HISTORY OF OROCOVIS
(Spanish)
Who was Juan Rivera de Santiago?
Juan Rivera de Santiago was the founding settler (Capitán Poblador) of Orocovis and served as its first mayor.
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In early 1825, Don Juan Rivera and his daughter Eulalia discuss the original plan: to establish the town within one of her estates, located in the area known as Los Barros. By the end of that same year, it is decided to relocate the town to its present location.
He is also credited as the individual who donated the land for the town center and as a principal contributor to the founding of the San Juan Bautista Parish (Saint John the Baptist Parish).
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He was born around 1757 and died on February 23, 1847.
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His remains were later exhumed for preservation and placed under the custody of the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (Institute of Puerto Rican Culture). In 1994, they were returned to the Municipality of Orocovis. On February 6, 2026, they were placed in the monument at the town plaza, which has borne his name since that day.
A plaque at the square reads:
JUAN RIVERA DE SANTIAGO SQUARE
Founding settler and first mayor of Orocovis.
He donated the land for the town center and
was the principal driving force in the
founding of the San Juan Bautista Parish.
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Born c. 1757 and died on February 23, 1847.
His remains rest in this monument.
Juan Rivera fathered 13 children, from two marriages: Eulalia, Gregoria, Juan María, Cayetano, María Josefa, Tiburcio, Luisa, María de Jesús, María Antonia, Francisca, Vidal, Dolores and José Lubardí.
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Following extensive genealogical research conducted between 2014 and 2023, I have been able to identify several of his descendants, including:
• William “Guillín” Carreras
(the shoemaker)
[5th generation. Branch: José Lubardí]
• Luis Rafael Rivera (law professor)
[6th generation. Branch: Cayetano]
• Javier Rivera (photographer)
[6th generation. Branch: Cayetano]
• Mayra Carro
[6th generation. Branch: Cayetano]
• Efraín Rivera (Grupo Jataca)
[7th generation. Branch: Eulalia]
• Jorge Torres (Pinceladas en Oro)
[8th generation. Branch: Eulalia]
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• Fransela Burgos (Heladería Franchella)
[8th generation. Branch: José Lubardí]
• Reniet Ramírez (historian)
[8th generation. Branch: Eulalia]
Among others.