According to family sources, Jesus Bernardo Nieblas (1830-6/1/1906) from the state of Sinaloa Mexico, Maria de los Angeles de la Cruz “Angelita” (1846-1912) from the state of Durango, Mexico and others began their long walk from central Mexico to America arriving in San Juan Township around 1862.
They were married in the Mission in San Juan Capistrano in 1883. They had 16 children of which 10 reached adulthood. All but the first child, a daughter Lupe, were born in California. It is unknown where they lived in San Juan Township area and who he worked for. It is known that Fred Nieblas, at age 18, their twelfth child, worked for Cood Adams of Tustin Township when he farmed property in the area. In about 1896, Jesus returned to Sinaloa, Mexico where he died at age 76. At age 29, Antonio became the head of the household.
Antonio Bernardino Nieblas (1/7/1867-11/2/1949) was Jesus and Angelita’s third child. By 1900, the family bought a home at 1221 E 1st St (1st and Grand) in Santa Ana where Antonio lived with his mother, sister Rosa and brother Peter. He married Maria Andrea Rafaela Acuna (1865-1956) on 3/8/1903. He was 36 and she was 37. Andrea also grew up in San Juan Township. Her mother was born in California as were her parents, but her father came from Mexico. Andrea was the third of seven children.
Antonio and Andrea had three sons. He was a hay and bean farmer on family land in San Juan township. Per the City Directory, they moved to El Toro around 1935 where they remained for several years. They returned to Santa Ana and lived at 1706 W 3rd in Santa Ana, the year he died at age 82. Andrea died at age 90 in Irvine California where she lived with her son Ernest. They are both buried at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange.
The life story of their three sons follows:
Fred S Nieblas (7/18/1904-10/28/1983) was born in Santa Ana. He married Theodora “Tody” Lucille Forbes (2/17/1908-12/25/1993) of Tustin on 7/18/1925.He was 21 and she was 17. She was the daughter of Augustine Ismael Forbes (12/24/1867-8/24/1909) and Francesca “Fanny” Louise Padias (1877-1924).
Tody’s father was the grandson of Judge Augustine Olivera, one of the first judges in Los Angeles and for whom Olivera St is named. Augustine Ismael Forbes was a native of Los Angeles but had moved to San Juan Township in 1905.
In 1909, tragedy struck when Tody was one year old. Her father fell ill while on business trip in Riverside County. His brother, Charles of El Toro, suffered a heart attack while rushing to catch a train to go to his brother’s side. Both men died and there was double funeral at the Catholic Church. They are buried in Santa Ana Cemetery. Francesca, then 28 and their three children, went to live with her parents Ramon (1854-4/29/1912) and Maria Mercedes (1852-12/28/1924). Padias on Redhill Blvd, near present day Dyer Road. Her father died three years later
In June 1914, Francisca married William Ernest Howard Sr (7/5/1882-2/21930) of Tustin. He was 31 and she was 36. They lived at the Redhill house where they had four children, William Jr (1915-1992), Patricia (1917-1997), Irene (1918-2007) and James (1919-1976). Francesca died at age 46 of cancer. She is buried in Fairhaven Cemetery in Santa Ana.
Unable to support four children, William Jr was sent to live with relatives. He graduated from Tustin High School in 1933. Patricia, Irene and James were placed in the Nazareth House, a catholic institution in San Diego. They returned to Orange County to live with Fred and Tody Nieblas in about 1934. James Howard enlisted in the Army on 3/19/1940 and was a technician 3rd grade in Communications.283rd.
Fred and Tody leased property at the corner of El Toro Road and Laguna Road. Fred owned his farm adjoining the Irvine Ranch. He also had farming interests in Trabuco, Laguna and the O’Neill Ranch. He raised beans and grain. They had four children: Flora Marie (1926-2021), Frances Louise (1928-2013), Daniel Ernest (1930-1978), William Fredrick (1939- 2014)
Fred and Tody divorced around 1947, and she married Wesley Kenison. They moved San Bruno in San Mateo County where she died at age 85. Fred died at age 79 in San Juan Capistrano and is buried at El Toro Memorial Park.
Joseph John Nieblas (11/2/1905-9/7/1963) was born in Santa Ana. He married Anita “Annie” Matta (5/15/1901-2/2/1991) in 1928 in Guadalupe Church in Santa Ana. Annie’s father Toribio Matta (1865-1943) came to Callahan, Texas from Mexico where Anita was born. Her father was a farmer. Toribo and several members of the family moved to Santa Ana.
Annie’s mother died 5/7/1939. Her father died four years later, and they are buried at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange.
Joseph was a farmer and worked for the Sully Miller Company, a local contractor. Joseph and Annie had five children: Robert, Anna, Thomas, and twins Peter and Paul.
Joseph died at age 67. After his death she lived in the St Francis Home in Santa Ana. Annie died at age 89.out living Joseph by 28 years They both are buried at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange.
Ernest Herman Nieblas (7/71907-4/16/1980) was born in Santa Ana. He married Patricia Frances Howard (3/29/1917-6/22/1997) from Tustin in 10/1938. He was 31 and she was 21. Patricia was the daughter of William and Francisca Howard (see above).
Ernest farmed on the Charles Borchard ranch on Hobart St. He later became foreman for Leo Baudino who leased land from the Irvine Ranch. They raised grain, tomatoes, Lima Beans and watermelon as well as managing orange and grapefruit orchards. Their home was on the Irvine ranch.
Ernest and Patricia had three children: Alfred Ernest, (1/25/1941–2000) Linda Marie, (8/30/1943-) Judith Arlene (8/19/1945-). The children attended Irvine Grammar School and graduated from Tustin High School. Alfred served in the Viet Nam War
Upon retirement, they moved to a Mobile Home Park on Nisson Road in Tustin. Ernest died at age 72. Patricia died 17 years later at age at age 80. Both were buried in Ascension Cemetery in Lake Forest California.
See Museum file for the sources of this Family Profile
Created 8/26/2022: Researched by by Linda Nieblas Freeman (granddaughter of Antonio Bernardo Nieblas) and Vicki Gray
