by Karen Yvonne Hamilton, 2025
Manuel Andres LARIZ was born on November 30, 1875, in Key West, Florida, to Manuel Andre LARIZ (1841-1914) and Coleta JIMENEZ (1846-1922).
PARENTS
SIBLINGS
- Isabel was born in July 1873.
- Philomena was born on July 5, 1874, in Key West
- Lenora was born in 1876 in Cuba.
- Cayetano F. was born on February 23, 1878
- Mercedes was born in July 1879 in Key West
- Teresa L. was born in January 1880 in Key West
- Bernaldo Domingo was born on January 16, 1895, in Key West
In 1880 and 1885, Manuel lived with his parents and siblings on Whitehead St in Key West.
1st MARRIAGE
Manuel Andres LARIZ married Leonora Pazos Gonzales in Key West, Florida, on April 9, 1894, when he was 18 years old.
CHILDREN
- Bernaldo Domingo was born on January 16, 1895, in Key West, Florida
- Mercedes was born on July 7, 1897, in Key West, Florida
- Leonora “Nora” was born in 1904 in Key West, Florida
In 1900, the family lived at 510 Carolina St with Teresa added to the family. Also living with them were daughters-in-law, Leonora (Manuel’s wife) and Dolores (Cayetano’s wife), and grandchildren Bernaldo, Mercedes and Cayetano.
Manuel and his father both worked as cigar makers. His sister Teresa worked as a tobacco stripper.
In 1902, Manuel and his father traveled to Cuba aboard the S.S. Mascotte. Manuel is listed as married on that trip to Cuba in 1902. His father passed away in 1904.
IN THE NEWS
In 1906, Manuel helped to capture a seal near Key West, which was unusual as seals were not known to be in those waters. Tom MOORE, John CATES, Bob LEWIS, and William FREEMAN assisted in the capture. The seal was brought to one of the vacant stores in the Daniels building on 12th St by the steamer Shinnecock. It was placed on exhibition with people paying 25 cents to view it. (The Miami News 1906)
The couple lived with his mother, Coleta, at 908 Duval in 1910. In 1914, Manuel, Leonora, and Coleta lived at 1125 Catherine.
2nd MARRIAGE
It is not known what became of Leonora (death or divorce?) but by August 5, 1914, Manuel married Clara Dena KNOWLES.
CHILDREN
- Clarie was born on September 22, 1911, in Florida. (Clarie was Clara Dena’s son from a previous marriage)
- Clara Bell was born on February 23, 1917, in Key West, Florida.
- Andrew Woodrow (Bubby) was born on July 3, 1919, in Key West, Florida.
- one still born child.
Manuel and Clara Dena lived at 1223 Watson St in Key West in 1918. According to his WWI Draft Registration, Manuel was of medium height and build with dark brown eyes and hair. He worked for the Havana American Cigar Company.
In 1920, Manuel lived at 1023 Watson St with Clara Dena and their children, Clarie, Clara Bell, and Andre (Bubby). Also living with them were Clara Dena’s children from a previous marriage, Manuel Rodriguez CANIZARES, John Rodriguez CANIZARES, and Anna Maria Rodriguez CANIZARES.
By 1927, Manuel and Clara had moved to 1013 Catherine, and by 1930 had moved again to 1120 Catherine St. By 1940, Manuel and Clara Dena moved to 1227 Royal St. with their daughter, Clara Bell, her husband, Evelio GARCIA, and their daughter, Jane Ann. Manuel and Evelio both worked for the WPA.
In 1934, Manuel served for the Board of County Commissioners in the November 6, 1934 General Election. He was assigned to the Seventh Precinct at 1125 United St as an Inspector alongside Clerk Hugh HINDE, Henry BUSH and Jonathan CATES.
MEMORIES
FROM Granddaughter, Josephine GARCIA Simmons: “Grandpa owned a little store on the corner of White (she probably means Truman and Watson as White and Watson do not intersect) and Watson. He used to make little tin lunch boxes for the laborers, who would come to the store before work to buy the tins. Everyone knew him as ‘Manny.’
“When I was a little girl Mummy used to make us take a nap every day. Mummy, Delores, and Grandma slept in the bedroom and me and Jane would sleep in the hallway. There was a Dutch door there and Mummy kept the top half open for the breeze. Jane and I would stay awake because we knew that Grandpa would sneak up to the door and bring us pastries. He would very quietly sneak up the steps and hold a finger to his lips to remind us to be quiet and then he would slip us some pastries or candy and be gone.
“Grandpa used to ride his bike all over Key West. He always had a band around his pants leg so the pants would not get caught in the spokes. I remember the day he died. He came to our house and brought us girls an apple. He cut it up into three pieces and gave one to each of us. Then he played a bit with us in the backyard. He finally rode away down the alley on his bike. He didn’t look back, but he waved goodbye to us with his hand high in the air. We never saw him again because when he got home, he laid down for a nap and never woke up.”
DEATH
Manuel was living at 913 Watson St when he died on February 15, 1947, in Key West, Florida, at the age of 71, and was buried there.
SOURCES
1880 United States Federal Census; 1885 Florida State Census; 1900 United States Federal Census; 1910 United States Federal Census; 1920 United States Federal Census; 1930 United States Federal Census; 1935 Florida State Census; 1940 United States Federal Census; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998; The Key West Citizen Oct 24 1934; Personal collection Karen Yvonne Hamilton and Jane Garcia Rowland
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