Celso Tornes Sierra

 

Celso Tornes Sierra was born February 23, 1857 in Mexico, near the Alamo which was not in the United States at that time.  His mother, Germania Sierra and father Soledad Tornes both were born in Spain.  It was the custom for children to take the surname of their mother thus, Celso Tornes Sierra.

During the very young years of Celso's life they lived in the Alamo area.  His father disappeared during this time probably 1858 or 1859; his mother met a young musician, Charles T. Schuppert.  Eventually Germania, Celso and Charles Schuppert sailed by ship and went to San Francisco.  The port was probably Galveston or Corpis Christi, which is The United States today.

Celso attended Washington Grammar School in San Francisco and had a "beloved" teacher named Jean Parker.  A picture of her is in one of the genealogy binders.  Celso graduated from high school and attended St. Mary's College or equivalent.

Celso suffered with asthma, which started at age of 13 or 14 and had the rest of his life.  His mother and Charles Schuppert knew a sea captain who offered to take Celso sailing with him around the world to see if the sea air would help him.  Celso learned how to speak a little Chinese and Japanese, Italian and Portuguese from different ports visited.  He already spoke Spanish and German learning this from his parents.  On Celso's third trip around the world, he found the Hawaiian Islands agreed with his asthma.  Celso left the ship to live and work there.  I have been told that he worked laying carpeting in the royal palace and helped to install the first communication system on the island.

After returning to the United States Celso met and married Anna (Annie) Phelps on July 5, 1883, in San Bernardino in Southern California.  They had 6 children, 4 lived and 2 died. (Refer to biography of Anna Amanda Phelps)

Celso and Annie moved to Fresno and Turlock while the children were in school.  They later lived in Oakland and Berkeley and for a couple of years on a small farm in Hayward.  This data is also in biography of Anna Amanda Phelps.

After Annie's death Celso lived in Oakland in a two story Victorian home his son, Carl, had bought for his parents several years before.  My mother, Emma Sierra, told me that Celso said Annie would come and visit him at his bedside and they would talk.  Annie died in 1929.

In October 1935 a neighbor of Celso telephoned his son, Carl, in Sacramento saying Celso was not well.  Carl went to Oakland to get his father and took him back to Sacramento.  He died three days later on October 10, 1935. Services were in Sacramento with his family attending.  Celso was cremated and interred with his beloved wife, Annie, forever at the Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland, California.  The Victorian home was restored and sold in 1937.

Things I remember about grandpa (Celso)

1.    He chewed his food so fine that it was pulverized, probably because of fear of chocking due to his asthma.

2.    He was very strict.  When grandpa spoke, you obeyed!  I don't ever remember grandpa laughing out loud.

3.    I hated the feel of his moustache and kissed him hello and goodbye on the cheek only.

4.    When he was running out of medicine for his atomizer (for asthma) he became very grouchy and cranky until his medicine arrived from the east.  It was not available on west coast at that time.

5.    I loved grandpa but I didn't like him.  I guess I was a little afraid of him.

6.    The night before grandpa died, he called me into his room and asked me to sit down while patting a space on the bed next to him.  He then said, "Ruth, we have not been good friends for many years but we are going to forget about that and start over again, aren't we?"  I answered, "Yes, grandpa," he patted my hand and early the next morning he died.

7.    I was 18 years old and very sad he died but happy we had that last talk.

8.    Grandpa was a tall, slim well-built man with beautiful salt and pepper hair.  He was a very neat man and always wore a suit.

9.    Grandpa was 78 years old when he died.