B) Presidio

Presidio Land District

Presidio County was formed in 1850, but it was not organized until 1875. This large county included many current Texas counties during the 1860-1880 period. Pecos County was not formed until 1871. Reeves County was established in 1883. Jeff Davis and Brewster County were founded in 1887. Terrell County began in 1905. Culberson County in 1911; Hudspeth County in 1917. These eight counties plus El Paso County are known as the Trans-Pecos Region. The original name given to this land district was the Bexar Land District. It is important to be aware that the location where our ancestors resided may have been officially governed by El Paso County or Presidio County, before 1836 it would have been Bexar District. There are documents categorized under El Paso County, Presidio Land District for Lyles' real property which is located in present-day Reeves County.

Fort Davis 1867

There are court cases that state when G. B. Lyles first appeared in the West Texas area. A civil case to recover unpaid rent relates that Lyles owned property in Fort Davis. One witness was a stone mason named Concepcion Marrujo who attested that he had worked for three months on four rooms of a ten-room house when Lyles owned the property. Another Witness was John Clark who testified that when he was living in Fort Davis in 1867 and 1868, they called the residence in question: "the Lyles house". Lyles' assertions of possession and due notice given to tenant were upheld on appeal and the judgment of the district court for Murphy was reversed. [Lyles v. Murphy, 38 Texas 78; Supreme Court December, 1872, Portal to Texas History]

San Antonio 1867

In early 1867, Basilia and the children are found in San Antonio, Texas. Church records reveal that Juan Alejandro Lyles was baptized on 14 May 1867 in San Fernando Church at eight days old. On 18 May 1867, Basilia and Alfonso are also found as Baptism sponsors for Carolina Ingle, daughter of Roberto Ingle and Brigida Vasques, shortly after John was born. Basilia's extended family from Mesilla, New Mexico, Rafael Ruelas and his wife Blasa Barela also resided in San Antonio according to the 1870 U.S. Federal Census, along with their young children. Also, listed on census schedules in the Bexar area are the Ruelas' married daughters (Manuela and Anastacia) and their husbands (John Genison Ward and Charles Williams) who pursued various business ventures in the San Antonio downtown district. During and after the Civil War, there had been destructive floods that destroyed crops and eroded rich-producing farmland in the El Paso area preventing farmers to rely on successful harvests. In addition, the once famed Mesilla Valley agricultural region had become "malaria-infested" and barren. It is understandable that founding families like the Ruelas are found living away from their New Mexico homelands during the post Civil War period.

Fort Stockton 1868-1870

On 28 Oct 1868, a notice in Flake's Semi-Weekly Bulletin of Galveston confirms George Lyles as a designated post trader for the Fort Stockton region. In August 1868, the Lyles family moved to Fort Stockton. Once again, George B entered into a contract with the military to provide forage. During this time, George B left an agent in charge of the Fort Davis house since he had some of the rooms rented. In October 1868, Daniel Murphy traveled to Fort Stockton to strike a deal with Lyles to rent part of the house. By November 1868, Daniel Murphy's large family was living at the Fort Davis Lyles property. The 1870 US Census lists George and wife Basilia with 8 children as residents at Lylesville (originally the McKinley Bounty Land Warrant No. 8060, July 8th, 1850), a farming community west of Fort Stockton where present-day Leon Farms is located. Again the enumerator, who signed as 2nd Lieutenant Gustavus Valois of the 9th Cavalry, recorded Lyles' as being a United States citizen whose birthplace was "Va". There are two sons missing on the census schedule Alejandro and George Marcos who presumably died of prevalent diseases of the time.

On 19 April 1870, a local court ruling by Judge Moczygemba ordered George Lyles to remove a dam that was blocking downstream access. The County Sheriff was eventually obligated to demolish the structure on 30 April, whereupon Colonel Wade sent troops to rebuild the dam and reinstate irrigation. [The First Polish Americans: Silesian Settlements in Texas By T. Lindsay Baker, page 97]

Toyahvale 1870

Another court case, Kountz v Carpenter, page 110 dealing with rights to headspring water for irrigation verifies that George Lyles held acreage in Toyahvale during 1870. George held several tracts of land. The property in question--160 acres--had been owned by George B Lyles in 1870. His second son Robert, along with one of George's sons-in-law (Amanda's husband - Hemerigildo E Galindo), was cultivating the land by irrigation from Toyah Creek using the Lyles canal. By the early 1900's, the land had changed ownership, but the Lyles canal was still being used to irrigate land referenced in the civil court case. The Lyles Homestead was within Presidio county during George B Lyles Sr's entire lifetime. He died on the 25th of August 1878 in Mesilla, New Mexico where his two oldest daughters lived. The land became part of Reeves county in 1883 when Reeves county was established.

A news article in the Galveston Daily News on 21 Nov 1873 ran the topic 'Toya Creek shooting' lacking 'full particulars' of an affray. The court case tells of the incident which took place on 26 Oct 1873. Armed with loaded weapons, Jose Maria Gamboa accompanied by his brother Juan strolled onto Lyles' property and demanded Lyles' employees to stop working. As Lyles walked over to resolve the interruption, shots were fired and Gamboa fell.

Shortly later, Juan Gamboa the brother reported his version of the event to the El Paso County authorities, whereupon there was a warrant issued to bring G B Lyles in to be charged. The Sheriff traveled the two hundred miles to Toyahvale where he found Lyles, cooperative and compliant. He was brought back to the San Elizario jail and courthouse to await a trial.

James A Zabriskie skillfully represented Lyles, but Judge Simon Bolivar Newcomb repeatedly ruled against the defense. The criminal case charged Lyles plus William Brown and Antonio Nieto. The charges against Brown and Nieto were easily dismissed since they had carried no weapons. The jury deliberation ended by convicting Lyles of a felony. Lyles promptly submitted a strong, detailed appeal by his competent defense team. In the April Term 1874, the Texas Supreme Court adjudicated Lyles vs State of Texas: "Jury must understand English." The Higher Court held error that although discretionary power is vested with the presiding judge, in this case the court erred in overruling the defendant's exception to the nine jurors who did not speak or understand English. The case was remanded to the lower court. A new jury was seated with Jury Foreman Fred A Smith. The finding was a justifiable killing and Defendant George B Lyles was forthwith acquitted. The outcome has ever since been cited as a landmark ruling affecting the voir dire process of choosing jurors who are able to fully comprehend the court proceedings ensuring that language is not a hindrance in providing a fair and just trial. [Lyles v. State, 41 Texas, 172; Supreme Court 1st part of Tyler Term 1874, Portal to Texas History]

George Lyles appears in a law passed by the Texas Legislature, Chapter XIX, Section 2, naming him as commissioner to serve on the board to meet on the first Monday of September 1870. Presidio county had previously been delineated on 3 January 1850 out of Bexar County. With a population of 1,636 and 3,857 square miles in 1870, it did not become organized until 1875 naming Fort Davis as county seat.

Presidio County 1876

The Texas County Tax Rolls of Presidio County for 1876, Image 13 of 14, includes a handwritten affidavit, which authenticates that G. B.Lyles served as Tax Assessor for the County of Presidio, signed and dated by Lyles on the 4th of December 1876 and certified by G.T. Wilcox, Clerk of the District Court. His detailed Recapituation Report certifies taxed acreage of 17,292 with a value of $36,793 - which translates to $785,548.84 in current dollars. Due to today's market demand for good climate retirement spots, this Far West Texas acreage is at a premium as evidenced by the 2012 Annual Tax Report for Presidio County showing 17,952 parcels valued at $370,524,720. Presently, in Presidio County's seat of Marfa with a population of under 2000 people in the U.S. Census of 2010, a 2300 sq ft house on .31 acre is listed for $895,000. Lajitas in the Big Bend area within Presidio County attracts tourists all year long. The Trans-Pecos Region continues to develop its natural resources, just as in the Lyles' pioneer days.

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