Jose Cardenas was born in the small town of Villa Coronado, in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. Jose was born on the 31st. Of August 1880. His father was Antonio Cardenas, and his mother was Geronima Martinez. Jose's parents were ages 26 and 21, respectively, at the time of his birth. Jose was the eldest of five children. His brothers and sisters were: Francisco, Martin, Josepha, and Eduvijes.

Jose's wife, Soledad Gonzalez, was also born in the town of El parral. According to her headstone, in Sacramento, she is to have been born in 1882. Her parents were: Merced Gonzalez and Evarista Navarro. Likewise, Soledad was also the eldest in her family. Her brothers ans sisters were: Josefa, Francisca, and Jesus.

Jose and Soledad were married in the capital city of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. They were married on August 25th, 1902. Jose was 21 years of age, while soledad was 19. It was in chihuahua, that, their first two children were born: Ygnacia, and Dominga. Sometime after the birth of Dominga, the family moved to El Paso, Texas. There, their next five children were born; they were: Soledad, Victor, Agripina, Marta, and Socorro.

Details as to the early lives of Jose and soledad are not plentiful, however, we do know that Jose was involved with his brothers in their "Store and Soda factory". Their business was in the town of Juarez. Jose and Soledad may have lived in El Paso, and he worked across the border in Juarez.

Their arrival in Arizona came sometime after their oldest daughter, Ygnacia, had married and moved to California. While in Yuma, Jose worked for the railroad laying track. In addition, Jose also worked in the Phoenex area harvesting seasonal fruit and vegetable crops. In Arizona, the family remained for about four to five years.

Next, the family was to follow Ygnacia's move to California. They arrived in the Sacramento valley, in the late 1920's . In Sacramento, Jose worked the ranches and farms, harvesting the seasonal crops of fruits and vegetables.

Soledad died not long after arrival in Sacramento; she died in 1932 and is buired in St. Mary's cemetery. Jose died in 1944, and is also buried in St. Mary's cemetery of Sacramento.