3

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"Neither my father or myself had any trouble with the Spanish
government. However, I was always ready to contribute for the various
expeditions that were sent from Tampa against the dominion of Spain
in Cuba.

"I was married on Monday, November 18, 1889, when I was eighteen
years of age. My wife had come originally from Key West. She arrived
here on June 12, 1886, and commenced working at Martinez Ybor two days
later. She worked at this factory for some 30 years, and afterwards
worked 18 years at different other factories in Tampa, or a total of 48
years.

"I, myself, worked for something like 32 years at the cigar factories.
However, in the year 1921 when the big strike, which lasted ten months,
was declared in Tampa, I purchased a Ford truck and engaged in moving
furniture. I remained in this transfer business for some ten years. How-
ever, due to the great physical exertion that I had to undergo in the
moving of furniture, a vein in my throat was ruptured, and I bled profusely
for several days. As a consequence the doctor forbade me to continue
working. This happened some five years ago, and since then I have not
been able to do work of any kind. My heart now is also weak.

"During our entire married life of forty-six years, we never have had
any children, which is something we will always lament. If we had had
children we would now be taken care of in our old age. As it is we must
now depend on relief.

"With the help of my wife, who worked up until a year ago, I was able
to purchase the home in which we live. I have had this house painted and
repaired with the help of a home loan which I have been paying at the rate

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