Rita Lopez de Alcorta Welcome to: Marouse/Arriola/Huizar/Lopez/Alcorta/Robles Genealogy by: Christina Robles and Andrew Robles This home page is dedicated to my great-grandmother, Rita Lopez de Alcorta. Rita Lopez de Alcorta was the oldest of ten children of Antonio Lopez and Sophie Marouse of Atascosa County, Texas. This is a brief history of her family. Sophie Marouse was the second child of Lucien Marouse and Adelaida Arriola. Lucien Marouse, his older brother, Emile Marouse, and their parents (names unknown at this time), immigrated from Europe (Belgium) with Henry Castro. They were part of the Castro Colonies that arrived to Castroville, Texas in 1844. His parents later moved to San Antonio, Texas. Legend says that Lucien and Emile's parents died in the cholera epidemic that occurred in San Antonio, Texas in 1849. It is believed that Lucien and his brother were left orphans in San Antonio, Texas. In the 1860 census for San Antonio, Texas, Lucien is noted to live with a french family by the name of JORDAN. Emile is noted to live with the WHEELER family. After Lucien's contribution to the civil war, Lucien Marouse married Adelaida Ariola in May, 1870. Adelaida Ariola was one of twelve children of Francisco Ariola (from Louisiana) and Guadalupe Cadena (from Mexico). Adelaida was born in 1846 at San Fernando, Texas. Adelaida's father, Francisco Ariola, was a dedicated soldier who fought in the Texas Republic War in 1836. For his contribution to the Texas Republic War, Francisco Ariola and his heirs received 160 acres of land, which was granted by Sam Houston. Francisco Ariola died in 1857 and is buried somewhere in Pleasanton, Texas. Left alone and with children, Francisco Ariola's wife, Guadalupe, was forced to maintain the Ariola land grant, which was located in Atascosa County. Lucien and Adelaida Marouse settled in Atascosa County, Campbellton, Texas. Their marriage produced three daughters: Guadalupe, born in 1872, Sophie, born in 1876, (my gggrandmother)and Francisca, born in 1881. Guadalupe married Lazaro Huizar, Jr. in 1890, and Sophie married Antonio Huizar Lopez in 1891. Francisca never married and died at the age of 20. Lazaro Huizar, Jr. was the sixth child who was born in 1862 to Lazaro and Blasa Huizar. Antonio Huizar Lopez was born in 1871 to Santos Lopez and Dolores Huizar. The Huizar's, Ariola's, and Lopez' settled in Atascosa in a small town we know as " Las Gallinas" a/k/a Leming, Atascosa County, Texas. Lucien Marouse died in 1923 and is buried in Campbellton, Atascosa County, Texas, at Campbellton Cemetery. Adelaida Marouse died in 1932 and is buried somewhere in Atascosa County. Antonio Huizar Lopez and Sophie Marouse Lopez are buried in Leming (Las Gallinas), Atascosa County, Texas at Brite Cemetery. Francisca Marouse is buried in Pleasanton, Atascosa County, Texas at Sotelo Cemetery. At this time, we are unsure where Guadalupe Marouse Huizar is buried. However, Lazaro Huizar, Jr. is buried in Poteet, Atascosa County, Texas at Madra Dolorosa Cemetery. My great-grandparents, Ramon Alcorta and Rita Lopez Alcorta are buried in Wharton, Texas. Ramon Alcorta died in 1958 and is buried in the old cemetery, while my great-grandmother, Rita, is buried in the new cemetery. She died in 1989. Rest in peace... This is a story written by Andrew Robles, grandson of Rita Lopez de Alcorta As a child, growing up in Wharton, Texas, our grandmother, a very humble, and very caring person often told us many stories, which at that time, we didn't realize that they would serve in our quest with our many puzzle solving on tracing our ancestors on my mother's side of the family. In her many related tales, she often spoke of "Gallinas", her birth place, Pleasanton, where she would grow up, marry, and raise most of her family. She had many fond memories, her face would light up as she proudly related her stories to us. Grandma Rita once told about her aunts who would tell risque jokes in French, who would then translate them into Spanish, at her age, she would blush..... Many of her stories are situated in and around the county of Atascosa, a town that later on in life we would visit and to finally realize that it is part of our heritage. She told us Indian stories related to her by her father, Antonio Huizar Lopez. He told a story about how the Indians would come to their houses after slaughtering a pig. They would cut the pig up, and ride around their house with blood curdling yells, they would hit the house with the slaughtered pig, splattering the blood, then ride off. Another story was when the Indians came up to a house where two children were playing outside. Before the people inside saw what was happening it was too late to call the children in. From within they saw the children, but could do nothing to help them. The Indians rode toward the children, but they vanished. From within the house they saw something that looked like a veil, from a lady that stood behind the children (dressed in blue), they say that it was Our Blessed Mother Mary who saved them........ At the time of her story telling, we as children heard, but did not listen, "IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER". Once the story or stories were told, we went outside to play and to forget what was related to us, she never stopped telling her tales, and today they have been very helpful to us, and certainly give thanks to her for caring and to taking the time to relate the stores to us REST IN PEACE GRANDMA... Grandma Rita spoke about her grandfather, Lucien Marouse, who came from Europe, spoke both French and Spanish. We never knew where in Europe he had come from. Recently, we found out that he came from Belgium. He taught her to read and write, something that she did very well. He was a tall, thin build, light complected man. He came from Europe, but nothing is known about his life and family. In 1844, a year after his birth in 1843, they immigrated to Castroville, Texas. At the age of 11, he was abandoned in San Antonio, Texas. We are unsure about this part of his life. Parents are not mentioned. Lucien Marouse owned 30 acres of land at the time of his death. The 1870 census for Atascosa County indicates that he lived in Precinct 4, where we believe is Campbellton, Texas. This is probably true since he is buried at Campbellton, Atascosa County, Texas. While on our many quests in attempting to locate my mother's roots, I imagine what it was like to live during that time, what Lucien's family felt coming over to a new land. Did all of his family come as well? What was the weather like? Did they make the right decision? Through our Aunt Maria DeLeon Casarez, a very knowledgeable historian, was our source in finding the grave site of Lucien. On our first visit to Campbellton Cemetery, we were very discouraged and saddened on not having any success on our quest, we could sense Lucien's presence. But through Maria DeLeon Casarez, we found it!! We gathered around the concrete marker and hugged one another, teary eyed, we left with much uplifted spirits, and anxiously awaiting our next trip. I believe that he, through our aunt, led us back there again. Now we have part of our puzzle. REST IN PEACE our departed ancestors, someday, we will all be together once again, where we can sit and visit......