Bios of Rita Lopez de Alcorta - Wharton County TX Submitted by Christina Robles 5 Apr 2001 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ====================================================================== 2 bios of Rita Lopez de Alcorta written by descendants Here is some information my uncle and I have put together. My great-greatparents lived in Wharton, Texas from 1930, until the time of their death. Their ancestors were from Atascosa County. Welcome to: Marouse/Arriola/Huizar/Lopez/Alcorta/Robles Genealogy by: Christina Robles and Andrew Robles This story was written by Christina Robles, great-granddaughter of Rita Lopez de Alcorta, on 4/4/01 This story is dedicated to my great-grandmother, Rita Lopez de Alcorta. Rita Lopez de Alcorta was the oldest of nine children of Antonio Huizar 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. In 1854, at the age of 11, Lucien was abandoned in San Antonio. After Lucien's contribution to the civil war, Lucien Marouse married Adelaida Arriola in May, 1870. Adelaida Arriola was one of twelve children of Francisco Arriola (from Louisiana) and Guadalupe Arriola (from Mexico). Adelaida was born in 1848 at San Fernando, Texas. Adelaida's father, Francisco Arriola, was a dedicated soldier who fought in the Texas Republic War in 1836, and in the civil war in 1865. Francisco Arriola did not survive the civil war. As such, Francisco Arriola's wife, Guadalupe, was forced to maintain the Arriola land grant given to them, which was located in Atascosa County. Lucien and Adelaida Marouse settled in Atascosa County, Campbellton, Texas. Their marriage produced three daughters: Guadalupe, Sophie (mygggrandmother) and Francis. Guadalupe married Lazaro Huizar, Jr. in1890, and Sophie married Antonio Huizar Lopez in 1891. 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, Arriola'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 at Campbellton, Atascosa County, Texas in the Campbellton Cemetery. Adelaida Arriola Marouse died in1932 and is buried in San Antonio, Texas. Antonio Huizar Lopez and Sophie Marouse Lopez are buried in Leming (Las Gallinas), Atascosa County,Texas in the Brite Cemetery. My great-grandparents, Ramon Alcorta and Rita Lopez Alcorta are buried in Wharton, Texas. Ramon Alcorta died in 1953 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, on 4/4/01 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......