CA349

Conversations with Alva Willingham "Jake" Avis
(C. Avis Catalog entry #349)

Frank M. Avis had son Lawrence C. Avis and daughter Zella Avis Williams (of Lampassus, Texas).  A son of Lawrence had to do with the Avis Rent-a-car business. [wrong -ca]

Jake let his insurance lapse at the end of 1924.  In January of 1925, he caught pneumonia and was unconscious ("didn't know nothin' ") for 32 days.  At one point, it was thought he wouldn't live through the night.

Jake owned "The Gift Shoppe" which was in the Kemp Hotel.  It went under in 1928 or 1929 due to the play out of oil in Wichita Falls.

Jake's father, James David Avis loaned Ed Howard some of the money needed to start the Wichita Daily Times.  He obtained and passed on to his heirs, shares in the newspaper.

Jake was one of the first carriers for the Wichita Daily Times when it became a daily paper.  He guided a horse (named Wheeler) with his knees as he threw the papers.

The James brothers were expected to come through Wichita Falls but noone saw them.  Evidence of cooking and horses was found in the  Knot Barn owned by Jake's grandmother Mrs. Mahalia Catherine (Webb) Avis White.  Neighborhood horses had been stolen and worn out horses left behind.  This was while the Avis family lived in a newer house (not near the barn).

Jake's grandmother Mrs. Mahala Catherine (Webb) Avis White died without a will in 1925.  She died saying "one more step, Lord, and I'll be there .. one more step, Lord ... one more step -."

C. C. White worked in David Avis' (Jake's grandfather) general store in Montague.  When Avis died, he married the widow Avis and moved to Wichita Falls, Tx.

Jake's grandmother Mrs. Mahalia Catherine (Webb) Avis White owned 3/4 of a block in Wichita Falls, Tx.  A bungalow was built on the corner of 9th and Burnet (original residence?).  It was later moved a few feet up Burnet in order to build a two story house on the corner.  Meyer's the bouth the lot after her son J. D. Avis died and moved the bungalow to build another two story house.

Original two story house built at 9th and Burnet (A).  This house given away when new house built at 9th and Bluff (B) for the family.  Later, house was moved from 9th and Burnet to (C) when new house built at 9th and Bluff.


  Bluff                      ||
=============================||  C
       B ||                  ||
         || 9th
         ||
 Burnet  ||
===========     Knot
       A ||     Barn
         ||
         ||
         ||


Brother Frank Piner Avis had daughter Camille Avis McCullough.
Brother James David Avis, Jr. had two sons:  Piner D. and J. D. III  and two daughters:  Helen Neely and Martha Jane
Sister Katerine Louise Avis Weeks had a daughter Katherine Avis Weeks Bridewell.
Sister Lillian Grace Avis Baum had no children.
Jake himself had one son (Jake Avis).
Brother Charles Robert Avis never married.
Sister Ozella Gretchen Avis McCuthchen had a son C. W. and a daughter Jeanne.
Sister Ruby Cornelia Avis Dunkelberg had a son Ralph, Jr.

Parent's nickname for Frank was "P.G.", for James was "Dave", for Katherine was "Bug", for Lillian was "Squirrel", for Alva was "Jake", for Charles was "Rabbit", for Ozella was "Jack" and for Ruby was "Pete".

Frank married Lena Metlock, 
James married Alide Neely, 
Katherine married W. F. Weeks, 
Lillian married Harry Baum, 
Jake himself married Gladys Broyles Roberson in Wichita Falls, Tx on 6-21-1921, 
Ozella married Wm. U. McCutchen and 
Ruby married Ralph C. Dunkelberg.

"I find no record of Isaac Bush (my mother's father) other than he lived in Parkersburg, West Virginia - lost everything during Civil War - then migrated to Texas - date not known."