This information was found in the vertical files of the Genealogy Department of the Longview Public Library.

THE AVINGER CITIZEN
Special Historical Edition
Jun 18, 1954

Lewis A. Patillo, born January 26, 1817, came to Texas from Green County Missouri in about 1844. Shortly after arriving here he married Lucinda Kimble, daughter of the E.W. Kimbles, Hickory Hill's first family. While still considered a resident of Missouri, an early deed record shows where he purchased from J.B. Bingham the entire Jocog Spidell survey on which land a large portion of the present town of Avinger is now located. It is partly describes as follows; "being 588 acres......bounded on the south by the Harris Johnson survey, east by Thomas M. Kimble's land and on the west and north by vacant land: consideration $425.00". This instrument was witnesses by Henry M. Kimble.

On February 6, 1852, Lewis A. Pattillo became the second Hickory Hill Postmaster, succeeding his brother-in-law Thomas M. Kimble, who had taken over the office at the time of its organization May 17, 1848. Just prior to this time he had erected the large, beautiful home known for years afterward as the "Big White House". One room of this spacious home served for awhile as the first school in this area until a log building was built for that purpose. The first Hickory Hill post office was also located on the L.A. Pattillo place until Davis Hendricks became postmaster in 1867 and moved to the spot where the A.V. Simpson cattle guard is now.

L.A. Pattillo had made considerable progress by the time he was 44 years old. Besides the big colonial home, he was also owner of much land, a number of slaves, a tannery, and a brick yard. Eight children had been born into the home as follows: Dick, Tom, Will, Alley, Jim, Lene (Mrs. Henry Allen), Era, who later became Mrs. John Hedick and Lina Parliman.

On July 25, 1861, Lewis A. Pattillo was brutally murdered at his brick yard. Story has it that the lethal weapon was a large pine knot.

His widow and children subsequently moved from the "Big White House" which was later sold to Polk Cotton, a member of another early Hickory Hill family.

L.A. Pattillo believed to have had considerable money hidden away in the big house at the time of his death and for many years afterward buried treasure stories were circulated. In late years after the house had become abandoned and had begun to fall into disrepair, numerous treasure hunters ransacked it from basement to attic. Some brought along special treasure detecting instruments and bored innumerable holes in the wainscoting throughout the house. Others hollowed out the well on all sides and at various depths in hopes they would find it there. The place was referred to by many toward the last as "the haunted house."

The members of the family of J.Z Pattillo, known as "Zack", and who was to become the grandfather of the present Avinger Pattillos, was born May 21, 1845. He married Elizabeth Weatherall, daughter of the J.J. Weatheralls, an early family in the area. This family lived for awhile at Mimm's Bridge, where Zack operated a ferry, at Lassater and then moved back to Avinger when his son, the late Ottie W. Pattillo was 16 years old. In about 1899 he built the house on the hill now owned by Grady Glover and occupied at present by Pete McCain. Along about this time he took over the operation of the J.J. Weatherall store located where Jake Connor's garage is at present. J.Z. Pattillo & Company continued to do business in this same building until he died from a stroke on May 3, 1905.

O.W. Pattillo, second oldest child of J.Z. Pattillo, married Miss Renda Johnson June 7, 1904. Their first home was the house now occupied by Mrs. T.F. Steed. The present Pattillo home where Mrs. Renda now resides was built 1913. Other descendants of the original Pattillo ancestor, Lewis A. Pittillo, still living in Avinger are: Melvin Pattillo and children Glenda, Freda and Donald; Mrs. Kirk (Olive) King and children Dianne and Sidney Elliot; and Mrs. H.C. Knowles and children Janelle and James Wilburn of Atlanta, Texas.

NOTE: I ran across this page. Some of the information in the newspaper article is incorrect. "Lucinda" was Lucinda Boswell. Lewis Alexander Pattillo, Sr. and Lucinda Anne Boswell married in NC per marriage and census records. Five of their children were born in MO and six in TX. Thomas M. (Moody) Kimble is the brother in law of Lewis Alexander Pattillo, Sr. but through LA Pattillo's sister, Ann Elizabeth whom he married in NC. Thanks for further information. Lil Marlau (LA Pattillo, Sr. was my great great grandfather.)