I am trying to determine the true name of my great grandfather, Leandro Telles b. 1858 in Santo Tomas, Dona Ana, NM and d. 1939 in Jerome, Yavapai, AZ. My great-grandfather's death certificate identified his father as Pedro Telles and his mother as Luz Pedraza. At the same time I have been told that Felicita Delfin Trujillo b. 1860 in Santo Tomas d. 1931 in San Miguel, Dona Ana, NM is Leandro's sister and her death certificate identifies her parents as Juan Delfin and Luz Pedraza. In the 1870 census for Santo Tomas, Dona Ana, NM there is a Florentino Telles that is listed as a farmer and household members include Juan Delfin b. 1843 in Mexico and Luz (Pedraza) Delfin b. 1844 in Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico and 6 Delfin children: in addition to Leandro and Felicita there is Francisco Cornelio b. 1862, Francesca b. 1865, Paula b. 1867, and Natividad b. 1869. By the 1880 census Felicita is again a Delfin and a widow having married Octaviano Vasquez in 1874 and he died in 1876, with one child Rosario Delfin and caring for a retired farmer Florentino Telles. Leandro is now a Telles and married Leandra Rojas in 1878 and is living next door to her parents, Santos and Martina Rojas. Luz is now Pedraza and is head of household with the following children all listed as Pedrazas: Francisco, Paula, Francisca, Natividad, Maximiano and Rumaldo. Rumaldo is the last child born in 1876. In the 1900 census Felicita is now married to Marcelino Trujillo and they have 7 children. 2 houses away live Leandro and Leandra Telles with 7 children. In Mesilla Luz is again a Delfin and is living with one child Cristobal Delfin b. 1879. In 1910 Marcelino and Felicita Trujillo continue to live with 7 children. 5 houses away Leandro and Leandra live with 3 children. In Mesilla, widowed Natividad (Delfin) Carreon lives with 5 children, 1 adopted daughter and her mother Luz Delfin. In 1920 Marcelino and Felicita Trujillo live with 4 children. Leandro and Leandra Telles live with 3 children, 2 sons and a granddaughter. Natividad lives with 4 children and her mother Luz Pedraza. 2 houses away from Natividad lives her brother Rumaldo Delfin. Luz died in 1925 and was buried as Luz D. Pedraza in Las Cruces, NM. By 1930 Leandro's son Robert lives as head of household with his wife Teresa, 2 children and widowed Leandro. 3 Houses away lives Gumersindo Delfin who is Marcelino and Felicita’s son but instead of Trujillo he is using Delfin as a last name and included in his household is his widowed mother Felicita Delfin and brothers Santiago and Roman.

None of the other Delfin children took on the Telles name. Luz Pedraza went back and forth from Pedraza to Delfin but never Telles. There is no other record of Juan Delfin after the 1870 census. Pedro Telles only exists in a photograph I have dated 1876. I also have another photo addressed to "mi hermano" Leandro from Hijinio Telles in 1905 from Clifton, AZ. Hijinio also exists only in this one photograph. I have christening records for every Delfin child except Leandro and they all identify the parents as Juan Delfin and Luz Pedraza.

Did Leandro, and perhaps Juan Delfin, take on the name of the farmer with whom they resided in 1870? Are Felicta Delfin and Leandro Telles siblings?