(as researched by Josephine Corchero McNamara from the experiences and memory of Ramona Sanchez Corchero)
Austin was born in Spain May 5, 1901, he was the third child born to Casto and Maxima Corchero. One of the first things he recalled was when in 1906 when his brother Sinforiano (Fred) Corchero Y Paule was born and then three days later their mother Maxima passed away. As she passed out and fell near the stove, she hit her head on the hearth of the kitchen stove, she died a short time later.
Austin went to school in Spain until the fourth grade. After school he worked as sheepherder and worked learning how to make walls out of rock.
When Austin was eleven years old he emigrated from Spain with his family. He worked on the sugar plantations in Hawaii for the next six years until 1919. After arriving in California Austin lived with the Comisones family until 1921. Austin's first job was as a golf caddie. After carrying the golf clubs for 18 holes, he threw the clubs and told the guy, "Why don't you go out and dig ditches like a real man". Wasting time and effort was beyond his comprehension. His next jobs were working on farms in the area.
Austin and his dad, Casto, went down to Gilroy in 1921 and purchased 26 acres of land. They moved the rest of the family down to the ranch as soon as the barn was up. Austin worked off the ranch for wages and spent the remainder of the day on those things to be done on the ranch. This is what Austin did for his whole life.
In 1924 Austin learned about the propensity of the Fordson tractor to up and roll over backwards. A miracle that he survived, he was laid up in recovery for months.
In 1930 Casto died on Austin's 29th birthday from injuries he sustained involving a spooked team of horses drawing farm equipment, farming was never easy.
Austin stayed on to keep up the ranch and help care for his younger brothers and sisters. Carl and Leland joined the Civilian Conservation Corps as soon as they were of age and able. Ben married in 1934 and Frances in 1935.
On December 23, 1933 Ramona Sanchez married Austin Corchero. By the time Austin did marry, all of his siblings were working or living elsewhere. Vincenta was the only one that stayed on the ranch for the next three years. In May 1934 Austin's eight-year-old nephew, Carl Lopez Corchero, died. August 7, 1934 Ramona gave birth to premature twin girls, Maxine and Paulina Corchero, Paulina died on January 9, 1935, she just did not have a healthy enough start.
January 25, 1936 Austin Jr. was born; he only lived until June 16 of that same year, another blow to the young family. The maintenance of the ranch fell mainly on Austin and Ramona and it appeared as though mother in law Vincenta was causing friction. At the suggestion of Mr. Dunne, Vincenta was asked to move and the contract for the ranch purchase between Vincenta, Casto and Mr. Dunne was terminated. Vincenta was well off as she had somehow accumulated $14,000 and bought a small home in Gilroy and continued working in the local cannery.
On March 23, 1937 Victor Austin Corchero was born on his grandfather birthday. By now Austin's brother Sinforiano (Fred) had married Ramonda Hermoso and on January 24, 1938 their daughter Margie (Margaret Burns) was born.
Tragedy then hit again, May 1, 1939 Austin's brother Benjamin Corchero died of typhoid fever at the age of 29. He had a wife and a 4-year-old son. Then three weeks later, May 24, 1939, Austin's brother Sinforiano (Fred) Corchero died from a car / train wreck. He was 32 years old and left his wife Ramonda Hermoso Corchero and his fifteen month old daughter Margie (Margaret Burns).
By then Austin did not know what would become of the ranch and the pending mortgage debt of $29,000 accumulated in past by improvements and such. All siblings were contacted and no interest was exhibited by anyone.
With little to loose Austin then approached Mr. Dunne as to the status of debt and what it was required to continue working the ranch. Mr. Dunne, a very benevolent man, saw the debt canceled now that Casto had died and Vincenta was not living on site. Mr. Dunne offered the 26-acre ranch for sale to Austin and Ramona (now new buyers) at the then going price of $4,000. On negotiating, the adjacent 3-acre eucalyptus grove was made part of the purchase, same price of $4,000. This addition of the eucalyptus grove proved to be a valuable source of firewood for themselves and other folks, as well as stock pasture, etc.
This tremendous deal and what appeared to be favored treatment by the benevolent Mr. Dunne would forever be contentious within this extended family. No doubt Mr. Dunne treated every one well, but as human nature is, there were comparisons made. Never the less by July of 1939 the ranch was in Austin's and Ramona's name and they had a 30-year payment schedule as well. Mr. Dunne was respected and even adored by each and every immigrant family for his caring help to all.
On November 22, 1939 Josephine Sanchez Corchero was born to be the youngest in the family now totaling five. Thirteen months later on January 4, 1941 Ramona's beloved father Vitoriano passed away almost ten years after her loving mom Pabla had passed away. Since Vitoriano had touched so many lives his passing was surely sad.
Now December 7th 1941, WW2 arrived and all younger brothers, brothers in-laws, nephews and nephews in-laws went to war as they came of age. Thank the good Lord they were all able to return and come home again.
With the purchase of a 1929 model A Ford truck and a Caterpillar tractor, farm life for Austin and Ramona and the 3 kids was to be nearly ideal for the next many years.
Austin became a United States citizen in 1944 and in 1946 he and Ramona were able to payoff the ranch. Ramona and Austin worked and lived there the rest of their married lives until Austin passed away January 6, 1966.
Ramona sold the ranch in the following years and now lives with her daughter Josephine in Union City California.
goto Austin /Ramona family tree http://www.ccountry.net/~corchero/corchero2.htm