Petra Vela de Vidal Kenedy

Petra Vela de Vidal Kenedy (31 January 1823 – 16 March 1885) was a Mexican rancher, philanthropist, and matriarch of one of the most influential families in South Texas during the nineteenth century. She was one of the few 19th-century upper-class women of Mexican origin in Texas. The couple had six more children and adopted another child. She continued to practice the Catholic religion. Kenedy was able to use her connections to persuade raiders not to raid her ranch and she used her wealth to fund a small army of mercenaries to protect her interest.

Kenedy's health began to decline and by 1882 she was an invalid. The Kennedys sold their ranch to the Texas Land and Cattle Company. They established the Kenedy Pasture Company, which was operated from their son John G. Kenedy's home, La Parra Ranch. Kenedy and her husband settled in Corpus Christi and lived in an Italian villa-style home.

Later life During Petra's later years, she helped the poor in Corpus Christi and she donated much of her acquired wealth to Catholic institutions all over South Texas, including donations to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Brownsville, Texas. She died on March 16, 1885, and was buried in Brownsville, Texas.