1. Don Leopoldo Carrillo was a Mexican-American entrepreneur and one of the earliest pioneers of Tucson, Arizona.
25 Facts About Leopoldo Carrillo
1. 2.
Leopoldo Carrillo was born on May 24,1836, in Moctezuma, Sonora as the illegitimate son of Luis Carrillo and Dona Maria Martines.
3.
Luis Carrillo was a Spanish soldier and Dona Maria Martines was half Opata.
4.
Leopoldo Carrillo had two younger brothers, Francisco and Procopio, and an older sister named Teodosia.
5.
Leopoldo Carrillo had another relative named Emilio, but it is not known whether he was a brother or a cousin.
6.
The latter is likely as Leopoldo Carrillo referred to him as "primo", the Spanish word for cousin.
7.
Leopoldo Carrillo had no formal education, teaching himself how to read, write and speak Spanish and English.
8.
Leopoldo Carrillo had humble beginnings selling bottles on the streets to pay for his lessons.
9.
Leopoldo Carrillo married Jesusita Suarez on August 21,1865, in Magdalena, Mexico.
10.
Jesusita's sister, Elvira Suarez de Leopoldo Carrillo, moved into the household.
11.
Leopoldo Carrillo had given birth to Mortimer Carrillo two days earlier, but the baby did not survive either.
12.
Leopoldo Carrillo reportedly won furniture such as a large mirror from these games, but he was very cautious about gambling debts.
13.
Leopoldo Carrillo had a very successful career as an entrepreneur.
14.
In 1859, Leopoldo Carrillo ventured to the town of Tucson, Arizona which at the time was a government outpost on the verge of exponential growth.
15.
Leopoldo Carrillo retaliated by amassing a large group of approximately 50 bronco horses.
16.
Leopoldo Carrillo led them to recapture the entirety of his missing livestock in addition to capturing four horses from the Native Americans.
17.
Leopoldo Carrillo fled to the mountains disguising himself as a Native American through his dark skin and knowledge of the Opata language.
18.
Leopoldo Carrillo commissioned the construction of the city's first two-story building, and built the town's first ice cream parlor which was unique in that it served wine with it.
19.
Leopoldo Carrillo was a strong supporter of the Union during the American Civil War, and closely followed the career of John C Fremont, the first Republican candidate for president.
20.
Leopoldo Carrillo supported Abraham Lincoln's campaign for presidency and the abolitionist movement.
21.
Leopoldo Carrillo was often a featured speaker at most Republican party rallies.
22.
Leopoldo Carrillo would have served with the New Mexico regiments.
23.
Leopoldo Carrillo was well regarded for his honest gentlemanly demeanor.
24.
Visitors to the Leopoldo Carrillo household have reported sightings of paranormal entities.
25.
The latter is believed to be Leopoldo's second wife Elvira Suarez de Carrillo who died of stomach cancer.