This document discusses the history of Mexican immigration to Illinois in the early 20th century. It summarizes that many Mexicans came to work on railroads after events like the Mexican Revolution and World War I reduced the American workforce. They often lived in boxcar communities with their families due to lack of housing. The document presents stories of individual Mexican families who immigrated to Illinois towns like Eola and Bloomington to work on railroads. It stresses the urgency of conducting oral histories to preserve the stories of these families before they are lost to time.

1. Dreams & Life on the Prairie -Mexicans and Illinois Railroads
in the Early 20th Century
Presenter: Sal Valadez, Representative for Diversity & Outreach
Laborers‟ International Union of North America (LiUNA) - Midwest Region
15th Annual Conference on Illinois History
Springfield, Illinois
27 September 2013

2. Artist‟s Statement
This painting, entitled Dreams and Life on the Prairie/Sueños y Vida en la Llanura, was
“commissioned” by my husband Sal Valadez to represent the project and discussion. Sal told
me of images he had in mind, what he envisioned the piece to portray and then trusted I would
use my talents as a painter and my experience as a member of my Mexican family to tell a story
through art.
I took the information Sal offered into consideration as well as memories of his father and
mother telling their story of how they came to the United States, and the many stories I have
heard from others who came here for a better life.
The sky, with the sun setting and twilight approaching is representative of dreams; dreams of
better things to come, dreams that family will be reunited. The train represents those that
worked for the railroads. The corn is a familiar and important image of both McLean County
and Mexico. The man, a worker, is seen with a photo of family in his pocket, family he hopes
can join him soon.
I wanted to show only half of his face, but I could not articulate why. Dr. Maura Toro-Morn did
that for me when she first viewed the work. “It is allegorical, many who came here, left part of
themselves and their lives behind.” Maura, gave me the words for what I as an artist tried to
project, but did not have the personal experience to say. It was an extreme honor to be asked
to do the piece for my husband, and for the McLean County Museum of History Latino
History Project‟s use of the image.
Rebecca “Bec” Hawkins-Valadez

3. This is a story of a journey.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
 Why did they come to Illinois?
 When did they get here?
 Where did they work?
 How did they live?
 What did they contribute?
HOW TO CONDUCT RESEARCH
I. Research of the Historical Record (census and immigration records,
newspaper articles, photographs, birth, marriage, and death records,
military service records, employment records)
II. Oral Histories
III. Share their of the stories through research papers, publications, and public
exhibits
WHEN ALL OF OUR STORIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE HISTORY
OF ILLINOIS, OUR LIVES ARE ENRICHED

4. The Chinese Exclusionary Act 1882
& the Mexican Revolution 1910–1930
World War I 1914 -1918

5. Mexican Revolution
Execution by the dreaded Rurales
Enforcers for the President of the Mexican Republic, Porfirio Diaz

6. WW II & The Bracero Program
1942 - 1964

7. U.S Railroad Ties to Mexico
Published: November 27, 1907
Copyright © The New York Times
Shonts May Head the Alton –
FELTON GOES TO MEXICO
United Mine Workers
Journal
July 11, 1918

8. Mexican Labor
Railway Age Gazette
From July 1, 1912 to December 31, 1912 Issue, p. 519, (Google Books)

9. HARDSHIPS

10. 1928 -Death on the Rails
Cristobal Montañez

11. Boxcar People
The Story of Galesburg‟s Mexican Railroad Families
A WTVP production written and produced by Will and Luz Schick, Boxcar People tells the story
of Mexican workers recruited in the early 1900s to work the railroads in Galesburg, Illinois.

12. Mexican Family Living in Boxcar
East St Louis, IL
The International Institute of St. Louis History-Mexican laborers living in boxcars near East St. Louis stockyards
(ca1920)

13. ZARATE FAMILY, West Chicago, IL
The father, Jacob, worked bor both the EJ&E and Northwestern Railroads. They lived in the
West Chicago Boxcar Camps from the 1920‟s to 1940‟s
Traveling Exhibit: Creating Mexican American Identities: Multiple Voices, Shared Dream
Funded in part by the Illinois Humanities Council and the History Channel

14. The Perez -Valadez Family (circa 1920‟s) from Zacatecas, Mexico
Eola, Illinois
Journal Issue Volume 8, #3, Autumn 2005 (Mexicans in Aurora, IL - Dr. Susan Palmer, Aurora University)

15. Journal – Inside Cover
The Perez - Valadez Family
Manuel Perez & Eulalia (Valadez) Perez

16. Mexican Boxcar Community
Eola, IL 1920‟s & „30‟s

17. Salvador Valadez Rangel
Bracero in California – Southern Pacific Railroad
1940-1944

18. Left, Salvador Valadez Rangel & Margarita Romero Piña, 1951
Right, Margarita Valadez, Jorge (left,) Sal (right), 1957
Dad retired after 30 years as a diesel mechanic for the CB&Q Railroad

19. The Valadez Family, 1964
Aurora, IL
(mom took the picture, left)

20. Silvis, IL
In the early 20th Century, large numbers of
Mexican workers came to Silvis and were
employed by manufacturing and the shops of
the Rock Island Railroad to strengthen an
American workforce diminished by World
War I. These large immigrant families could
not find homes, so they moved into box cars
north of the railroad tracks in Silvis.

21. Hero St. U.S.A, Silvis, IL
WW II Heroes – The Ultimate Sacrifice
Claro Soliz, Frank Sandoval, Joseph Gomez, Johnny Muños, Joe
Sandoval, Peter Masias, Tony Pompa, and William Sandoval

22. The Perez -Valadez Family (circa 1920‟s)
Eola, Illinois
Journal Issue Volume 8, #3, Autumn 2005 (Mexicans in Aurora, IL - Dr. Susan Palmer, Aurora University)

23. “Uncle” Pete Perez, wife, Aunt Marie & Son,
Pat Perez, Kane County Sheriff
Uncle Pete is cited in the history books for being one of the first Latino football players to play at
the University of Illinois and the Chicago Bears (in the 1940‟s). He was a long-time Aurora Police
officer and retired as Undersheriff for Kane County, IL.

24. Dreams & Life on the Prairie
The History of Latinos in McLean County, Illinois
1870 to the Present – Presentation, November 2012
The McLean County Museum of History‟s Latino History Project

25. WW I Draft
Mexicans in McLean County

26. WW I Draft
Mexicans in McLean County

27. The mystery of the boxcar community on the Alton
Railroad right of way.

28. George Segobiano
At age 14, left El Paso as a Water Boy on the Santa Fe RR
From Guanajuato, Mexico to El Paso, TX to Bloomington IL (1,900 miles)
Bloomington Railroad Days, July 15, 1936

29. 1920‟s -Pedro “Pete” and Graciana Chavez
Arrived in El Paso, on foot in 1910 – U.S. Certificate of Arrival
Pedro travelled a total of 2,000 miles from Moroleon, Guanajuato, Mexico to McLean Countu

30. Why is there urgency to conduct
research?
The people, and their memories, are
quickly fading away. Their stories will be
incomplete and will be missing from our
history books if we do not act with
urgency.

31. Sal Valadez
Contact Information
309-340-5230
salvaladez85@gmail.com