Historic Laredo

MANITAS, MANITOS
THE THREE R’S: READING, WRITING, & REVOLUTION
Although her colorful life and heroic deeds are largely unknown in this region, Leonor Villegas de
Magnon is an example of the caliber of idealistic, committed, and dauntless individuals this community
has produced. Born into a prominent Laredo family, she grew up to become a heroine of the
Mexican Revolution.
Leonor was born to Joaquin and Valeriana Villegas on June 12, 1876 in Nuevo Laredo. The family
moved to Laredo, setting up their export business in a beautiful building on Flores Avenue. Their
home above the store was considered to be one of the most luxurious of the time. After boarding
school in New York and two years in Spain, Leonor married Adolfo Magnon, an agent for the train
and steamship lines in Mexico City. The couple lived there until 1910, during which time Leonor had
three children.
While living in Mexico, Leonor became involved in the political struggles against Dictator Porfirio
Diaz. She wrote articles critical of Diaz which appeared in La Crónica, a newspaper published by the
Idar family in Laredo.
Soon Leonor’s father’s businesses in Mexico were closed down in retaliation for the activism of his
daughter. Leonor moved back to Laredo, to a small house at 811 Flores Avenue. Her husband, himself
involved in the revolution, could not leave Mexico City and so their lives took individual paths
from then on. Leonor’s house became a meeting place for exiles fleeing the revolution.
THE BEGINNINGS OF LA CRUZ BLANCA
When fighting broke out in Nuevo Laredo on the morning of March 17, 1913, gunshots and cannon
fire were heard in the two Laredos. Leonor and her friend, journalist Jovita Idar, quickly mobilized
a group of women to tend the wounded in Nuevo Laredo. Venturing into the fighting, the
women pulled the wounded to safety. Five American doctors worked alongside the women: Drs. H.
J. Hamilton, A. W Wilcox, John T. Halsell, E. H. Sauvignet, and W. W. MacGregor. This was the
beginning of La Cruz Blanca.
Relief squads were organized on the American side to help with clothes, food, and medicine. Some
of the Laredo contributors were: M. T. Cogley, Ignacio Benavides, A. M. Bruni, A. C. Richter, Pedro
Treviño, Julian Treviño, E. Salinas and brothers, and Borchers Bakery.
While Leonor’s efforts helped save many, the problem of Carrancista soldiers getting back to their
units arose. Leonor devised various way to spirit them out underneath the noses of their captors.
When this was discovered, La Cruz Blanca was no longer allowed into Mexico. During the ensuing
❖
Top, left: Among those young members of
the 1912 kindergarten classes of Leonor
Villegas de Magnon were Anita Ligarde,
Carolina Arce, María Luisa Martinez, La
Güera Guardiola, Rafael Martinez, Raul
Guerra, Delia Treviño, Tino Pappas, Sarita
Aguilar, Consuelo Alexander, Luis Ochoa,
María Antonieta Gonzalez, Pilar Valera,
Carlos Palacios, Olga Ornelas, Berta and
Nela Salinas, Beatriz Salinas, Pablo
Gonzalez, Gabo Ochoa, Domingo
Gonzalez, Olga Benavides, María Luisa
Treviño, Nena de la Garza, Juanito
Alexander, Licha Ligarde, Polo Villegas,
Nina Aguilar, and Nina Gonzalez.
LEONOR M. SMITH COLLECTION
Top, right: Anita Bruni Ligarde and
Lolita De Llano were among the
kindergarten students of Leonor Villegas
de Magnon who were photographed by
the renowned photographer José García.
WEBB COUNTY HERITAGE FOUNDATION
Chapter III ✦ 23