This valuable photograph, taken in 1919, shows one of the traditional and founding families of San José del Cabo: José María Mendoza Wilkes and Prisciliana Moüett Ceseña, surrounded by their children in a scene that offers a glimpse into family life in Cabo at the beginning of the 20th century.

The parents are seated, while their children stand: Cipriano (Pano), Leonor, Ricardo, and Angelina, with the youngest, José Emilio (Milo), in the center.

José María Mendoza Wilkes was born on September 23, 1879, in San José del Cabo, the son of José María Mendoza León and María Emilia Victoria Wilkes Ceseña. He married Prisciliana Moüett Ceseña, forming a family that left a profound mark on local history through their descendants.

The Mendoza Moüett family belonged to a generation of families that contributed to the agricultural and livestock development of the region. They were hardworking, respected, and highly valued members of the San José del Cabo community, in an era when life revolved around ranches, orchards, livestock, and the close ties between the families of old San José del Cabo.

A particularly interesting aspect of this family is the origin of the surname Moüett, of French origin. According to records compiled by historian Pablo L. Martínez in his work, *Guía Familiar de Baja California 1700-1900* (Family Guide to Baja California 1700-1900), this surname arrived on the peninsula during the 19th century, when European merchants, sailors, and adventurers began to settle in various parts of Baja California.

The Moüett family fully integrated into Cabo society, intermarrying with traditional families of the region. As with other surnames of foreign origin—English, French, and Italian—their descendants became an essential part of the Baja California Sur identity we know today.

The photograph also reflects a time of transition in San José del Cabo: a small, agricultural and ranching town, where the founding families painstakingly built the social fabric that would give rise to the modern community. Each face in this image represents a story, a family branch, and an important part of the collective memory of Los Cabos.

Today, more than a century later, this photograph continues to be a valuable testament to our roots and a reminder of the families who helped forge the identity of our land in Los Cabos.

💬 Are there any descendants of the Mendoza, Moüett, Wilkes, or Ceseña families among our followers? What memories or stories have you heard from your grandparents about this distinguished family from San José del Cabo?

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