Mary Cummins. Ancestry, heritage, DNA, genealogy blog

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Senator Enrique Baz of Mexico by Mary Cummins, Maria Rivera Cummins

Senator Enrique Baz of Mexico, Prominent Men of Mexico

Senator Enrique Baz 1843-1932

Los Hombres Prominentos de Mexico - The Prominent Men of Mexico, 1888

It may be said that Enrique Baz has attained the high position that he occupies, exclusively through the force of will, because although he has among his ancestors two bishops of Puebla, Vazquez and Palafox, and a Spanish General of the same name that became famous defending the city of Zaragoza in Spain against the marshals of Napoleon's army, and is likewise nephew of our renowned fellow countryman Juan José Baz, he lacked pecuniary means and was obliged to abandon his professional studies in the City of Mexico in order to support his family. He entered a business house, where he made splendid progress and at various times even remained at its head in the absence of the principal member of the firm. But as the latter was a Frenchman, and his house was visited by many Frenchmen at the time of the intervention, Baz prudently abandoned the splendid position he had and acted as broker of the first class, and as such he did all he could to favor the liberal army that, under the command of Porfiro Diaz, laid siege to the city of Mexico in the last days of the empire and up to the surrender of the city. On the same day that this event took place he saw at Tacubaya the commander in chief and offered him a loan of one million dollars from the business men of the capital, who desired at the same time to withdraw a large amount of money, the duties on which could serve most efficaciously to defray the expenses of the besieging army. When the matter of the withdrawal of the money was arranged with Justo Benites, who was the Secretary of the Quartermaster general, the service that Baz desired to render was done, and two hundred thousand dollars were obtained for the paymasters of the liberal forces, through duties collected and then the loan was effected by means of the kind intervention of the American minister and of the Director of the London Bank, which allowed the government of the Republic to be established without any trouble.

Enrique Baz continued in his mercantile operations until 1876, without having taken part in politics; but he was at heart in sympathy with the Tuxtepec revolution, or perhaps he owed to its leaders some personal services, and this made him accept the office of Custom House Collector of Piedras Negras, where he showed great activity and made its proceeds increase to an amount higher than it ever had been seen; this being a matter that constitutes the pride of all good employees in collecting offices.

His going there served Baz in gaining for him a great deal of popularity in all the State of Coahuila, so much so that upon his return to the city of Mexico, when he was performing the duties of a high office in the liquidating bureau, the most important political leaders of that State, at the period of electoral excitement, appointed him their representative and with their assistance he attained for success their candidate for Governor, colonel José M. Garza Galan, who was the most suitable for that high office, wherein he has distinguished himself as an able pilot by steering the ship of State with great dexterity.

Coahuila some time afterwards gave Enrique Baz his just reward, by appointing him deputy to the 13th Congress, in which office was been most useful by word and deed. At present he is Senator for that State, which has also appointed him its agent and general representative in all matters.

Enrique Baz is an eloquent orator, a loyal friend, an able politician; he is most active in attending to the business that is entrusted to him and has the gift of drawing to himself all who come in contact with him, and for these reasons as well as for the matters before stated, he is one of the most prominent men of Mexico.

Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León

http://cdigital.dgb.uanl.mx/la//1020006679/1020006679_232.pdf

pg 297, 298

Los hombres prominentes de México = Les hommes eminents du Mexique = The prominent men of Mexico.

México : La Patria, 1888.

In Spanish, French, English

Transcribed by Mary Cummins, Maria Rivera Cummins, great granddaughter of Enrique Baz.

The ancestor who fought in Spain against the French was José de Palafox, 1st Duke of Zaragoza.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_de_Palafox,_1st_Duke_of_Zaragoza

The other ancestors who were mentioned were Bishop Juan Palafox Mendoza
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_de_Palafox_y_Mendoza

and Bishop Francisco Pablo Vazquez
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Pablo_V%C3%A1zquez

and of course his uncle Juan Jose Baz https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Jos%C3%A9_Baz

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Mary Cummins of Cummins Real Estate Services has been in real estate since 1983, over 35 years. She is licensed by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers. Mary Cummins was an agent and broker licensed with the California Department of Real Estate selling residential income, commercial buildings, raw land and homes for Merrill Lynch Realty in Beverly Hills and Westside Properties in Los Angeles before concentrating on appraisals. Mary Cummins currently provides real estate appraisals, expert witness testimony, historical research, legal real estate research for mortgage brokers, banks, lawyers, factors, insurance companies, financial consultants and private individuals. Mary Cummins was born and raised in Southern California. Cummins attended Beverly Hills Good Shepherd Catholic School and Beverly Hills High School. Besides being on the Dean's list, Mary Cummins was a top ten national swimmer and competed on the men's water polo team. Mary Cummins began college at the age of 15 attending the University of Southern California on scholarship, majoring in Psychology/Sociology. http://www.animaladvocates.us http://www.facebook.com/AnimalAdvocatesUSA

Musician Manuel Rivera Baz of Mexico by Mary Cummins, Mary Rivera Cummins

Manuel Rivera Baz, famous Mexican music professor, orchestra leader, music composer and song writer.

Manuel Rivera Baz 1882-1941

Early Life

Manuel Rivera Baz was born July 19, 1882 in Distrito Federal, Mexico. He was a music professor, orchestra leader, music composer and song writer. His father Manuel Severo Rivera 1853 – 1912 was a music professor and orchestra leader. His mother was Maria Trinidad Baz 1866-1904 the daughter of Mexican Senator Enrique Baz 1843-1932. Rivera Baz was baptized in Santa Veracruz church July 22, 1882 in Guerrero Sureste, Mexico [Mexico, Select Church Records, 1537-1966, Ancestry.].

Rivera Baz' siblings were Enriqueta Rivera Baz Vigneaux 1884-1972, Jose Manuel Nicolas Rivera Baz 1886-1887, Maria Carolina Rivera Baz 1887, Jose Ysidro Rivera Baz 1890-1891, Joseph Maria Rivera Baz 1892-1981, Luis Trinidad Rivera Baz 1894-1983, Alberto Joseph Rivera Baz 1897-1987, Maria Luisa Trinidad Rivera Baz Cummins 1899-1991 and Eduardo Rosendo Rivera Baz 1903-1905.

Musical Career

Rivera Baz was educated at the German Music Conservatory and the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica (National Conservatory of Music) in Mexico City, Mexico. He was considered a child prodigy who conducted at the age of 10 and gave his first piano concert at the age of 12 [Who’s Who in Latin America 1914.]. The New York Herald refers to Prof. Rivera Baz as “He has the fire of genius and vitality in his work that distinguished him from any other pianist.”[ New York Herald cited in Arizona Daily Star May 12, 1909.]

It was also stated, “Rivera Baz is a Spaniard and studied with Alberto Jonas. At the age of 10, it is stated, his musical aptitude was so pronounced that Jonas took him as a protégé for many years. Baz possesses a powerful tone and has a true Spanish Temperament in his interpretation. Not only is Rivera Baz well known as a pianist, but his experience as an orchestra leader and composer is well established, having toured South America directing the Italian Opera Company and having held innumerable positions as conductor.”[ The Houston Post, Houston, Texas, “Engaged Spanish Soloist. Manuel Rivera Baz Will Entertain Guests at Saunter’s.” Man 24, 1913, pg 11.]

And, “Lovers of music will fairly revel at the masterly playing of Senor Manuel Rivera Baz, the highest salaried musical director ever engaged with a musical play visiting this city. At the incredible age of 16 years he was engaged as a teacher in the National Conservatory in the City of Mexico. He is an author of considerable repute, especially of Spanish operas, probably chief of which is “El dos de Abril.” His correct technique, interpretation and sentiment reveals in his an exquisite pianist.”[ “Town Sport” Tonight. This Rural Musical Comedy Made Big Hit Yesterday.” The Leavenworth Post, Leavenworth, Kansas, Nov 22, 1909.]

Rivera Baz was a founding partner in the 1922 Mexican Points Union to “safeguard the interests of its members against the theater business men.” He is listed in Compositores Mexicanos Siglo XX.

Discography

Rivera Baz holds multiple copyrights for songs, operas and operettas. He wrote the music for operetta “La Nina Lupe” 1946 which was premiered by Esperanza Iris in her own theater in Mexico.

“La Borrachita,” arrangement.

“En Mi Rancho Bonito,” Mexican folk song, song writer, arrangement, composer.

“El tecolote,” (The owl), Cancion Michoacana, 1924, composer for orchestra, Victor recordings.

“La Nina Lupe,” operetta.

“Tehuanas,” de la Opereta “La nina Lupe” con letra de Enrique Uthoff 1924.

“El Mosquito Zumbrador,” (The mosquito) song writer, composition, arrangement.

“Ecos de Mexico,” Aires Nacionales, Capricho de Concierto, para piano.

“Le Somelle dul’anfante,” operetta.

“Aparecio Hoja de album.”

“El doctor Argensola,” operetta in three acts.

“Obertass.”

“Legende.”

“Le Revelie due Lion.”

“Il Trovatore,”

“Cancion del Olvido.”

“Rosas Espagnolas.”

Selected Performances

1906 El Paso Herald, El Paso, Texas, “Concert for the poor of Juarez,” pg 8.

1909 Tucson, Arizona charity event at Whitwell hospital[ Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Arizona May 4, 1909, pg 8.].

1913 Houston, Texas, The Houston Post, Houston, Texas, “Blitz Plays Again!”pg 5.

1913 Houston, Texas, The Houston Post, “Engaged Spanish Soloist,” pg 11.

1913 Played piano with the German orchestra Sangerfest playing “Das Herz am Rhein” by W. Hill.

1923 Puebla, Mexico “Hermosa Fiesta Cultural en la Ciudad de Puebla,” Jueves de Excelsior.

1938 “Choristers of Havana Here Today. Foremost Music Group Of Cuba Will Give Concerts In Hollywood,” Miami, Florida, The Miami News, Miami, Florida, pg 37

Personal life

Rivera Baz married Esperanza Alvarez 1886-1951. Together they had the following children, Esperanza Rivera Baz Alvarez b.1903, Julio “Jules” Rivera Alvarez 1905-1993, Louis Rivera Alvarez 1909-1910, Enrique Rivera Alvarez 1911-1972, Ruth Rivera Baz Alvarez 1912- apx 1970, Jose Rivera Alvarez 1923.

References

1. Mexico, Select Church Records, 1537-1966, Ancestry.

2. Who’s Who in Latin America 1914.

3. New York Herald cited in Arizona Daily Star May 12, 1909.

4. The Houston Post, Houston, Texas, “Engaged Spanish Soloist. Manuel Rivera Baz Will Entertain Guests at Saunter’s.” Man 24, 1913, pg 11.

5. “Town Sport” Tonight. This Rural Musical Comedy Made Big Hit Yesterday.” The Leavenworth Post, Leavenworth, Kansas, Nov 22, 1909.

6. Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Arizona May 4, 1909, pg 8.

Written by Mary Cummins, Maria Rivera Cummins, grand niece of Manual Rivera Baz. He was the brother of my grandmother Maria Luisa Rivera Baz Cummins. He was also my grandmother's godfather.

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Friday, October 24, 2025

Ofelia Rivera Esparza Altar Exhibit at Vincent Price Museum by Mary Cummins, Maria Rivera

Artist Ofelia Rivera Esparza exhibit at the Vincent Price museum at East Los Angeles college. It was wonderful learning about her life through the exhibit today. The pieces were curated so perfectly to reflect her artistic journey. I went to my first Dia de Muertos in 2006 at one of her Self Help Graphics & Art events. #altarista #artist #ofeliaesparza #ofeliarivera #vincentpricemuseum #marycummins #mariarivera #eastlosangelescollege #losangeles #california

Link to video of exhibit below https://youtu.be/wuH-cZ4-8qk

Mary Cummins

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Kitzia Mitre is Related to Aztec Emperor Montezuma by Mary Cummins Genealogist

Kitzia Mitre stated in the television show "Made in Mexico" she was related to Montezuma. She is related to Montezuma. I found one route to Montezuma but I'm sure there is a direct ancestral route. Kitzia's cousin Carlos Baz Manero was a life long genealogist. He passed away in 2016 but he left his genealogy work with his daughter who maintains the tree on geneanet.org under Chantal Laurent. I bet she figured out the direct route. I could figure it out but it takes time.

Below is the link to a close relative of Kitzia who is Daniel Baz. I know this because Kitzia is my 3rd cousin once removed. My ancestor is Rivera Baz from the same Baz family. Click image to make it bigger.

Basically anyone who is Spanish or Mexican is probably related to Montezuma. The reason is because Spaniards married a daughter of Montezuma named Isabel. I'm also related. Here is my link. I'm sure I could also figure out a direct link but it takes time and I don't really care.

https://gw.geneanet.org/marycummins_w?lang=en&pz=mary+k&nz=cummins&&sn=&ei=27729&em=R&image=on&iz=0&m=NG&n=&select=0&t=N&et=S

Mary Cummins

Monday, July 28, 2025

Wallis Annenberg Family Tree, Ancestry, Ethnicity, Heritage, DNA, Jewish by Mary Cummins

Philanthropist and animal lover Wallis Annenberg passed away this morning. She is survived by her four children, Lauren Bon, Charles Weingarten, Roger Weingarten, Gregory Weingarten, and five grandchildren, Dorian, Maya, Lily. I did the tree of her father many years ago for Geneastar. Her parents were Walter Annenberg and his first wife, Bernice Veronica Dunkelman. She had a brother named Roger who predeceased her. Her ancestors are from Russian, Poland, Romania and Belarus. Link to that tree below. Wallis Huberta Annenberg 1939-2025. #wallisannenberg #familytree #ancestry #DNA #ethnicity #jewish #heritage #marycummins

https://en.geneastar.org/genealogy/annenbergwa/wallis-annenberg

wallis annenberg, wallis huberta annenberg, family tree, dna, genealogy, mary cummins, ancestry, ethinicity, jewish, heritage, annenberg foundation, los angeles, california

Mary Cummins

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Is Sequencing, sequencing.com a Scam? Yes and no by Mary Cummins Genealogist, DNA

Is the company sequencing a scam? Yes and no by Mary Cummins genealogist

UPDATE: Sequencing just sent me an email reply to my post. It's below my original article.

ORIGINAL: Sequencing is a company which does health analysis of your DNA. You provide a cheek swab just like other DNA sites such as Ancestry and 23andme (23andme is in bankruptcy proceedings). Within a few weeks they analyze your DNA against disease databases to give you a health report based solely on your DNA for a cost of $400. You can find out if you are genetically predisposed to certain diseases and conditions. Keep in mind genetic predisposition is just one factor in actually contracting some diseases. Lifestyle choices are a huge factor which influence disease.

Sequencing is running ads all over the internet for their service. They also offer a free service where you can upload an existing DNA file which you may have from Ancestry, 23andme, Geni, MyHeritage... They offer free DNA analysis of your existing DNA file. The scam part has to do with the "free" services they offer.

Sequencing said you can load up an existing DNA file to find out your blood type. A friend loaded up an existing DNA file. They then requested the free blood type analysis. You have to sign up with your name, address, email address to get this "free" service. They tell you it will take a few days for this analysis. The results are "your file did not contain enough data to determine your blood type. Please, pay us $400 for a full analysis." Mind you they told you, you could load up an ancestry or 23andmefile to find out blood type.

The friend then deleted the existing DNA file and then used the $400 sequencing file for analysis. They got the same result. That means they never even bothered to look at the data file or the full analysis will not provide that result. When they finally got the results of the $400 sequencing it didn't tell them blood type either. This means they lied when they said they could tell you your blood type based on DNA. They just wanted to sell you the $400 service. That is scammy and dishonest.

Another example. Sequencing ran an ad saying "Am I an Einstein?" They allegedly were offering to check your existing DNA file to see if you have genius level intelligence. The ad stated intelligence and not kinship. Again, they make you wait a few days. They do this so you think it must be a lot of time consuming work. Days later you get the results which state "Am I related to Einstein?" Now it's a different test to see if you just related to Einstein. They only look at your haplogroup to see human migration patterns. Albert Einstein's Y-DNA haplogroup is E1b1b1b2 (or E-Z830)*, specifically the "Jewish cluster." No one ever tested Einstein's DNA. They only tested a descendant of his great-grandfather, Naphtali Hirsch Einstein, and found him to belong to the E-M35 haplogroup and its subclade E1b1b1b2. If you already took a DNA test, you already know your haplo group. You would already know if you are a part of Einstein's haplo group and don't need Sequencing to tell you. Worthless test. Then they tell you to buy their $400 test for better analysis.

Back in the day around 2019-2021 Ancestry offered DNA health analysis. It was $59 for basic AncestryDNA then $30 for AncestryHealth analysis of the same DNA file. The results came back at the same time in a few weeks. Sequencing is saying your Ancestry test doesn't have enough data to run their health analysis. This isn't 100% true. They used the same oral saliva swabbing. The Ancestry results were pretty robust showing likelihood of having cancer and many other diseases. I would agree that Sequencing probably has a more robust report today in 2025.

In summary Sequencing offers these "free" services to lure you in to buy the $400 sequencing test. 23andme offers a similar ancestry and health service for $199. With 23andme you can also find relatives and work on your family tree online. Ancestry now only offers DNA to find family. They also offer a very robust database of genealogical records. The monthly subscriptions are more expensive than the basic test but you get access to the database and millions of other people's family trees, photos and records.

*I have the screen captures from the results of the various "free" analysis which support every statement in this article.

EMAIL REPLY FROM SEQUENCING

"This is Ryan, and I’m a representative of the Customer Success team at Sequencing.com. As a small startup, we truly value every customer and want you to feel confident in your experience and satisfied with your results.

We’d really appreciate the opportunity to follow up on your recent review of our products and services to clarify a few points and offer assistance, especially if anything didn’t work as expected, such as our free reports.

We offer users the ability to upload third-party DNA data and run some free basic reports. However, depending on the type of file uploaded, results may be limited. We accept files from services like 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and MyHeritage. If the file is compatible, users can access free reports like the ABO Blood Type Analysis or “Am I Related to Einstein?”

That said, if the uploaded file doesn’t contain the necessary genetic markers (rsIDs) required for a report, you may see a message such as “Not enough data available.” While many ancestry files contain the relevant data, there are cases where they don’t. Unfortunately, this is outside of our control, as it depends on what was included in the original file by the testing company.

In your review, you mentioned a friend who had issues even after purchasing our $400 Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) kit. We’d be happy to look into their experience and help resolve it. If you can provide their account email or have them contact us directly, we’ll gladly investigate.

I also noticed in your account that the Blood Type report was unable to fully complete. This can occasionally happen even with WGS data if a required variant is missing. In many cases, we can work with the developer of the report to resolve this, though it may take a little time.

Please also note that while our saliva-based DNA test provides valuable insights into genetic predispositions, it is not intended to replace a medical-grade blood test performed by a healthcare professional.

Regarding reports like “Am I Related to Albert Einstein?”, these are meant to be lighthearted and engaging ways for users to explore how their genetic data can be used. In your article, you mentioned we claim to "check your existing DNA file to see if you have genius-level intelligence,” but that is not the intended purpose or how it is advertised. The actual description of the report reads:

“Are you an Einstein? Do you and Einstein share the same genes? Find out for free! Albert Einstein's genes played a large role in who he was, just as they do for all of us. Now you can find out if you have genes in common with one of the most intelligent people to have ever lived.”

“Albert Einstein's DNA is not publicly known, but in broad terms we have some ideas for his haplogroup.”

This is not a clinical or diagnostic report, it’s intended as educational value and does not reflect the full range of our platform’s capabilities.

You also made an important distinction between ancestry testing and Whole Genome Sequencing. You're absolutely correct that they are very different. Ancestry companies use microarray technology, which analyzes around 600,000 specific data points, less than 1% of your genome. In contrast, Whole Genome Sequencing captures over 3.2 billion data points, covering nearly 100% of your genome.

Because of this, our more advanced reports, such as the Next Gen Disease Screen, are designed specifically for the depth and completeness of WGS data. When using an ancestry file instead, the insights are limited to what’s available in that file.

Lastly, I’d like to assure you that your privacy is a top priority for us. We do not sell or share your DNA data, and we do not participate in family-matching services. Our primary focus is on health and wellness insights. While we do offer some third-party ancestry reports, these are smaller in scope and not as in depth for ancestry information especially compared to specialized ancestry services like those from 23andMe or Ancestry.com.

If you'd like us to look into your friend’s situation, we’d be happy to do so with their permission and account email. We’ll follow up with them directly to ensure everything is addressed.

I look forward to hearing back and the opportunity to work together to resolve everything."

Mary Cummins

Saturday, November 2, 2024

What does Dia de Muertos, Day of the Dead Mean to Me as a Latina in the US by Mary Cummins, Maria Rivera

What does today November 2 Dia de los Muertos mean to me? My grandmother was born in Mexico City, Mexico in 1899. She raised me and was my mother, father and all grandparents combined. As Catholics her family honored All Souls day and would go to church for mass then visit the cemetery to care for the graves of their dearly departed. There was no big Catrina culture or Dia de Muertos festivals or parades at that time. Dia de Muertos was originally celebrated more in southern Mexico. It's been more recently popularized and amplified for tourism and commerce.

Growing up Roman Catholic with Mexican heritage our family honored All Souls day here in Los Angeles, California. We would go to church for mass and say a rosary for our loved ones who had passed. Dia de Muertos for my family was a day of honoring our deceased family members. My Nana would talk fondly about her father and siblings. Her mother died when she was 1.5 years old, father died when she was 12. She'd tell me stories about her siblings who were my Aunt Katie and Uncles Luis, Albert and Joe.

My nana is long gone today having died over 30 years ago. I've since been involved in Dia de Muerto festivals, parades and Catrina culture exploring my Latinidad and Mexican roots. Today I sometimes visit my Nana's grave in San Diego, California. I also visit her brother Albert's grave while I'm there. I'm not driving to San Diego because of car issues and cost of gas this year. I will just fondly remember my Nana and her siblings. May they rest in peace. Q.E.P.D. Here are some photos from when I visited her grave two years ago on Dia de Muertos.

#dayofthedead #diadelosmuertos #ddlm #diademuertos #mexico #losangeles #california #marycummins #mariarivera #qepd