Jesus Cobos - El Paso, Texas

Jesus Cobos was a prominent citizen of San Elizario who participated in the commercial, political, religious and educational arenas of the lower valley of El Paso County. He was born in what is now Socorro, Texas (Mexico at the time) in 1834 to Vicente Cobos and Rosalia Cortes Pedrasa who were also born in Socorro. His first wife, Francisca Montes, was the daughter of Telesforo Montes, another prominent citizen of San Elizario. The Cobos family children included Maria Francisca Rosalia, Agustina, Jesus Cobos II, and Nicasto. In the 19th century, San Elizario was second only to El Paso del Norte (now Ciudad Juárez) among local towns. In 1850 when El Paso County was officially organized, San Elizario was selected the county seat. At that time, San Elizario had a population of 1200 compared to two hundred in El Paso. In 1881 the town was bypassed by the railroad in favor of El Paso and San Elizario began to decline in importance. Image Description: Black and white oval image shows a portrait of Jesus Cobos. He wears a dark coat, a white shirt underneath and a dark bow tie at his neck. Cobos has a white curly mustache and a curly beard that barely reaches his bow tie. His short hair also white, appears to be receding and parted at his side. Cobos is slightly facing and looking away from the camera.