by Karen Yvonne Hamilton, 2024
Jose Garcia BELLO was born on November 17, 1871, in La Habana, Cuba to Juan GARCIA De Casuso (Orasua) (1830-1881) Havana, Cuba and Maria de Jesus BELLO De Nunez (1831-1859) Havana, Cuba.
Jose arrived in Key West on September 10 1886 from Cuba.
He kept a diary that spanned from 1891-1904 and backdated some entries to include important events that took place in Cuba. One entry relates a duel between Tranquilino Bello and Desiderio Castellanos on August 26, 1881 in which Tranquilino was killed.
He married Maria Carmen Amparo RODRIGUEZ on June 28, 1901, in his hometown in Cuba. They had five children: Blanca Rosa, Candido ‘Beby’, Carmen, Jose Evelio, and Elio. Carmen arrived in Key West from Cuba aboard the S.S. Olivette in 1902.
In 1914, Jose and Carmen lived at 809 Catherine Street in Key West.
In 1920, Jose and Carmen lived with their children, Blanco, Candido, Carmen, and Evelio at 615 Simonton Street. Jose worked at a cigar factory. As of 1920, Jose spoke no English. The only ones in his house who spoke English at this time were his daughter Carmen and Ebelio (Jose Evelio Bello).
There were frequent trips back and forth between Key West and Cuba over the years, no doubt to visit family and perhaps conduct business. On October 24, 1925, Jose (age 54) sailed with daughter Blanca (age 19) on the SS Cuba from Havana to Key West.
In 1930, the family lived at 511 United St. in Key West. They rented their home for $14 a month. In 1935 and 1940, Jose, Carmen, and Elio lived at 1017 Simonton Street.
By the time of Jose’s death in 1950, he lived at 5D Porter Place in Key West, Florida with his wife, Carmen, and daughter, Blanca. They lived next door to the George KNOWLES family (5C Porter Place).
Jose died of heart failure on June 2, 1950, at the age of 78. At the time of his death, he was working as a cigarmaker and lived at 5D Porter Place in Key West, Florida.
SOURCES: Research files of Jane GARCIA Rowland, diary entries 1891-1904, Key West Directory 1914, Ancestry.com; Personal recollections; 1920 United States Federal Census; 1930 United States Federal Census; Florida Divorce Index, 1927-2001; Florida Marriage Collection, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001; Florida Passenger Lists, 1898-1964; Florida State Census, 1867-1945; Florida, Naturalization Records, 1847-1995; U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947; Web: Florida, Find A Grave Index, 1800-2012
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