María G. Sada

María G. "Chata" Sada (December 5, 1884 - July 13, 1973) was a Mexican-American businesswoman, informal educator and midwife in Boquillas Canyon. Sada ran the last store and restaurant in the Boquillas area, "Chata's Place" between 1901 and 1936. Eventually the land it stood on became part of the Big Bend National Park.

Biography The Sada family in front of Chata's restaurant at Boquillas, Texas, 1930s. alt=The Sada family in front of Chata's restaurant at Boquillas, Texas, 1930s. Sada was born in Iraxuato, Guanajuato. "Chata" is a nickname meaning "flat nose" or "cute." She was raised in the Big Bend area of Mexico. Sada and Juan Sada moved to the Boquillas area in the 1880s and got married in 1901. The couple never had children, but adopted and fostered many children who needed homes. In order to improve business, Sada learned English so she could better serve various people who came to Big Bend.

Juan Sada died on December 24, 1936, and eventually Maria Sada closed down the business and moved to Del Rio a few months after. In Del Rio, Sada lived with one of her sons.