His father was Jose Antonio Tiburcio Francisco Canales, and his mother was Maria Secunda Guerra.
He married Saturnina Saldaña, daughter of Jose Francisco Anastacio Saldaña and Maria Julia de la Peña on 3 Jul 1844 in Mier. the bride was 17 years old. His wife died on 25 Dec 1906 in Mier. She was 79 years old.