The Gallardo Family
The Gallardo Family Story
Born in Penjamillo, Michoacan, Mexico, Ramon Gallardo farmed a bountiful garden and kept hogs. When his grandparents passed, Ramon left his six siblings in search of work. A cousin had made it all the way to Michigan; this was all the encouragement Gallardo needed. In 1893, on foot, Ramon left six siblings and walked to Lorado, Texas, paying twenty-five cents to cross the border. Ramon followed the train tracks north, picking up small jobs at stops, and ate orange peels and sandwiches train passengers threw out. In Kansas City, Ramon worked with a train gang. This job led him north to Valley Junction, Iowa, in 1918. As the next Rock Island Railroad hire, Ramon made fast friends with Leon Vasquez. Together, they lived in a boxcar.
In 1920, Gregoria Barcena also made a long trek from Parroquia de Calvillo, Mexico, with her mother and daughter, Josephine Ayala. After meeting in Valley Junction, Ramon and Gregoria married in 1921. The Gallardos had ten more children: Trinidad (Salazar), Leno, Teresa, Catherine (Martinez), Frank, John Gallardo, Romona (Rocha), Alfredo, Mary (Kramer), and Maria Elena (Kingsley). They lived on 11th Street next door to Brody’s corner store. Ramon had two gardens, a backyard garden and one rented for a dollar across the tracks. He gave away vegetables to anyone who was in need. Gregoria made goat cheese, sold by Catherine and Teresa, pulling the wagon through the neighborhood. Redlining would not allow for the family to move beyond the one-hundred-block block as they looked for a larger home. By mid-century, bilingual Catherine was old enough to understand the situation and fought for her parents, wearing down the bank. The Gallardos moved to a larger home at 7th and Elm.
Raising a Family in Valley Junction
The Gallardos valued community service. Ramon studied hard and applied to be a naturalized citizen. In 1938, he passed the test. He honored his citizenship by voting in every election since. He never missed an election. All the boys served in the military: Marine Corps and National Guard. The Gallardos’ love of serving their community and country was passed down through the generations. Several grandsons became Des Moines Police Officers.
In 1951, Ramon was forced to retire due to diesel fuel poisoning after thirty years at the railroad. This did not stop his service. For the next fourteen years, Ramon worked for the City of West Des Moines. He was also the custodian of the Methodist Church. The church was also a place to make friends
Rooted in Values
In the 90’s, John and Francis (Valdez) Gallardo operated a Mexican restaurant. On the corner of 5th and Elm on Historic Valley Junction, the Gallardo’s Taco Villa opened. They served some of the best tacos on this side of the Mississippi. The restaurant was eventually passed on to their nephew and his wife, Jeff and Dana Duncan, who named it the Casita Valdez.
The Story submitted July 2024 from Felicia Gallardo, Lisa Crow, and Aunt Catherine Martinez (95 years old).
