A lápida is a grave stone or marker.
There are precious few that survived World War II. Even the ones in Sumay, for example, have deteriorated a lot in the last ten years. So I try to photograph and document them as much as possible before, sadly, the writing is effaced and no one will know what they said. A blank lápida is almost entirely useless.
Many of the prewar lápida were in Spanish. Our mañaina (elders) used the Spanish language much more than we sometimes realize.
This is the lápida for JUAN CRISÓSTOMO MARTÍNEZ who died in 1907.
He was an elite Chamorro, having served in a few government capacities. Thus, he earned the title DON, which is abbreviated D before his name. Don in Spanish is similar to the English "Sir."
Government records also identify him as a platero or silversmith. Family lore says he made more than one trip to Asia. Hong Kong would be a good guess, among other possible destinations.
Since Chamorros then were using the Spanish style of naming, his father's surname comes first, Martínez, followed by his mother's surname Crisóstomo, bridged together with the Spanish word Y which means "and." So his name on the lápida is in the Spanish style : Don Juan Martínez y Crisóstomo. Everyone in those days would have known that his father was a Martínez and his mother was a Crisóstomo.
The very top of the lápida begins with the abbreviation DOM, which stands for DEO OPTIMO MAXIMO, a Latin expression meaning "to God the Best and the Greatest."
The date inscribed, February 15, 1907 is his date of death, confirmed by court documents concerning his estate. Those documents also show that he died (so young, too!) of epithelioma on the tongue, which is a cancerous tumor. The documents state "with extension," which means the cancer had spread. Unless the Navy doctors had given him morphine, Juan would have suffered a lot in dying. In 1907, a prescription wasn't even needed in the US for morphine, so it's possible morphine was available some other way, but no one knows the details of Juan's death other than what is stated.
Some family members wonder if the cancer of the tongue was connected with betel nut chewing.
A la edad de 47 años means "at the age of 47 years." Juan died at age 47.
Rogad por él means "Pray for him."
Recuerdo de su esposa e hijos means "Memorial from his wife and children."
JUAN'S CHILDREN
Juan was the father of PEDRO PANGELINAN MARTÍNEZ, one of the wealthiest men on Guam before the war and one of the first Chamorro entrepreneurs. He owned several businesses, selling cars, ice and merchandise. He also owned one of the largest cattle herds on Guam, with a ranch in Dandan.
Pedro's children included one priest and two Mercy Sisters.
His other son, VICENTE, was also in business and his son Melchor (Metka) ran a gas station and auto repair service in Barrigada after the war.
Juan's daughter ANA married James H. Underwood. The Underwoods are well-known on Guam, especially in business, education and politics.
Another daughter, CONCEPCIÓN, nicknamed Conchita, married Hiram Elliott, also a business man and very involved in community affairs, including promoting and organizing the Guam Museum.
MARÍA married Santiago Eugene Calaor in California and remained there. He was originally from the Philippines.
LÁPIDA EN ESPAÑOL
Son muy pocas las que se salvaron de los bombardeos de la Segunda Guerra Mundial en Guam. Incluso las de Sumay, por ejemplo, se han deteriorado mucho en los últimos diez años. Así que trato de fotografiarlas y documentarlas tanto como sea posible, lamentablemente, la escritura se borra y nadie sabrá lo que decían. Una lápida en blanco es completamente inútil
Muchas de las lápidas de antes de la guerra estaban en español. Nuestros "mañaina" (ancianos) usaban el idioma español mucho más de lo que a veces creemos.
Ésta es la lápida de JUAN CRISÓSTOMO MARTÍNEZ fallecido en 1907.
Era un chamorro de la élite, habiendo servido en algunos cargos gubernamentales. Por lo tanto, se ganó el título de "DON", que se abrevia "D" antes de su nombre.
Los registros gubernamentales también lo identifican como platero. Según unos familiares, Juan viajó más de una vez a Asia. Hong Kong sería una buena suposición, entre otros destinos posibles.
Como buen chamorro que era, utilizaba primero el apellido de su padre, Martínez, seguido del apellido de su madre Crisóstomo, unido a la palabra española Y. Así que su nombre en la lápida está al estilo español: Don Juan Martínez y Crisóstomo. Todo el mundo en esos tiempos habría sabido que su padre era Martínez y su madre era Crisóstomo.
La parte superior de la lápida comienza con la abreviatura D. O. M. o DEO OPTIMO MAXIMO, una expresión latina que significa "a Dios el Mejor y el Más Grande".
La fecha inscrita, el 15 de febrero de 1907, es la fecha de su fallecimiento, confirmado por documentos judiciales relacionados con su patrimonio. Esos documentos también muestran que murió (muy joven también) de epitelioma en la lengua, que es un tumor canceroso. Los documentos dicen "con extensión", lo que significa que el cáncer se había extendido. A menos que los médicos de la Marina le hubieran dado morfina, Juan habría sufrido mucho al morir. En 1907, ni siquiera se necesitaba una receta en los EE. UU. para la morfina, por lo que es posible que la morfina estuviera más disponible, pero nadie conoce los detalles de la muerte de Juan aparte de lo que se indica.
Juan murió a los 47 años.
Rogad por él.
Recuerdo de su esposa e hijos.
LOS HIJOS DE JUAN
Juan era el padre de PEDRO PANGELINAN MARTÍNEZ, uno de los hombres más ricos de Guam antes de la guerra y uno de los primeros empresarios chamorros. Era dueño de varios negocios, vendía autos, hielo y mercancías. También era dueño de una de las manadas de ganado más grandes de Guam, con un rancho en Dandan.
Los hijos de Pedro incluían un sacerdote y dos monjas mercedarias.
Su otro hijo, VICENTE, también tenía un negocio y su hijo Melchor (Metka) dirigía una gasolinera y un servicio de reparación de automóviles en Barrigada después de la guerra.
La hija de Juan, ANA, se casó con James H. Underwood. Los Underwood son bien conocidos en Guam, especialmente en los negocios, la educación y la política.
Otra hija, CONCEPCIÓN, apodada Conchita, se casó con Hiram Elliott, también hombre de negocios y muy involucrado en los asuntos de la comunidad, incluida la promoción y organización del Museo de Guam.
MARÍA se casó con Santiago Eugene Calaor en California y permanció allí. Él nació en Filipinas.
ANTONIA nunca se casó.
Pale, Maria was married. Her first husband was Andrew Joseph Pinkley and they were married in June of 1919. They had two sons, both deceased. She married Eugene Santiago Calaor in 1922 in California. They had no children. Maria only made one trip back to Guam after she left. Pale Ben was the only one that ever met her
ReplyDeletesons. Annie Underwood has a photo of the only trip she made here after she left.
Thank you for this information about Calaor. I found his application for US naturalization and he states he emigrated to the US in 1919 and Mary (Maria) did in 1920 and they were married in CA in 1922. How and why Maria moved to the US in 1920 is a story in itself. Calaor goes by Santiago Eugene Calaor in this application, in his draft registration, US census and other records. His application was made in 1947 and states he has no children (no children listed in the 1940 Census for them either) so I wonder what 2 sons Msgr Ben met. Thanks again and I have made the correction.
DeleteMore mysteries. There is a Joseph Calaor who registers for the draft in 1941 in San Mateo who states he was born on Guam in 1920. So, before Calaor and Mary got married in CA in 1922. As next of kin, Joseph lists Rose Underwood on Guam, rather than Mary and Santiago Calaor.
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