Image courtesy of Nuestro Stories.
Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo was the first Latino to sit on the United States Senate when he was elected to fill the seat of New Mexico Senator Andrieus A. Jones, who died while serving in the role.
Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, in 1859, Octaviano was born to a well-to-do family. His father, also named Octaviano, was a prosperous landowner, and his grandfather Jose Maria was one of the most affluent men in the town.
Octaviano’s mother, Donaciana Corral, was also from a prominent family of well-educated men and women from Parral, Mexico.
Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo was barely a year old when the French invasion of Mexico caused the family to lose their home, wealth, and land. It is said the family never recovered from the misfortune. During the time of loss, the family often turned to the church, where Octaviano served as an altar boy under Reverend J.B Salpointe.
From the altar to the classroom
Ten years after the financial devastation, Reverend Salapointe, who had then been appointed the Archbishop of New Mexico, offered to bring Octaviano back to the United States. Salpointe enrolled Octaviano into the Christian Brothers Preparatory Program.
After graduation, Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo began teaching in New Mexico, where he would stay for three years before moving to Texas to continue his teaching career. During this time, he met Telesforo Montes, who became a fast friend and mentor to Octaviano.
Octaviano’s life maintained a healthy and steady pace in Texas for years. His parents moved to be with him in Texas in 1879, and while they were there, Octaviano married Rosalia Cobbs, the granddaughter of his mentor, Telesforo.
In 1884, after becoming a US Citizen, Octaviano was invited to serve as Telesforo’s secretary while he served as Mayor of San Elizario. The move would start Octaviano’s long-tenured career in politics, as he found great joy in the role.
A pioneering political career
While serving in politics, Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo was known to be a grand champion of civil rights. He became known as the ‘Silver Tongued Orator’ of the Southwest.
He spent a great deal of time championing the rights of Spanish-speaking peoples in the US, as he believed that being bilingual was a basis for higher education and would result in a more well-informed community.
On top of his oratory skills, Octaviano was a highly-accomplished writer. Although he was not present during the New Mexico Constitutional Convention of 1910, his writings were paramount to forming the constitution itself and employing effective provisions that documented protections for all Spanish-speaking voters.
His constant work for his people led him to be elected. Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo served in some form of public office until he died in 1930.
