Ramon was educated in schools in Seville and Salamanca, Spain.  He received an A.B. degree from the University of Seville.

His father was Gobernador of the Province of Huelva.  The Granados family had a palace in Seville that was sold to a large department store.  The palace was torn down and a large department store built on the site.  It is in the downtown shopping area of Seville.

Central America was in upheaval in 1898 as the following information, gleaned from a World Almanac, will show.  I believe it will be helpful to future generations, in order to place the family in the time slot of World History.

CENTRAL AMERICA 1898

• A Confederation, the Greater Republic of Central America is proposed but fails after El Salvador opposes it.  
• Battleship Maine is blown up in harbor, Havana Cuba.
• Cuba declared independent by Congressional Resolution.
• Spain and  U.S. declare War.
• Spanish forces defeated at Guantanamo Bay, El Caney and San Juan Hill in Cuba.
• U. S. Fleet destroys Spanish Fleet off Santiago, Cuba. Santiago surrenders to U.S.
• U.S. Forces capture Puerto Rico and Guam.
• Treaty ending War signed - Spain gives up claim to Cuba, cedes Puerto Rico, Guam and Philippines to U.S.
• U.S. annexes Hawaii.
• First Food and Drug Act passed because of public outcry against the meat supplied for U.S. troops fighting in the Spanish-American War.

It was found that a chronological record of Mr. Granados' life would be the best way to cover all aspects of a most varied career.  Papers mentioned in this article are in the hands of Luis Granados, ¹ as of this date, September 2, 1991.  Antonio Granados, youngest son, has copies of these papers.

On February 1, 1896 there is a paper reporting, "Taxes due for Spanish people living in Foreign Lands".  At this time, we have no explanation of this paper.

The United States declared War on Spain, April 24 1898, ending, in Cuba, with the surrender of Santiago de Cuba, on July 17, 1898;  although the Treaty signifying the end of the War was not ratified until April 11, 1899.  Allan Keller, author of "The Spanish-American War:  A Compact History", states that "...Spain had always looked upon overseas colonies as a source of revenue, not as areas for social change or constitutional betterment for mankind." 

Therefore, it is not surprising when General Leonard Wood was appointed Military Governor of Cuba, that Secretary of War, Elihu Root worked closely with him to establish a sound governmental system.  The plan included building schools, educating the Cubans, establishing a sanitation system and improving conditions generally.  General Wood was a Surgeon, served in the Army and had been personal physician to President McKinley and his family before joining Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders.  Ramon Granados told me that he had studied to be a Doctor of Medicine and had gone to Cuba in that capacity, conducting autopsies, during the Spanish-American War.

Luis and Connie [1st generation], state that General Leonard Wood was instrumental in bringing Ramon Granados to the U.S.  It has also been said that by going to Cuba, he avoided serving in the military.  At this time, there is no information as to when and how Ramon Granados  met either General Wood or Elihu Root.  We do know that Ramon taught Cubans from 1901 until 1906.  There is a document, releasing Ramon from the Draft, dated January 7, 1900, "nineteen years old and a student".

Ramon evidently went to Cuba in 1901, or possibly earlier.  There is a Certificate of Performance (Teaching), dated February 25, 26, 1901.  A Certificate dated August1, 1901 states that he had taught for eight months.  Another Certificate of Performance is dated Jun 11, 12, 1902.  He attended a Conference at Vinales, Pinar del Rio, Cuba, July 14 - August 9, 1902, signed on August 12, 1902, Cuba.

On January 20, 1903, Maria Concepcion Rey Capdevila was married by proxy to Ramon Granados Marquez in a Civil Ceremony at Sevilla, Spain.  Her brother, Viriato Rey Capdevila was the proxy for Ramon.  [Presumably, this marriage by proxy was done so that Maria Concepcion could travel unaccompanied to Cuba to be with Ramon so they could be properly married.  At the time, unmarried women could not travel abroad without an escort.].

Maria Concepcion sailed from Cadiz, Spain for Cuba.  On February 10, 1903, a ceremony was held before a priest in Cuba.

Ramon received a Certificate of Performance (Teaching), in June, 1903.  On August 15, 1903, he received a Certificate to Teach Arithmetic.

On April 11, 1904, their first child, a son, Luis Granados was born at 1:00 AM in Vinales, Pinar del Rio, Cuba.  

Another Certificate of Performance (Teaching) was received in June, 1904.  On August 20, 1904, Ramon received a Certificate to Teach.

In 1905, presumably late summer, Maria Concepcion and Luis returned to Spain.  There were uprisings in Cuba at this time.  Most likely the trip was made to insure their safety.  Besides, Maria Concepcion was pregnant with their second child.

On January 14, 1906, Concepcion, the first daughter born to Ramon and Maria Concepcion was born in Sevilla, Spain.  On Jun 14, 1906, Ramon receives approval for a vacation in Spain.  At this writing, we do not have the exact date of his return to Spain.  By March of 1907 he had returned to Spain from Cuba - having registered for the Draft in Sevilla - being granted an exemption.

On January 11, 1908, their third child, Rosario was born in Sevilla, Spain.  We have no information as to what transpired during this time in Spain.

On September 1, 1909, a fourth child, the third daughter, Clara was born in Sevilla, Spain.  there is a document to the effect that Ramon was a Candidate for Office in Sevilla, Spain, with no further information.

On July 30, 1910, Ramon left Cadiz, Spain for New York on the S. S. Montevideo, arriving on August 10, 1910.  He gives his occupation as Salesman and gives the Salesian Fathers, 421 East Twelfth Street, New York City as his destination.  He states that he had been in the U.S. previously, stating "yes", in transit.  He had $30 according to the ship's Manifest.  Also, from the Manifest, we learn the address of the family home in Sevilla, Spain as 2 Corinto Street.

In a letter of application, written at a later date, Ramon states that he opened the Spanish School of Washington in 1911.  There is a Power of Attorney, dated March 8, 1911 for Concepcion and her brother, Viriato to sign for Ramon Granados, whose age is given as 30 years.  

On June 30, 1911, Concepcion, with Luis, Connie, Rosario and Clara leave Cadiz, Spain on the S. S. Manuel Clavo, arriving in New York on July 11, 1911.  The ship's Manifest gives the ages as follows:

• Rey Capdevila, Concepcion - 28 yrs.
• Granados Rey, Luis  - 7 yrs.
• Granados Rey, Concepcion - 5 yrs.
• Granados Rey, Rosario - 3 yrs.
• Granados Rey, Clara - 2 yrs.

Concepcion's nearest relative in Spain is given as her mother, Concepcion Capdevila, 17 Imagen Street, Sevilla, Spain.  Final destination is given as 816 - 14th St., NW, Washington, DC.  She lists $10 in her possession.  Luis says their father had a house ready for them.  They found there were rats in the house and his mother refused to stay there.  They moved to 14th and K Sts., NW.  At this time, this was still a rather elegant neighborhood.  According to the family, this house had a carriage house in the rear, with living quarters over the carriage area.  Luis said these living quarters were rented out, which paid for the rent on the house they lived in.  Rosario and Connie tell of riding on the dumbwaiter in the home.

Luis remembers the burial of victims of the Titanic disaster, the ship that hit an iceberg and sank, killing most of the passengers, on April 14 - 15, 1912.  

Ramon II was born at Columbia Hospital, Washington, DC on April 18, 1912.  He was the first child born in the US.  he was the fifth child and the second son. 

On August 11, 1912, Ramon Sr., received a Normal School Certificate from Havana, Cuba.

In January 1913, Ramon Sr. became a Charter Member of the Spanish-American Union of Washington, DC.  Connie and Rosario remember an Inaugural Parade and saw President Taft.  This was the Wilson Inaugural Parade on March 4, 1913 with the outgoing President Taft traveling to the Capitol with the new President for the "Swearing-in-Ceremony".  

Ramon Jr.'s health was not good and the Doctor advised that they move to the country where there was good fresh air.  Connie says the family moved to Mount Rainier, Maryland in 1913.  in the 1913 Polk's City Directory, the Spanish School of Washington is listed at 1010 - 15th St. NW.

On February 6, 1914, Maria was born in Mount Rainier, MD.  She was the sixth child and the fourth daughter.  The 1914 Polk's Directory lists Ramon Granados as a linguist, Spanish School of Washington at 1010 - 15th St., NW.  On December 8, 1914, he received a Certificate of Nationality from the Spanish Legation, listing the home address as 303 - 15th St. NW.

On August 31, 1915, Dolores was born in Mount Rainier, MD.  She was the seventh child and the fifth daughter.  The 1915 Polk's Directory lists the home address as Mt. Rainier, MD with Ramon Granados, Director, Spanish School of Washington.

The 1916 Polk's Directory gives the residence as Mount Rainier, MD with Ramon Granados, Director of the Spanish School of Washington at 1423 G Street, NW Washington.

Angelina was born on January 11, 1917 (not verified) and died February 7, 1917.  She was buried on February 8, 1917 (sixteen days old) in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Bladensburg Road, NE, Washington DC, Section 49, Site 298.  She was the eight child and the sixth daughter.

Luis states that during World War I, Ramon Sr. put up maps of Europe in various Washington Hotels, among them the Willard, Old Shoreham and Washington.  He obtained information by cable from New York each day regarding the latest action on the War Front.  He would then go to each hotel and move pins to designate the latest advance of the armies.  He was paid for this service by the hotels.  We believe this took place prior to the U.S. entry into the War.

Polk's Directory gives the residence as Mt. Rainier, MD and the Spanish School of Washington at 1423 G St., NW.  On August 6, 1917, the Ramon and wife Concepcion along with Luis, Connie, Rosario and Clara became Naturalized Citizens of the US, appearing before the U.S. Supreme Court, Document Number 798847.  Ramon Sr., served in U.S. Naval Intelligence during World War I.  World War I dates are April 6, 1917, when War was declared, and November 11, 1918 when Armistice was signed.

On April 7, 1918, Juan was born in Riverdale, MD.  He was the ninth child, the eighth living, and third son.  Polk's Directory for 1918 gives the residence as mt. Rainier, MD., and lists Ramon Granados as the Director of the Spanish School of Washington.  The family members say that their father went to Brazil, and he saw the ships in New York Harbor that had been hit by German submarines.  There is a may 14, 1918 stamp on Ramon's passport.  In the State Department files, there is a telegram from Barranquilla, Columbia, in which Ramon Granados is mentioned.  

There is no listing in Polk's Directory for 1919.  There is a possibility that Ramon was out of the country for part of this year.  It is believed that this is the period that Ramon worked as captain of the Bellhops at the Washington Hotel and Luis worked as a Page.  Also, the family moved to 407 First Street, Riverdale, MD either in 1918 or 1919.  Ramon Jr. remembered the move from Mt. Rainier to Riverdale.  He was pulled in a wagon by one of his sisters.

On July 6, 1920, Mercedes Granados was born in Riverdale, MD, the tenth child, ninth living, and the seventh daughter.  Ramon Jr., told of a time as a young boy, when his father was away for a long time and money was scarce.  Ramon worked on the Frederick Farm, up Riverdale Road.  He was given a dollar for his work and was sent home with the money pinned to his overalls with a safety pin.  Milk and vegetables were given him to take home.

There is no listing in the Polk's City Directory for 1921.  Ramon Granados evidently returned home in the Fall of 1921.

On August 20, 1922, Antonio Granados was born in Riverdale, MD, the eleventh child, the tenth living, and the fourth son.  The 1922 Polk's City Directory gives Riverdale, MD as their residence and lists Ramon Granados as Director, Spanish School of Washington.  There is a Passport Stamp, dated May 3, 1922.

Unless some member of the family has something to add, we have no information for the years 1923 through 1925.

There is a Passport Stamp, dated May 6, 1926 and a Certificate of Vaccination, New York, S.S. Niagara.  The Spanish School of Washington was located at 1317 F Street, NW in July of 1926.

In November, 1926, the Spanish School of Washington was located at 1338 H street, NW.

On June 23, 1930, Ramon's wife, Maria Rey Capdevila died.  She is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Bladensburg Road, NE Washington, DC, Section 58, Site Number 494.

In 1931 King Alfonso XIII of Spain was deposed and the Second Republic established.  This was a troubling period for Ramon, because he was keenly interested in the political problems in Spain.  

On June 21, 1937, Ramon Granados died in his office in Washington, DC.  He is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Bladensburg Road, NE, Washington, DC, section 58, Site Number 494.  Clara was in the hospital having given birth to her daughter Barbara Koch.  Charlie Koch (Clara's husband) had lunch with Ramon that day and found him in good spirits.  His death was a great shock to all the family.

1.  Luis Granados died in August of 1992.  All family papers in his possession were passed on to Luis Granados II (aka Sonny).