A) El Paso Area

Paso del Norte - 1848

In 1581, the first Spanish expedition to explore North America navigated a pathway around Franklin Mountain near present-day Ciudad Juarez located on the south side of the Rio Bravo del Norte (Rio Grande). This Pass to the North became known as Paso del Norte until 1885. Critical events and fateful adventures of the citizens living along the Pass became intertwined during the 19^th century through their dynamic family stories.

Two of these individuals were the young couple at the basis of the Lyles Saga – George B Lyles and Basilia McKnight Ruelas. Virginia-born George B. T. Lyles came to the El Paso area during the Mexican American War. Missouri military archives revealed a military card for twenty-year-old George T Lyles who mustered into service on 12 June 1847 at Independence, Missouri. The young private served with Colonel Ralls' Third Regiment Missouri Mounted Volunteers under Captain William S Lofland's Company E. He was discharged at Santa Fe, New Mexico on August 25, 1848 at the expiration of his term of service. Basilia McKnight was the daughter of Virginia-born Trailblazer Robert McKnight whose renowned trade expedition to Santa Fe in 1812 calculated the route for the historic Santa Fe Trail. McKnight became an influential landowner "Amo", businessman, Juez de paz, and Commander of the Janos Presidio in the State of Chihuahua. He died one month before the start of the Mexican American War. Basilia lived with her older sister Refugio whose husband Louis Flotte had become manager of McKnight's mining estate. During the military conflict, the American forces occupied Chihuahua until the last U.S. troops left Mexico on 2 Aug 1848. These events made it possible for adventurous individuals like George and Basilia to meet and to design their futures by seizing daring opportunities.

The most definitive historic document relating the marriage bond for George and Basilia is found in the Juarez Church registers of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe on 24 October 1848. This church entry verifies that Basilia's mother is Candida Trujillo, matching the names given in the Baptism record of second son, Robert E Lyles. The NSG original record (top right) gives the groom's name as George "Elias" and the bride's name as Basilia "Ruelas", Basilia's adoptive name. The group that is named with this young couple confirms their identities. Basilia's mother, Candida Trujillo is named, with her husband at that time Manuel Ruelas.

The birth records of the Lyles children start with the first son, Alfonso's birth record. It states that Alfonso Simon was born in April 1849 to George Lyles and Basilia McKnight and baptized at Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe at the Villa of Paso del Norte. Carmen was their first daughter born in July 1851; her baptism was also at Paso del Norte at Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe. When Roberto was born in March 1853, the family was living in Chihuahua. Roberto was baptized near Casas Grandes Mexico at Barranco Colorado at San Antonio de Padua Church. This is the first entry that states that the maternal grandparents are Roberto McKnight and Candida Trujillo. In April 1857, Marcos George Lyles was born in Mesilla, New Mexico and baptized at San Albino Catholic Church; grandparents are not named. Juan Alejandro Lyles was baptized in San Fernando Church in San Antonio, Texas in May 1867. These birth documents found in Church Registers state that George Lyles was the father and Basilia McKnight was the mother.

Spelling variations found in church parish registers and official, legal documents for Lyles family members include: Lyle, Elias, Les, Lais, Laheles, Lailes, Layles, Gayles, Tyler, Tayler, Lisle, Lyole, Lyal, Lyell, Lysle. Spelling variations found for McKnight: McKnay, Maquinoite, Maggie Night, Mainekgt, McKnik, McNutt, MacKnight. When the surname is in question, it is useful to try to verify the identity by careful scrutiny of names of the witnesses, sponsors, godparents -- keeping alert for names of relatives or for known acquaintances or business associates. Spelling errors have caused confusion and distraction from the identities of the main family members. It is important to realize that in the reality of daily living, working people make mistakes in writing and now in typing or inputting data. The spelling may be different, but the people remain the same -- our relations, our ancestral family unit.

Franklin, Texas 1850

The aftermath and reconstruction caused by the Mexican American War that ended in 1848 was drawing a pioneer population set in staking a claim in the nation's Western expansion. The massive Ranch owned by Juan Maria Ponce de Leon and located on the north side of the Rio Grande was bought by Missouri-born Benjamin Franklin Coons in 1849. The land was leased to Fort Bliss military post and the growing colony was labeled "Franklin" until about 1855 when Anson Mills created plans and renamed this center of commerce, El Paso.

The earliest court record that shows George Lyles in the El Paso area is a land deed transfer to Samuel Magoffin dated 2 June 1851 from brother, James Magoffin and Delores Magoffin recorded in El Paso County Transcribed Deed Book C, 1850 housed at UTEP Sonnichsen Special Collections. Lyles signed as a witness to the transaction along with James A. Lucas. From 1856 thru 1859, G B Lyles is found in the El Paso area. He held subsistence and forage contracts with Fort Bliss for the years 1856-1858. The book Forty Years in El Paso by W W Mills mentions George B Lyles as an area resident in 1858. G B Lyles name is given as a witness on December 13, 1858 to the historic Ascarate Grant in Spanish and Mexican Land Grants in the Chihuahuan Acquistion by J J Bowden. George, Basilia and five children are listed in the 1860 US Census taken at Fort Quitman. For occupation, the enumerator recorded that 32-year-old Lyles was a grocer and that his place of birth was Virginia. Using this US Federal Census, George Lyles was born about 1828 in Virginia USA. Basilia is listed as 30 years old; birthplace -- New Mexico. As listed in the book, The War of the Rebellion, Fort Quitman was abandoned by 5 April 1861 along with other frontier military posts due to the Civil War when Texas left the Union. In NARA Publication No. M346, Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens or Business Firms, a statement for the period ending 31st of May 1862 is found showing receipt of bushels of corn titled: The Confederate States To George B Lyle (sic). The document is certified and signed by Acting Quarter Master J.F. Crosby and acknowledged receipt for $8.00 (approximately $182 in current value) duly signed by G. B. Lyles on May 21, 1862. Another statement dated 5 July 1862, by John W Taylor, Quarter Master 7th Regiment, certifies funds for one mule and two ox yokes in the amount of $103.00 to G. B. Lyles at Fort Bliss Texas. (currently valued at $2,335 using an Inflation Calculator)

Caroline Lyles was born in 1862; then Amanda Lyles was born in 1863. Amanda's baptism record appears in Paso del Norte (Juarez) at Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe. The Lyles couple were also baptism godparents for Jose de Jesus Flores in January 1863. The youngest of the Lyles daughters was Isabel; she was born around 1865 according to the 1880 US Census records. Amanda and Isabel are listed in the Alfonso Lyles household along with younger brothers John and George B Jr. George Jr was born in Fort Stockton in 1868 according to his young son's 1932 death certificate.

Birchville 1860

George Lyles from Birchville is listed on IRS Tax Records of 1866. This record indicates that George Lyles operated an "Eatinghouse" -- for travelers on the Butterfield Stage Line. This would be the first Lyles Family 'eating' establishment that paid US Federal taxes. Birchville was also known as the Rio Grande Station, a quick-change stage stop.

George purchased property in this region in 1860; the sizeable acreage was part of the Stanley League Land Parcel. On several occasions, flash floods caused by the swelling Rio Bravo resulted in significant damage at this Lyles property. (See Note 1)

During the period that Texas joined the Confederacy, George B Lyles continued to supply the West Texas military posts with supplies. Confederate Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley arrived at Fort Bliss, Texas on December 13th, 1861 with a force of 2700 men.* Texas declared its secession from the United States of America on February 1, 1861, and joined the Confederate States on March 2, 1861; Texas was readmitted to the Union by Congress on March 30, 1870.

On May 21, 1862 Lyles received an $8.00 payment from (Judge) Josiah F Crosby for the delivery of an order of corn at Fort Bliss.

On July 5, 1862, Lyles was given a "no payment" receipt for $103 for a mule and 2 ox yokes signed by John W Taylor, Quartermaster for the 7th Regiment stating; "the mule and yokes was necessary for the public service and were purchased as stated and that I have not paid for these for naut of funds"

Sibley, known as "Mr. Whiskey" by the troops abandoned plans to attack Fort Craig which was located 120 miles north of Las Cruces.* Crosby recorded that most El Paso merchants who were sympathetic to the Confederacy cause were fleeing to Mexico to prevent their entire inventories from being confiscated. (Confederate General of the West: Henry Hopkins Sibley Jerry D. Thompson) Before returning to San Antonio, he had Fort Bliss burned. Sibley arrived in San Antonio in mid-July 1862. (*Civil War West By Duane Shaw, page 16)

Note 1 : It wasn't until 1916 with the construction of Elephant Butte Dam in New Mexico that the wild roamings of the Rio were subdued allowing for a controlled stream-flow for crop irrigation. Later, in February 1,1933 downstream flooding problems in this area were addressed through the Rio Grande Rectification Treaty, which called for construction of a floodway and flow channel along a stretch of the river from Cordova Island to Box Canyon, at Amistad, below Fort Quitman.

This information is provided for personal use to learn about the origin of the Lyles family. Permission required to be used in any printed form. Inez Vasquez vasqgen@gmail.com