José Ayala González (Guayaquil, August 2, 1885 – June 20, 1974) was an Ecuadorian poet, farmer, and public servant. Known for his romantic and nostalgic poetry, he contributed to various publications and published a collection of his works titled La Noche Avanza. Raised in a cultured and prosperous family, Ayala González spent much of his life managing agricultural estates and held several public offices, including Chief Political Officer of Babahoyo and Vice President of the Consejo Provincial de Los Ríos. His work remained within the Romantic tradition, and while newer literary movements had emerged, his poetry continued to reflect deep emotions and connections to rural life, showing a strong attachment to the past.
Early Life and Education
José Ayala González was born on August 2, 1885, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, to Arcadio Ayala Campuzano, an autodidact, inventor, and researcher, and Francisca González Barreiro. He was raised on the family’s hacienda “Los Ángeles,” near Puebloviejo, alongside his nine siblings. His upbringing was marked by a life of comfort and intellectual stimulation. Educated at home under the supervision of his aunt, José was exposed to a rich cultural environment that included reading French authors like Alexandre Dumas, Guy de Maupassant, and François Coppée. His literary tastes eventually broadened to include Western philosophical classics. His early years were shaped by an idyllic, cultured rural life, which he later reflected upon with nostalgia in his poetry.
Career and Literary Contributions
José Ayala González led a multifaceted life as a poet, farmer, and administrator. He began his professional life by working as a captain on a fluvial vessel, navigating the Guayaquil-Babahoyo route from 1905 until 1910. His service was interrupted by national duty when he joined the Ecuadorian forces during a brief conflict with Peru, where he received the rank of Lieutenant of the Reserve.
Ayala González was deeply involved in agricultural management throughout his career. Following the death of his father in 1911, he took over the administration of various family-owned and bank-managed properties. His work included managing estates like “Elvira,” “Mercedes María,” and “Martinica,” and assisting with operations during the cacao plagues of the early 1920s.
Simultaneously, he was an active poet. Influenced by Romanticism, his poetry often focused on themes of nostalgia and loss, frequently evoking the rural life of his youth. Though he never embraced newer literary movements, he remained devoted to his poetic style. His writings appeared in periodicals such as “El Guante” and Cuba’s “Heros,” and he published several collections of his verse, including La Noche Avanza.
Public Service and Leadership Roles
Ayala González took on a series of significant public roles. In the 1920s and 1930s, he was appointed as an administrator for estates managed by the Banco Comercial y Agrícola, ensuring their productivity during difficult economic times. In 1931, he served as the Jefe Político (Chief Political Officer) of Babahoyo, and briefly, he was the interim Governor of Los Ríos province. Although he received a ministerial offer from President Abelardo Montalvo in 1933, he declined the position due to his distaste for political maneuvering.
Later, he took on municipal roles in Guayaquil, including as manager of the Monte de Piedad Municipal, and was involved in various capacities within the local government. His leadership extended to the provincial level, where he served as Vice President of the Consejo Provincial de Los Ríos in 1935.
Personal Life
José Ayala González married Mercedes Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1917, and together they had ten children, including notable individuals such as Hugo Ayala Núñez, who became a respected educator and orator. The couple created a happy family life, often moving between different properties due to his work. Their household became known for its warmth and intellectual pursuits, where Ayala González fostered a love for poetry and patriotism in his children.
In his later years, José lived more quietly, focused on writing poetry and enjoying his large family. He was a panteísta (pantheist) by personal belief, deeply inspired by nature, which often found expression in his poetry. He passed away on June 20, 1974, at the age of 88.
Legacy
Though his poetry remained within the Romantic tradition and did not influence broader literary trends in Ecuador, José Ayala González is remembered for his heartfelt and nostalgic works. His family upheld his poetic legacy by compiling and publishing his verse. A man of many talents—administrator, poet, and public servant—he was deeply admired for his integrity and contribution to both his family and his community.
Recognition and Publications
In 1969, Ayala González celebrated his Golden Wedding Anniversary, an occasion his family marked by compiling his poems in a 105-page volume titled La Noche Avanza, which was divided into thematic chapters such as “Amanecer” (Dawn), “Atardecer” (Dusk), and “Anochecer” (Night). His work was noted for its deep connection to Ecuador’s rural life and its evocation of past eras.
References
- Poemas de Ecuatorianos, “José Ayala González.” Retrieved on October 22, 2024. Click to view.
- Rodolfo Pérez Pimentel, “José Ayala González.” Retrieved on October 22, 2024. Click to view.
- Hugo Ayala Núñez Official Website, “Biografía de Hugo Fernando Ayala Núñez.” Retrieved on October 22, 2024. Click to view.
- Expreso.ec, “Lanzan una segunda edición, revisada y aumentada de una antología ‘montubia’.” Retrieved on October 22, 2024. Click to view.