José Mancisidor Ortiz was born on April 20, 1894, in Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico, the fifth of eleven children to Jorge Tomás Mancisidor Oyarzábal (1860–1921) and Catalina Ortiz Alpuche: Jorge, Rodolfo, Catalina, Esperanza, José, Anselmo, Carmela, Raimundo, María, Emilio and Francisco. He received his primary education from the "Francisco Javier Clavijero" School, and later went to learn a trade at the vocational school of the Secretariat of the Navy, located at the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress, until his third year reaching the rank of sergeant. In April 1914 he participated in the defense of the port of Veracruz against the occupation by the United States Marine Corps. He escaped to join the Constitutionalist Army of General Cándido Aguilar who incorporated him to the First Regiment of Artillery of the First Eastern Division with the rank of lieutenant. His military career continued till 1920, and participated in the Mexican Revolution within the Constitutionalist Army of Venustiano Carranza, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of Artillery and getting appointed Military Commander and Governor of the Quintana Roo territory. He married Dolores Varela in 1917 with whom he had five children: Orlando, Arnaldo, Kolda, Elvia and Yolanda. Between 1920 and 1922 he was municipal syndic of Xalapa. On December 8, 1923, he helped to organise the civil defense of the city against the de la Huerta uprising. From 1926 to 1929, he was local deputy for the Xalapa district. He supported the uprising of General Arnulfo R. Gómez in the state under the orders of General Miguel Alemán González; however, after the execution of Gómez in 1927 he accepted to amnesty offered by the government. One more time, in 1929, he joined the failed Escobar uprising led by General Jesús M. Aguirre, who adhered to General José Gonzalo Escobar, who previously fought against, defeated and executed General Arnulfo R. Gómez.