ALONZO A. DeAVOLON
Descendants: Mrs. Helen Dority
Eleanor Dorothy Beynon
Mrs. Helen Dority, who passed away November 1, 1935, was one of Corpus Christi’s oldest citizens. Mrs. Dority was born Helen DeAvelon October 30, 1856, at Palestine, Texas.
Her parents, Alonzo A. DeAvelon and Cynthia DeAvelon, came to Texas from Tylertown, Mississippi, a few months before her birth. When only 3 years old, little Helen came to Corpus Christi with her parents. I have often heard her tell of the terrible yellow fever epidemic in 1867. Both she and her mother had the fever, and both recovered. Her sister, Mrs. Ben Gibbs, and in fact were taken. Mrs. Clark, a very dear friend of my grandmother, and my grandmother made a pact between them that whichever one was stricken first would be nursed by the other. Mrs. Clark was stricken, and in spite of all that my grandmother could do the fever was fatal to her. Mrs. Clark left three little children, Sam, Frank and Armeta. My grandparents raised these children as their own. The children of these adopted children, and their children and grandchildren are still living in the nearby towns.
My mother often related the first experience of her parents when they moved to Corpus Christi. At that time there was only one house to rent, and that was just north of Weil Bros. store. Everyone told them that the house was haunted; but my grandfather was not to be frightened by ghosts, and rented the house. When Lo! the first night they heard a terrible noise up over the canvas ceiling. Grandfather immediately investigated and found an "army of rats," having a riotous time. It will be understood that there were no more "ghosts" after the rats were cleaned out.
My mother’s nearest playmate, a little girl, Theresa Baldeschwiler, is still living at 418 Artesian Street, Corpus Christi, and at the present time as was carried in the Pathfinder story a short time ago, is still a dear, sweet, old lady, who is kind to everyone and loved by all who know her. My grandfather many years ago had a beef packing plant on North Beach, on the site now occupied by the Cedar Lodge. In the plant he only used the hides and tallow. Afterwards, he went into the stock-raising and ranching business. My grandmother died in 1882, and my grandfather passed away in 1885.
My mother, Helen DeAvelon, was married to Benjamin P. Dority, a native of the state of Maine, September 13, 1873, when only 17 years old. My father passed away July 10, 1910.
Mr. and Mrs. Dority were the parents of two daughters: Mrs. Nellie V. Dority Silven Westmoreland and Mrs. Eleanor Beynon Gould. Grandchildren are Eugene Thomas Beynon and Clarence Meyler Beynon, and Earle Henri Silven, son of Mrs. Nellie Dority Silven-Westmoreland.
Mrs. Dority was one of the sturdy pioneers who had the determination to do against all odds until the time of her last illness. She could relate by the hour, all her life, the historical events of Corpus Christi and surrounding country. She was carried out of the town on a boat when the Mexican raid occurred here. There was one man to whom she felt great credit was due for his defense of the town, and for which he was shot down. He was one of the brave few in the posse who followed the raiders, and was alone when killed by them. His name was George Swank. A monument was erected to his memory in later years by this grateful lady.
I have a white spread quilted with birds, boats and flowers (heart’s-ease, etc.) that my great-great-grandmother Bullock made. She raised the cotton on the old Mississippi plantation, which is still in the possession of the Bullock family. There she carded it, spun it and wove it into cloth, then made and quilted it. That was 200 years ago! What industry and skill were here demonstrated. Will hand sewing, which after all is woman’s greatest domestic accomplishment, become a modern art for the women of the future? My mother dearly loved her flower garden, and could be seen working among her flowers until the last chapter of her life’s story was written, and her book of life was closed forever. May her spirit look down from the "heavenly, bowers where the lilies eternally bloom in the blam-breathing garden of God," and her spiritual sight behold the weary souls of earth cheered by the beautiful flowers she left growing and blooming.
Alonzo Alphmer DeAvelon was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and reared by his aunt. Mr. DeAvelon was a student of law and medicine, and had written several books of poetry about Corpus Christi and surrounding territory. He was a collector of customs at New Orleans during the Civil War. ---- Ref. Times, Mar. 12, 1936.
Source:
DeGarmo, Mrs. Frank. Pathfinders of Texas, 1836-1846. Austin: Press of Von Boeckmann-Jones, Co., 1951.
Transcription by: Rosa G. Gonzales