Introduction of new member

["ftworthtexgonzales" <TexGonzales@...>]

Hi Ranchos Group Members,

I am Michael Gonzales and have a strong interest in the Gonzales, 
Ayala, Calleros and Lucero lines in Zacatecas, Mexico on my
father's side and the Ayala, Zamora, Ortiz and Moreno lines in 
Michoacan, Mexico on my mother's side.  I was born in California
and 
am a transplant to Texas.  Most of my family is still in California, 
up and down the coast.

I mainly use the LDS Family History Centers and the INS non-
statistical records for Mexican border crossings in the 1912-20 
timeframes.  I also us the US Census records for family 
identifications in the 1920-30 period.

I am trying to find my paternal grandfather's birth or baptismal 
records (Ramon Gonzales-31 August 1891).  I have birth registrations 
for two of his brothers (Francisco and Julian) who were born in 
Rancho San Justo, Zacatecas, Mex, but nothing yet on my Paternal 
grandfather, Ramon.  I have not yet tried to look up records on my 
great grandfather Victor Gonzales or my great grandmother Luisa.  
I'm hoping to find any reference to where they were born and
their ages at the time of birth of Ramon or his brothers and sister 
so I don't get lost in a great chase.  The only thing I see in
Julian
and Francisco's birth registration is the names of the parents
(Victor and Luisa) and grandparents (Abraham and Bonifacia).  They 
don't contain info on where they (parents or grandparents) were 
born.  It does make reference to La Vicaria de la Hacienda de 
Obrega.  Anyone have info on that Hacienda?

I found a great resource in a book I ordered through my local LDS 
Family History Center.  It's entitled "Diccionario
Biográfico y 
Geográfico", film numbers 1102587 and 1102588.  It was
published in 
about 1891 and contains loads of information about towns and names 
that were of that time period.  It has some info on ranchos, but 
only general names.  For example, I could not find Rancho San Justo 
alphabetically, but I didn't look for others to see if by chance 
others might be listed.  I have it on permanent loan and have found 
it to be quite valuable as I go back into the 1800s .

Anyway, searching for my ancestors has been an exciting journey.  
Maybe I can get some help from this group.  Please see my 
website "AyalaGonzalesFamiilia" (run words together)under
Yahoo 
Groups.  I have several stories there about the lines I have been 
researching.

Michael Gonzales