Francisco Elías Gonzales was a soldier for many years on the northern frontier of New Spain. He started his military career at the
Presidio of Janos, where he was married to the captain's daughter. He served there as a lieutenant under his father-in-law, Diaz del Carpio. When the latter trasferred to the
Presidio of Terrenate in 1752, Elías Gonzales went with him and eventually replaced him as that presidio's captain. He served there for many years and his now externsive posterity owns much of the ranchlands of the Arizona-Sonora border region. To read some of his original letters click (
here).
To learn more about Francisco Elías Gonzales go to Mission 2000 by clicking (here) and following the blue ID numbers. To return to Soldiers, click (here).
