Thomas Perez Salinas was born on December 29, 1881 at a sugar ranch in Nuevo Leon, Mexico owned by his family. His mother Manuelita became very ill after giving birth to him. She was taken back to the family home but did not survive. Thomas was left lying in a corner of the sugar house until a midwife could care for his mother. He was then taken home by his aunt, who cared for him until he was old enough to be left with his sister. As an infant, Thomas was described as peevish and cross, often being placed in a pen by his father to keep him from interfering with his sister's housework.

1. ·-t't '.~
I,· ThoJPJfs Perez Salinas, son of Epitacio and Manuel i-ta Perez Salinas, ws.s
Decei~ber 29/l88t, at Hacienda del Alain.o, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Because it m.aybe
'~~f inter~st to my'PQsj:.erity I will write, briefiyThe facts r e Lat.Lng to my b:i.i'tll,
thy" IQ.o~hers, d.e_ath~~ndnry ear Iy ch i.Ldhood , as tole t:o me by rrry A'Wlt and foster
I a
m~:rth~r:'(nW"'f'athers' only sister) am.,. ct.her s : On thelldrnJ!e. date mentioned above
, my mother together with bther ~membe"rs f the family and hire9, helpers went to '
o
the su.g:arranch,' x,mna' half"mile or more from the home,' for the' pur pos e cf making v
stigar'from ,the cane'. .
I''Was .bm~nih'the Ranch sugar· house; about half mile or more fr om f-he home, .
my mother having gone there with other members of the farq.ily toas's:i.13t in making
sug~r from tlle ~rie.: y.y mother was very s Lck and iim;lediatel~ ~fjrX ...•.. birth 3(
we;~. tak-en... o the home an t ewn, where she ~~~
t •.t...<. arnt'tfe ~xc:J.tement
of tryi(ig to save n& mothers life xmi I was laid dh an iI'nprov:i:sed red of ,,~
. in a eohi'er Q:f t:hesugar house , at time of bi.rth and remained there until the .
(miiiwi,fe) haij:carect, :eb:r, mother .·atnlitY.ril:tme~u!1lit 'She then went t Q. the s-ugar ranch
"'.'.' ,?,"'l,;: .,~' '"~ - .•. -" .;'.~ ~. ,. ~. _ :~ _ ;).
andwi'!'lpping me in her apron r st.urned to c1JJY _D:tk~ home. My aunt cared fs:a".me
unti1~'I was b,ldenoughtG .be Le f't, at homJwith my siste.r· .
Wh~ther from lack of pl"pper nour isliment -.a nd a'mothers care, or natural d is-
position I do not know, ,but I have.been t&ld. that I was a very peevish and
crossohl1d., and was vof't.e n placed in a pen made froin willows a.nd sticks' by my
father, to kee'p .me from hang'i.ng on to -rriJ si$ter as she tried to do the housework.
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