Artistic representation of the long horn cattle that Jose Antonio drove from SA (Texas) to LA, by Marilyn Steakley

On May 10, 1723, Juan Curbelo, a Canary Islander of great wealth and privilege was ordered by royal decree to leave the Canary Islands with 400 other families to settle in the new world in the name of the King of Spain.

Jose Antonio Curbelo was the first generation of the Curbelo Family to be born in the new world after his family settled in La Villa de San Fernando de Bexar (present day San Antonio, Texas). He had many noteworthy accomplishments in this life. He married Rita (Flores) Curbelo about 1764, with whom he had 9 children. He was listed as a cattleman and rancher in the Petition of Cibolo Ranchers on October 5, 1778. In January 1780, Jose Antonio served as Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Texas in the absence of Governor Domingo Cabello. During this time he was granted permission by Croix, Commander of New Spain Province to deliver two herds of cattle, totaling more than 1,000 head to Spanish Louisiana Governor Bernardo de Galvez. Galvez was assisting the newly declared United States of America in the American Revolution by laying siege to the British stronghold of Fort Charlotte, West Florida (Alabama). Jose Antonio’s aid secured a Spanish victory for the U.S.

Jose Antonio received a commission in the Spanish Army directly from the King of Spain. He was entrusted by Governor Carbello to ferry across the Atlantic Ocean a collection of buffalo skins from the Lipan Indians and two live buffalo bulls and four buffalo cows. Having arrived with only a bull and a cow to the surprise of the King, by superior orders, Jose Antonio was given an appointment in the army at the rank of lieutenant, assigned to the company of the presidio of San Antonio.

The Lipan Indians killed Jose Antonio Curbelo September 4, 1789.