Querétaro (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Querétaro ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Querétaro, links=no; Otomi: ''Hyodi Ndämxei''), is one of the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities. Its cap ...
on 15 May 1867 (Vandervort, 2006, pp. 230–231, 297). Eventually, José came to serve in the forces under Ignacio L. Pesqueira, who came to value José as a competent, well educated and trilingual officer, and who eventually commissioned José as a captain in the cavalry.


Appointment as Alcalde Mayor

Having successfully served in the Mexican military in the war against the French occupation, José's service proved so exemplary that in 1872 he was appointed to the office of "Alcalde Mayor" of the Yaqui by then Sonora Governor Ignacio Pesqueira. Expected by Pesqueira to assist in pacifying the Yaqui people, José instead united the eight Yaqui
pueblo In the Southwestern United States, Pueblo (capitalized) refers to the Native tribes of Puebloans having fixed-location communities with permanent buildings which also are called pueblos (lowercased). The Spanish explorers of northern New Spain ...
into a small, independent
republic A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
and unexpectedly announced he would not recognize the Mexican government unless his people were allowed to independently govern themselves. José took on the role of a social reformer. He reorganized the administrative system Yaqui society and life back to a state that had existed when there was far greater autonomy and self-sufficiency for the people. This was based it to a large extent on the earlier Yaqui system (mayors, captains, temastianes riests etc.). He re-established the popular assemblies, summoning them whenever it was necessary to rely on the entire population. Restructuring and disciplining Yaqui society to provide economic security and military preparedness, José instituted a system of
taxation A tax is a compulsory financial charge or some other type of levy imposed on a taxpayer (an individual or legal entity) by a governmental organization in order to fund government spending and various public expenditures (regional, local, or ...
, and external
trade Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market. An early form of trade, barter, saw the direct exch ...
control, initially establishing a tax on the ships that traded in the Yaqui River. To impose a toll on commercial traffic on its territory, in particular those who traded salt extracted from the coasts of the Yaqui nation, and to demand a premium from the cattle owners who the Yaquis stole cattle from upon their return. All these economic sources allowed them to procure arms and ammunition, and also to develop agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing (Gouy-Gilbert, 1983). This was all for the welfare and defense of the nation against those that would take away the Yaqui's traditional lands.


Cajemé's Rebellion Against Mexican Authority

Due to Mexican government opposition to Yaqui self-government, José was forced to lead the Yaqui in a war against the
Mexican state The states of Mexico are first-level administrative territorial entities of the country of Mexico, which is officially named United Mexican States. There are 32 federal entities in Mexico (31 states and the capital, Mexico City, as a separate en ...
and those who sought to control and confiscate the traditional Yaqui lands. The war was long-lasting due to the skill of the Yaqui in battle under José's leadership, and was particularly brutal, with atrocities on both sides, but with a much larger-scale slaughter by the military forces of the Mexican government of President
Porfirio Díaz José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori ( or ; ; 15 September 1830 – 2 July 1915), known as Porfirio Díaz, was a Mexican general and politician who served seven terms as President of Mexico, a total of 31 years, from 28 November 1876 to 6 Decem ...
(see Zoontjens and Glenlivet (2007) for additional factors behind the rebellion). One of the many battles during this period was the '' 'Battle of Capetamaya, which took place on October 15, 1882. Cajemé, as he was now known, was holding a meeting with the indigenous
Mayo Mayo often refers to: * Mayonnaise, often shortened to "mayo" * Mayo Clinic, a medical center in Rochester, Minnesota, United States Mayo may also refer to: Places Antarctica * Mayo Peak, Marie Byrd Land Australia * Division of Mayo, an Aus ...
in the vicinity of a place called Capetamaya in
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 72 municipalities; the ...
. Colonel Augustine Ortiz, who was a landowner in the area of the Mayo people, and who was also the brother of then governor of
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 72 municipalities; the ...
Carlos Ortiz, who had succeeded Pesqueira, attacked the assembly with elements of the
Mexican Army The Mexican Army ( es, Ejército Mexicano) is the combined land and air branch and is the largest part of the Mexican Armed Forces; it is also known as the National Defense Army. The Army is under the authority of the Secretariat of National ...
. Ortiz reported that about
Yaqui The Yaqui, Hiaki, or Yoeme, are a Native American people of the southwest, who speak a Uto-Aztecan language. Their homelands include the Río Yaqui valley in Sonora, Mexico, and the area below the Gila River in Arizona, Southwestern United ...
and
Mayo Mayo often refers to: * Mayonnaise, often shortened to "mayo" * Mayo Clinic, a medical center in Rochester, Minnesota, United States Mayo may also refer to: Places Antarctica * Mayo Peak, Marie Byrd Land Australia * Division of Mayo, an Aus ...
2,000 soldiers led by Cajemé faced his group of 300 men. The Yaqui's forces were scattered after losing 200 men, and Cajemé was wounded, losing part of his right index finger. The attack was seen by many as unnecessary, and led to public criticism against the new governor and his brother that was so intense that it resulted in the dismissal of Carlos Ortiz as governor of
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 72 municipalities; the ...
(Troncoso, 1905). Cajemé, when traveling with his Yaqui soldiers, would often sing in Spanish at the head of his troops. Riding on a horse, he would hook his leg around the pommel of his saddle, and sing a song of bravery and lack of fear of the Mexican army. He would have two men with him, one on each side, and would be followed by perhaps thirty more men on horseback, arranged in groups of ten, spaced some distance apart. Following at the rear of the column would be the infantry, composed of 100 or more troops (Spicer, 1988). In 1885, one of Cajemé's lieutenants, Loreto Molina, sought to gain control of the Yaqui people. With the support of the Mexican authorities, Molina developed an assassination plot to kill Cajemé at Cajemé's own home, at El Guamuchli, near Pótam. On the evening of 28 January 1885, Molina and twenty-two of his Yaqui supporters (some accounts state 30 or more) set out to kill Cajemé, but Cajemé was not at home, having left for the Mayo River with his bodyguard the day before. Cajemé stated that Molina's men looted his house, abused the women of the household by beating them with their weapons, and tearing off some of their clothes, and ran off Cajemé's family, leaving Cajemé's eight-year-old daughter on the bed in the house, while setting fire his house. One of Cajemé's sergeants saved the girl out of the flames of the fire, as the house burned to the ground (Troncoso, 1905). Among others named by Cajemé as participants in the attack (Troncoso, 1905. p. 111) were the following men: *Loreto Cuate *Angél Cuchi *Agustín Guapo *Trenidad Guapo *Francisco Guabesi *Pancho Juchaji *Martín Mobesbeo *Modesto el panadero (the baker) *hermano de (brother of) Modesto *Lucio Nasario *Antonio Ochocomasoleo *Loreto Omocol *Nacho Pelado *Madaleno Quintero *Luis Sanbaon *Nacho Suboqui *José Suple *José Tolo *Facundo Yorigelipe *Ilario Yorigelipe *Juan María Yorigelipe *Liandra Yorigelipe After Molina failed to kill Cajemé, the Mexican Government sent a force of three columns of 1200 men each to occupy the Yaqui territory. This force was originally under the command of Brigadier General Jose Guillermo Carbó (1841–1885), who had been appointed in 1881 as Commander of the First Military Zone comprising
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 72 municipalities; the ...
,
Baja California Baja California (; 'Lower California'), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California), is a state in Mexico. It is the northernmost and westernmost of the 32 federal entities of Me ...
,
Sinaloa Sinaloa (), officially the Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sinaloa), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities and ...
, and
Tepic Tepic () is the capital and largest city of the western Mexican state of Nayarit, as well as the seat of the Tepic Municipality. Located in the central part of the state, it stands at an altitude of above sea level, on the banks of the Río ...
(Diccionario Porrúa, 1970). It was thought that this was an advantageous time to move against the Yaquis, as the situation was relatively calm. A military report on the first of September stated that Cajemé had dissolved his troops, and many indigenous people were approaching ranchos near the Yaqui River in search of work, while raids on ranchos had stopped (Garcia, 1885). Also, there was optimism that the potential for disagreements between Cajemé and Anastasio Cuca, Cajemé's second in command, would increase, and that it wouldn't be remote if a split occurred between them ("no sería remoto se pudiera conseguir dividirlos" Otero, 1885). However, before Carbó could lead the government forces into an engagement, he died of a massive
cerebral hemorrhage Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), also known as cerebral bleed, intraparenchymal bleed, and hemorrhagic stroke, or haemorrhagic stroke, is a sudden bleeding into the tissues of the brain, into its ventricles, or into both. It is one kind of bleed ...
on October 29, 1885. Following this, General Ángel Martínez ("El Machetero") was placed in control of these three columns. Under General Martinez, the Mexican forces moved on the
Yaqui River The Yaqui River (Río Yaqui in Spanish) (Hiak Vatwe in the Yaqui or Yoreme language) is a river in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. It was formerly known as the Rio del Norte. Being the largest river system in the state of Sonora, th ...
pueblos.
Hubert Howe Bancroft Hubert Howe Bancroft (May 5, 1832 – March 2, 1918) was an American historian and ethnologist who wrote, published and collected works concerning the western United States, Texas, California, Alaska, Mexico, Central America and British Columb ...
relates (1888) how one of the columns was led by General Leiva (no relation to Cajemé) and General Marcos Carillo, and traveled west towards the
Yaqui River The Yaqui River (Río Yaqui in Spanish) (Hiak Vatwe in the Yaqui or Yoreme language) is a river in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. It was formerly known as the Rio del Norte. Being the largest river system in the state of Sonora, th ...
Valley, carrying two mitrailleuse (the first machine gun used in major combat). Another was led by General Camano, and came from the south-east with two
howitzer A howitzer () is a long-ranged weapon, falling between a cannon (also known as an artillery gun in the United States), which fires shells at flat trajectories, and a mortar, which fires at high angles of ascent and descent. Howitzers, like oth ...
s. A heavy body of cavalry came from the town of Buena Vista, from the north-east. General Martinez personally directed the occupation of the strategic Yaqui pueblo of Torím and other areas of the
Yaqui River The Yaqui River (Río Yaqui in Spanish) (Hiak Vatwe in the Yaqui or Yoreme language) is a river in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. It was formerly known as the Rio del Norte. Being the largest river system in the state of Sonora, th ...
Valley from his headquarters at Barojica. General Bonifacio Topete eventually took control of a large part of the force and attempted to overrun a major fortification that the Yaqui built near Vícam. The fort, "El Añil" (The Indigo), was the first use of defensive warfare by Cajemé, and consisted of fences,
parapet A parapet is a barrier that is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure. The word comes ultimately from the Italian ''parapetto'' (''parare'' 'to cover/defend' and ''petto'' 'chest/breast'). Wh ...
s, and a
moat A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that is dug and surrounds a castle, fortification, building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive ...
surrounding the fortification. Although Topete's infantry force used cannons against the Yaqui forces in the attack, Topete was defeated with a loss of 20 men. Following this successful repulsion of the Mexican forces, Cajemé gave the order to his forces to fortify other locations and to fight only while behind trenches. In April 1886, the Mexican forces occupied the Yaqui town of Cócorit; and on May 5, 1886, a major siege was begun by the Mexican army at El Añil. By May 16, the Mexican army destroyed the fortification at El Añil, which was a great defeat for the Yaquis (see also Hernández, 1902).


Betrayal

Eventually betrayed by a Yaqui woman whose sympathies lay with Loreto Molina and other Yaquis opposed to resisting Mexican authority, Cajemé was captured while visiting family members in the pueblo of San José de Guaymas (about 8 miles north of the Port of Guaymas) on April 13, 1887. Cajemé was kept under house arrest by General Angel Martinez. He was treated with all of the respect and courtesy accorded to a defeated leader of a country while under arrest. Cajemé was extensively interviewed by Ramón Corral, who was elected Vice-Governor of Sonora on April 25, 1887 (N.Y. Times, 1887), and who later became Governor of Sonora, eventually rising to the office of Vice-president of Mexico under
Porfirio Diaz Porfirio is a given name in Spanish, derived from the Greek Porphyry (''porphyrios'' "purple-clad"). It can refer to: * Porfirio Salinas – Mexican-American artist * Porfirio Armando Betancourt – Honduran football player * Porfirio Barba-Ja ...
. It was during this time that Cajemé's famous saying was recorded: "Antes como antes y ahora como ahora. Antes éramos enemigos y peleábamos, Ahora está Todo concluido y todos somos amigos ( Before was before and now is now. Before we were enemies and we fought; now everything is concluded and all can be friends)" (Corral, 1959
900 __NOTOC__ Year 900 ( CM) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Abbasid Caliphate * Spring – Forces under the Transoxianian emir Isma'il ibn Ahmad are ...
. At least two photos were taken of Cajemé during his arrest, in both traditional Mexican campesino garb (as shown in the first photo), as well as in a dark blue military jacket that he was known to wear when fighting. In both photos he is seen holding a Carbine, and carrying a white-handled Colt revolver.


Execution

Following his interview, Cajemé was taken from Guaymas bay by the '' Demócrata,'' a
steam-powered A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. The steam engine uses the force produced by steam pressure to push a piston back and forth inside a Cylinder (locomotive), cylinder. This pus ...
, coal-fired, Iron-hulled, schooner-rigged gunboat, with one funnel and three masts, to the
Yaqui River The Yaqui River (Río Yaqui in Spanish) (Hiak Vatwe in the Yaqui or Yoreme language) is a river in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. It was formerly known as the Rio del Norte. Being the largest river system in the state of Sonora, th ...
port of
El Médano El Médano ( Spanish, "The sand dune") is a town in the municipality of Granadilla de Abona, on the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. It is located about 11 kilometers from the town of Granadilla, reaching an average altitude of 75 m ...
, near Pótam. Cajemé was then paraded through several of the
Yaqui The Yaqui, Hiaki, or Yoeme, are a Native American people of the southwest, who speak a Uto-Aztecan language. Their homelands include the Río Yaqui valley in Sonora, Mexico, and the area below the Gila River in Arizona, Southwestern United ...
pueblos The Puebloans or Pueblo peoples, are Native Americans in the Southwestern United States who share common agricultural, material, and religious practices. Currently 100 pueblos are actively inhabited, among which Taos, San Ildefonso, Acoma, Z ...
along the river, showing the people that the leader of the Yaqui had been captured. At eleven in the morning, on the return trip to
Guaymas Guaymas () is a city in Guaymas Municipality, in the southwest part of the state of Sonora, in northwestern Mexico. The city is south of the state capital of Hermosillo, and from the U.S. border. The municipality is located on the Gulf of Calif ...
, a pretense was made that Cajemé was trying to escape his guard. He was shot seven times, causing his death at Tres Cruces de Chumampaco. An American reporter for the Tucson Daily Citizen (1887) visited the site of his death, and found Cajemé's hat was nailed to a tree, and a wooden cross inscribed with the following: "INRI, aque fallecio General Cajemé, Abril 23, 1887, a los 11 y 5 la manaña" (INRI atin_for_Jesus_of_Nazareth,_King_of_the_Jews.html" ;"title="Jesus_of_Nazareth.html" ;"title="atin for Jesus of Nazareth">atin for Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews">Jesus_of_Nazareth.html" ;"title="atin for Jesus of Nazareth">atin for Jesus of Nazareth, King of the JewsHere died General Cajemé, April 23, 1887 at 11:05 in the morning). Cajemé's body was given to Tomás Durante, leader of the Yaqui people residing at Cócorit, and those Yaqui loyal to Cajemé reverently buried him at Cócorit. Following this incident, General Martinez ordered an investigation of the actions of his young Lieutenant, Clemente Patiño (born November 1861 Clemente Patiño Morales was Christened on November 26, 1861, at the Catholic Church at
Ocotlán, Jalisco Ocotlán is a city and municipality in Jalisco, Mexico. Its industry includes furniture production. Is the seat of the Región Ciénega. Etymology ''Ocotlán'' means "near the pines" or "place of the ocote (pines)". Ocote is from Nahuatl ''ocō ...
, Mexico (Iglesia Católica, 1861). The Church records state he was the son of Jose Patino and Bicenta Morales. He was married on June 17, 1881 to María Jesus Garcia, at the San Francisco Parish, Tala, Jalisco, Mexico (Iglesia Católica, 1881).
), who was in charge of the detachment that had escorted Cajemé (Troncoso, 1905).


Events Following Cajemé's Death

On May 20, 1887, Anastasio Cuca, Cajemé's second in command, was captured at
Tucson, Arizona , "(at the) base of the black ill , nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town" , image_map = , mapsize = 260px , map_caption = Interactive map ...
. He was extradited to Sonora at the request of Sonora Governor Tórres. Cuca was charged with murder and robbery in the District of Guaymas, and then taken to the Yaqui River and executed in front of his people (Los Angeles Herald, 1887). Afterward, Juan Maldonado Waswechia (Beltran) (28 August 1857 (Iglesia Católica, 1857) - 9 July 1901.), also known as
Tetabiate Tetabiate (''Tetaviecti,'' meaning "Rolling Stone" in the Yaqui or Yoeme language), also known as Juan Maldonado Waswechia Beltran (28 August 1857 – 9 July 1901), was the leader of the Yaqui resistance to Mexican attempts to destroy their ...
(''Tetaviecti'', meaning "Rolling Stone" in the Yaqui or Yoeme language), took over in leading the fighting against the Mexican forces, becoming Cajemé's successor in June 1887 (Troncoso, 1905). By this time, the devastation to the Yaqui population along the
Yaqui River The Yaqui River (Río Yaqui in Spanish) (Hiak Vatwe in the Yaqui or Yoreme language) is a river in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. It was formerly known as the Rio del Norte. Being the largest river system in the state of Sonora, th ...
was great. At the direction of the Government of Sonora, a count was taken of the number of indigenous inhabitants still living in the Yaqui Pueblos of Cócorit, Tórim, and El Médano in late 1887. The count showed that there were only 1784 men and 2200 women still living in the three towns (Hernández, 1902). For many years following Cajemé's death there were strenuous efforts by the Mexican government to kill or remove all the Yaqui from the state of Sonora. Much of the Yaqui nation was enslaved and sent to work as slave laborers in the
Yucatán Peninsula The Yucatán Peninsula (, also , ; es, Península de Yucatán ) is a large peninsula in southeastern Mexico and adjacent portions of Belize and Guatemala. The peninsula extends towards the northeast, separating the Gulf of Mexico to the north ...
, in the
Quintana Roo Quintana Roo ( , ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Quintana Roo ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo), is one of the 31 states which, with Mexico City, constitute the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into 11 mu ...
, where thousands died laboring in the henequen plantations (Turner, 1911). Many more were simply killed, usually by firing squad or by hanging. Many Yaqui fled to neighboring Mexican states, submerging their identity with that of other Indian groups. Quite a few Yaqui fled to Southern Arizona, the traditional Northernmost region of their territory, where their descendants live today.


José María Leyba's Families

It is known that José María Leyba (Leiva) was married at least two times. José's first spouse was María Jesus Salgado Ramires. It appears that this was a traditional Yaqui marriage, as it does not appear to be recorded in the historic Catholic Church records. José and María had two children, both born in Hermosillo: a son, Sotero Emiliano Leiva Salgado, born in 1863 (Iglesia Católica, 1863), and a daughter, Victoria Leiva Salgado, born in 1866 (Iglesia Católica, 1866). Mexican newspaper articles mention Cajemé's son from this family leading Yaqui soldiers in the fight against the Mexican forces, or fighting alongside his father in the years 1885 and 1886 (La Constitucion, 1885; La Constitucion, 1886), as well as his daughter leading some raids. His last appearance in the historical record that has been located is on May 4, 1889, where Emiliano Leiva is listed as a Padrino at the baptism of his sister, Victoria Leiva's, first child (Iglesia Católica, 1889). Victoria was in 1885 noted (but not by name) as the daughter of Cajemé (Newark Daily Advocate, 1885). Victoria married a well-known businessman from Montmorenci, Indiana in the United States, named William E. Godman. Godman was working as a "ferrocarrilero," and had been living in Sonora since 1884. The marriage took place in Guaymas, on December 17, 1887, at the home of Don Antonio Moreno, a Senator from Sonora who was largely responsible for pushing through the development of the Sonora Railway (Moreno, 1880). The marriage occurred just eight months after the death of Victoria's father (Archivo General, 1887). With the aide of her husband William, Victoria, along with her mother María, and her older brother Emiliano, were able to escape the continued persecution of the Yaqui people in Sonora. Godman and his family traveled first to the state of
Chihuahua Chihuahua may refer to: Places * Chihuahua (state), a Mexican state **Chihuahua (dog), a breed of dog named after the state **Chihuahua cheese, a type of cheese originating in the state **Chihuahua City, the capital city of the state **Chihuahua Mu ...
. The family returned to Sonora in 1892, and finally, in January 1900, entered the United States of America at El Paso, Texas, not long after the infamous massacre of Yaquis at Mazocoba, in the heart of the Bacatete Mountains of Sonora. Victoria died on August 5, 1946, in Los Angeles, California, living long enough to see four children, and four grandchildren born. William Godman eventually left Victoria and his daughters in El Paso and re-married. At the start of the
Mexican Revolution The Mexican Revolution ( es, Revolución Mexicana) was an extended sequence of armed regional conflicts in Mexico from approximately 1910 to 1920. It has been called "the defining event of modern Mexican history". It resulted in the destruction ...
Godman relocated to
Puerto Barrios Puerto Barrios () is a city in Guatemala, located within the Gulf of Honduras. The city is located on Bahia de Amatique. Puerto Barrios is the departmental seat of Izabal department and is the administrative seat of Puerto Barrios municipality. ...
, Guatemala, where he accepted a position as Port Superintendent for the International Railways of Central America (I.R.C.A.), a subsidiary of the United Fruit Company. The second marriage of José was to María Jesús Maccima Matus Morales, whom José married on June 14, 1878, and which was recorded at San Fernando, Guaymas, Sonora (Iglesia Católica, 1878). Dolores Salgado, the father of Jose's first wife, María Jesus Salgado Ramires, was one of the godparents (padrinos) of María Jesús Maccima Matus Morales at the time of her baptism on November 20, 1842 (Iglesia Católica, 1842). There were at least two children born to this union, the youngest being a son ("joven," see Corral, 1959
900 __NOTOC__ Year 900 ( CM) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Abbasid Caliphate * Spring – Forces under the Transoxianian emir Isma'il ibn Ahmad are v ...
also "pequeño hijo," Hernández, 1902, p. 147 ), and also a daughter, who would have been about 10 years old at the time (Troncoso, 1905, p. 111) . This family appears to be the one that Loreto Molina and his followers ran off, burning their home near Pótam in 1885.


Municipality of Cajeme

Following the death of Cajemé, the Yaqui struggled to maintain control of their traditional lands. However, by 1890, with most of the Yaqui removed from the
Yaqui River The Yaqui River (Río Yaqui in Spanish) (Hiak Vatwe in the Yaqui or Yoreme language) is a river in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. It was formerly known as the Rio del Norte. Being the largest river system in the state of Sonora, th ...
Valley, the Mexican government granted the Sonora and
Sinaloa Sinaloa (), officially the Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sinaloa), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities and ...
Irrigation Company, incorporated in New Jersey, land along the river with water rights in 1890 (Phillips & Comus, 2000). The company begin the construction of canals for irrigating and growing crops. The Sonora and Sinaloa Irrigation Company soon went bankrupt (N. Y. Times, 1900; N.Y. Times, 1901), and the grant was purchased by the Richardson Construction Company of California in 1906 (Records of the Compañia Constructora Richardson, S.A., 1904-1968). The Richardson Construction Company sold a 400 hectare block of land to developers from the United States and Europe, and received the exclusive right to sixty-five percent of the Yaqui River’s water for a 99-year period. The first non-indigenous settlers established themselves in the neighborhood called Plano Oriente. The Ferrocarril Sud-Pacífico, a subsidy of the Southern Pacific Railroad, established a station nearby called Cajeme, to provide water for the locomotives. The town of
Cajeme Cajeme is one of the 72 municipalities of the northwestern state of Sonora, Mexico. It is named after Cajemé, a Yaqui leader. The municipality has an area of 3,312.05 km2 (1,278.79 sq mi) and with a population of 433,050 inhabitants as of 2 ...
was initially a part of Cócorit Municipality until its elevation to a Municipal Seat on September 28, 1927. The first city government was established on January 1, 1928. The July 28, 1928 decree stated that “the city is known now with the name of
Ciudad Obregón Ciudad Obregón is a city in southern Sonora. It is the state's second largest city after Hermosillo and serves as the municipal seat of Cajeme, as of 2020, the city has a population of 436,484. Ciudad Obregón is south of the state's norther ...
, the town formerly known as Cajeme.” In 1937 another legislation stated that Cajeme be the name of the Municipality and
Ciudad Obregón Ciudad Obregón is a city in southern Sonora. It is the state's second largest city after Hermosillo and serves as the municipal seat of Cajeme, as of 2020, the city has a population of 436,484. Ciudad Obregón is south of the state's norther ...
its seat. In modern times, the Municipality of Cajeme yearly commemorates the death of Cajemé, with a gathering and public speeches highlighting the battles where Cajemé led his people against the Mexican Government, instead of pacifying the Yaqui people as was expected by Sonoran Governor Pesqueira (Municipio de Cajeme, 2013).


Notes


References

* Archivo General del Registro Civil del Estado de Sonora. (1887). ''Copias de Actas de Matrimonio.'' (In Spanish). Guaymas. pp. 95–97. * Bancroft, H. H. (1888)
''History of Mexico, Vol. VI.''
San Francisco: The History Company. p. 462 * Berber, Laureano Calvo. (1958). ''Nociones de historia de Sonora.'' (In Spanish). México City: Libreria de Manuel Porrua, S A. * Corral, Ramón. (1887). ''José María Leyva Cajeme: Apuntes Biográficos.'' A serial article published in several issues of ''La Constitución'' (Periódico oficial del gobierno del estado libre y soberano de Sonora), beginning with the issue of April 22, 1887 (Tomo IX, Num. 16), and ending July 8, 1887 (Tomo IX, Num. 28). (In Spanish). Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. * Corral, Ramón. (1959
900 __NOTOC__ Year 900 ( CM) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Abbasid Caliphate * Spring – Forces under the Transoxianian emir Isma'il ibn Ahmad are ...
. Biografía de José María Leyva Cajeme. In ''Obras históricas. Reseña histórica del Estado de Sonora, 1856-1877''; Las razas indígenas de Sonora. No. I. (In Spanish). Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, Retrato del autor. (Biblioteca Sonorense de Geografía e Historia) ote: This is the second printing of this book, which was originally published in 1900. It was republished in 1959 as part of a State series on the geography and history of Sonora* ''Diccionario Porrúa de Historia, Biografía, Geografía de México,'' 2 Vols. (1970) (In Spanish). Mexico: Porrúa. Vol. 1, p. 360. * de Collet La Madelène, Joseph Henri. (1876). ''Le comte Gaston de Raousset-Boulbon, sa vie et ses aventures: d'pres ses papiers et sa correspondance.'' (In French). Paris: Charpentier et Cie, Libraires Éditeurs. * El Siglo Diez y Nueve. (1851). ''Estado de Sonora, Ures, Mayo 25.'' June 25, 1851. p. 604. * Garcia, Lorenzo. (1885). ''Carta de Lorenzo Garcia a Porfirio Diaz, Hemosillo, 1 de Septiembre de 1885.'' Archivo Porfirio Diaz, legajo 10, caja 19, documento 009,024. (In Spanish). * Gouy-Gilbert, Cécile (1983). ''Une résistance indienne. Les Yaquis du Sonora.'' (In French) Lyon, France: Les Éditions Fédérop. * Hernández, Fortunato. (1902)
razas indígenas de Sonora y la guerra del yaqui.''
(In Spanish). Mexico: J. de Elizalde. * Iglesia Católica. (1798). ''Registros parroquiales: Bautismos 1783-1828,'' (In Spanish) La Asunción; Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. In "FHL INTL Film 668931," Microfilme de manuscritos en el archivo de la parroquia; La Asunción fue titular de la catedral metropolitana de la diócesis de Hermosillo. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmado por la Sociedad Genealógica de Utah, 1968. * Iglesia Católica. (1815). ''Registros parroquiales: Bautismos 1783-1828,'' (In Spanish) La Asunción; Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. In "FHL INTL Film 668931," Microfilme de manuscritos en el archivo de la parroquia; La Asunción fue titular de la catedral metropolitana de la diócesis de Hermosillo. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmado por la Sociedad Genealógica de Utah, 1968. * Iglesia Católica. (1835). ''Libro de Bautistos 1835, Registro 1433,'' (In Spanish) Catedral De La Asunción Metropolitana; Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico ote: The volume containing this record has not yet been microfilmed * Iglesia Católica. (1842). ''Registros parroquiales: Bautismos 1837-1847,'' (In Spanish) La Asunción; Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. In " FHL INTL Film 668933," Microfilme de manuscritos en el archivo de la parroquia; La Asunción fue titular de la catedral metropolitana de la diócesis de Hermosillo. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmado por la Sociedad Genealógica de Utah, 1968. * Iglesia Católica. (1857). ''Registros parroquiales: Bautismos 1857-1860,'' (In Spanish) La Asunción; Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. In " FHL INTL Film 671285," Microfilme de manuscritos en el archivo de la parroquia; La Asunción fue titular de la catedral metropolitana de la diócesis de Hermosillo. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmado por la Sociedad Genealógica de Utah, 1968. * Iglesia Católica. (1861). ''Registros parroquiales: Bautismos 1853-1866,'' (In Spanish) Ocotlán, Jalisco, Mexico. In " FHL INTL Film 280864," Microfilme de manuscritos en el archivo de la parroquia. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmado por la Sociedad Genealógica de Utah, 1958. * Iglesia Católica. (1863). ''Registros parroquiales: Bautismos 1860-1865,'' (In Spanish) La Asunción; Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. In " FHL INTL Film 671286," Microfilme de manuscritos en el archivo de la parroquia; La Asunción fue titular de la catedral metropolitana de la diócesis de Hermosillo. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmado por la Sociedad Genealógica de Utah, 1968. * Iglesia Católica. (1866). ''Registros parroquiales: Bautismos 1865-1869,'' (In Spanish) La Asunción; Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. In " FHL INTL Film 671288," Microfilme de manuscritos en el archivo de la parroquia; La Asunción fue titular de la catedral metropolitana de la diócesis de Hermosillo. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmado por la Sociedad Genealógica de Utah, 1968. * Iglesia Católica. (1878). ''Registros parroquiales: Matrimonios 1877-1951 ,'' (In Spanish) San Fernando; Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. In " FHL INTL Film 671288," Microfilme de manuscritos en el archivo de la parroquia. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmado por la Sociedad Genealógica de Utah, 1968. * Iglesia Católica. (1881). ''Registros parroquiales: Matrimonios 1869-1889,'' (In Spanish) San Francisco; Tala, Jalisco, Mexico. In " FHL INTL Film 233402," Microfilme de manuscritos en el archivo de la parroquia. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmado por la Sociedad Genealógica de Utah, 1959. * Iglesia Católica. (1889). ''Registros parroquiales, 1709-1957, Bautismos 1884-1893,'' (In Spanish) Iglesia Católica. Sagrario; Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. In " FHL INTL Film 162671," Microfilme de manuscritos en el Archivo Historico de la Arquidiocesis de Chihuahua. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmado por la Sociedad Genealógica de Utah, 1957. * La Constitucion. (1885). ''Los sublevados.'' (In Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico. March 20, 1885, p. 4. * La Constitucion. (1886). ''Mas del Yaqui.'' (In Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico. May 21, 1886, p. 3 * Los Angeles Herald. (1887). Captive Cuca: Executed for His Crimes In Sonora, Mexico. Volume 27, Number 80, 24 June 1887. p. 1 * Molina, José. (1983). ''Historia de Hermosillo antiguo: En memoria del aniversario doscientos de haber recibido el título de Villa del Pitic.'' (In Spanish). México DF.: Fuentes Impresores S.A. Centeno 109. * Moreno, Antonio. (1880). Enclosure 4, Circular No. 1014.: Reply to Ochoa's Report. I
''Executive Documents of the House of Representatives.''
Second Session of the Forty Sixth Congress, 1879-1880. Foreign Relations, Vol. 1, Part 1. Washington: Government Printing Office. pp. 831–833. * Municipio de Cajeme. (2013)
''Conmemoran autoridades el 125 aniversario luctuoso de José María Leyva''
(In Spanish). April 25, 2013. * Newark Daily Advocate. (1885). ''A troublesome Indian race.'' Newark, Ohio. June 10, 1885. See also: ''A troublesome Indian race.'' The Mitchell Daily Republican. Mitchell, South Dakota. June 26, 1885. ote: this was a widely syndicated article at the time. The two citations given are among the easiest to locate.* N.Y. Times. (1887)
''The Sonora Election.''
April 27, 1887. * N.Y. Times. (1900)
''New York Bondholders Win: Mexican Court Grants Foreclosure Against Sonora Irrigation Co.''
December 22, 1900. * N.Y. Times. (1901)
''Mexico Company in Trouble.''
June 25, 1901. * Otero, Jose. (1885). ''Carta de Jose Otero a Porfirio Diaz, 10 de Septiembre de 1885.'' (In Spanish). Archivo Porfirio Diaz. legajo 10, caja 19, documenta 009,379. * Phillips, Steven J., & Comus, Patricia Wentworth. (2000). ''A natural history of the Sonoran Desert.'' Tucson, Arizona: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Press.
''Records of the Compañia Constructora Richardson, S.A.''
(1904-1968). Arizona-Sonora Document Online. * Scroggs, William O. (1916). ''Filibusters and Financiers; the story of William Walker and his Associates.'' New York,New York: The Macmillan company. * Spicer, Edward Holland. (1988). ''People of Pascua.'' Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press. * Troncoso, Francisco P. ''Francisco de Borja del Paso y Troncoso'' (1905)
guerras con las Tribus Yaqui y Mayo del estado de Sonora, Mexico.''
(In Spanish). Mexico: Tipografia del departamento de estado mayor. * Tucson Daily Citizen.(1887). May 25, 1887. * Turner, John Kenneth. (1911)
Mexico: An Indictment of a Cruel and Corrupt System.''
Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Company. ote: This is probably the best and most famous English language exposé of the Yaqui situation in Mexico during the early 20th century.* Vandervort, Bruce. (2006). ''Indian wars of Mexico, Canada and the United States, 1812-1900.'' New York: Routledge. * Zoontjens, Linda, & Glenlivet, Yaomi. (2007)
brief history of the Yaqui and their land.''
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