Tony Fontes - Mission Indian Horseman

Among the pagan Indians who stole silently from the hills to hear the first Padres sing at San Antonio Mission were the forefathers of Antonio “Tony” Fontes. His father Gabriel Fontes made his home in a sheltered swale on the south side of Cone Peak near the head of Mill Creek. Tony was a strong, handsome young man, an expert rider famous for his skill in training saddle horses. Kind and soft spoken, everyone he met became his friend. He worked for Abraham Yates in Jolon Valley, the Sans brothers in Mill Creek, and drove 8 to 12-horse teams during harvest season.