 Life in Bedarona was hard; after the loss of two wars (Carlist wars) in Basque Country, Bedarona became very impoverished in the 1880s, but spirits were lifted by the news of the success of relatives and townsfolk in the territories of the western United States.The Bengoechea family had lived in Olabe since 1796, but the wars ruined them.The only option for Jose was to move to the New World and start a new life.