Antonio C de Fraga: AKA: Tony Frago. My great grandfather. Born June 1870 in either the Azores Islands of Portugal (according to the 1900 census) or New Bedford Massachusetts (according to family tradition). Son of Jose Caetano de Fraga and Maria Concecão Fragueira of Fajã Grande, Ilha das Flores, the Azores, Portugal. If he was born in Massachusetts, it would be logical to assume that his parents lived there for a while, though we know they died on Flores Island. Antonio's father worked aboard an English ship and traveled around the world. We presume Antonio was born a de Fraga and, like most of his siblings and other de Fragas who immigrated to the US, changed his name to Frago. Antonio had 4 brothers and a sister who moved to northern California: the Sacramento area was mentioned and there is a story that one went into the dairy business in Oakland. Indeed, I have begun to make contacts with some distant Frago cousins in Atwater, Turlock, Sonoma, and Rocklin, California and there is a new page growing with information about Antonio's siblings. Antonio married Docia May Jinkerson in 1897and they were the parents of :

Joseph Paul Frago
12 July 1898 - 31 June 1986

Eva Luzon Frago Jennings
27 August 1899 - 24 February 1953

Lonnie Marie Frago Chapman*
9 June 1901 - 18 July 1976

Hazel Mae Frago Barnett
23 April 1903 - 1993

Homer Ward Frago
25 September 1906 - 7 December 2000

The US Census of 1900 places Antonio and his family in Meagher County Montana and states that Antonio was employed as a farm laborer, was a naturalized citizen ( having immigrated to the US in 1889), lived in a rented house, was married for 3 years, and could read, write, and speak English. Also living in the house was Antonio's brother Manuael J Frago, born March 1877, immigrated to the US in 1899, married 2 years, alien status, and able to read and write, but not speak English. It had been said that Antonio could speak 7 languages. According to my mother, Antonio was an expert sheep shearer. He also was a shepherd in the winter months. He was a fun-loving person and had many friends. He liked to demonstrate his strength and Great Uncle Homer told the story of Tony hoisting an iron stove by himself, after his brother Manuel couldn't share the load. It may have been under the weight of a large keg of liquor that his back finally gave out and that led to his early death at age 41. While stricken, he made a visit or 2 back to the Azores Islands to visit his family while Docia gathered up the children and moved back to Missouri. Antonio died in 1911, believed to be from complications from his back injury. He is buried in a small family plot (at Cub Creek) - across from the home where they lived on the road ("C" highway) from Courtois to Belgrade Missouri. To see a chart listing the progeny of Antonio and Docia (all 114+ of them!) click here.

 Docia May Jinkerson : My great grandmother. Daughter of William Solomon Jinkerson and Louisiana Cordelia "Lucy" Huitt and oldest of 11 siblings. Born 18 July 1870 (?) in Palmer Missouri. Died July 1949 in Irondale or Leadwood Missouri and is buried in Bonneterre Missouri. Married (1) about 1897 to Antonio C Frago in Two Dot, Meagher County, Montana. Their children are listed in Antonio's column to the left. Widowed in 1911, Docia married (2) George Martin about 1920. George called her "Dohsh" and she did not care for that. As a girl Docia went to St Louis to work as a laundress for a well-to-do family. An avid reader, she was allowed to borrow books from the family library. At the spinsterish age of 27±, Docia went to live and work in Montana where a girlfriend and her husband had opened a boarding house to serve all the local single young men. She met and married Antonio C Frago, a sheep farmer and weight-lifter from the Azores Islands of Portugal. (Click here to see a descendant chart of Antonio and Docia's progeny) The 1900 census places them in Big Elk Precinct of Meagher County Montana, living with their 2 infant children and Antonio's younger brother Manuel J Frago. According to the census, both Docia and Antonio could read, write, and speak English. Manuel had been married for 2 years, could not speak English and was not a naturalized citizen. A story was passed down that Antonio's friends teased him about Docia having a "dish face" and being at risk for drowning in a rainstorm. Antonio seriously injured his back performing a feat of strength ­ single-handedly lifting a cask of liquor ­ and returned briefly to the Azores while Docia disposed of their property (I hear that a lawyer took her to the cleaners in that dealing) and moved back to Missouri. Antonio joined her there and died in Courtois Missouri about 1911, Docia married George Martin, but had no children from that union. She was known to her grandchildren as Grandma Martin. My mother remembers her grandma Martin as being "high-minded" or very mindful of manners and social convention. She once told mom, "Marie, girls don't whistle ­ it's very unlady-like." Mom also remembers that grandma Martin made the best biscuits and butter and her milk was the most sanitary. Milk that was about to go sour was called "blinky." Below is a studio portrait of Docia and a snapshot of Docia with George Martin .