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The Avila's (Abila, Davila, de Avila) "New Spain" Settlers
Updated March 30, 2008
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Welcome to the Avila web site. I'd like to begin by dedicating all research on this project to my late father Benjamin (Benjie) Avila. Benjie retired from the federal government, specifically, the Pueblo Ordinance Depot with 34 years service, and proudly served his country in the Korean War aboard the Destroyer USS Valley Forge. He married Dorothy Trujillo (Vialpando) on July 4th, 1953 and had six children. They are Marjorie, Benjamin, Diana, Geraldine, Sharon and Cheryl.
Benjie's father was Jacob Abila. Jacob married Mary Martinez on April 16, 1929 and they had two children (Dora and Benjie). Jacob was killed in an auto-train accident in Boone, Colorado about noon on September 20th, 1960. He and the pickup he was driving were struck by a southbound Missouri Pacific freight train. Jacob had two brothers, George and Eloy, and a half brother, Paul (Porfiro) Abila, all of Colorado. Jacob's father was Juan Santos Avila.
I'd like to thank Sergio Abila (Porfiro's son) and his wife Dora for forwarding a letter that has been in their family for many years. It was written by Shirley Johnson the wife of Joe 'Ben' Abila (also Porfiro's son). The following paragraphs are transcriptions of her letter regarding the life of Juan Santos Avila.
Juan Santos Avila was born near Redwing, Colorado on March 15, 1869. He was a member of the Famed Pony Express, afterwhich he became a Law Officer. He was also a recipient of a Land Patent via the original Homestead Act of 1862, certified by President William Howard Taft. Juan Santos father was Lorenzo Avila, born in Taos on August 24th, 1816, and one of the first Pioneers to settle Colorado. The Avila's, proudly, have been in Colorado 150 years, and in this country since the documented birth (1723-Sante Fe) of Juan Antonio de Avila, my g5 grandfather.
Lorenzo died when Juan Santos was only ten years of age. Subsequently, Juan Santos was raised (not adopted) by a Captain Charles Deus. Deus served in the U.S. Army and rode with the renowned Kit Carson. In his adulthood he (Juan Santos) married twice. His first bride was Maria Antonia Sanchez. They married on January 16th, 1890 and engaged in homesteading, farming, and raising livestock. Their children were Tomas, Lugardo, Porfiro, Eufemia, Rafelita and Carmelita. His wife Antonia passed away in May of 1907, just after the birth of their daughter Rafilita in 1904. A widower, he married De La Cruz Rodriquez on January 9th, 1908. This union produced three sons, Eloy, Jake, and George.
Juan Santos was widely known and favorably respected. He served as both Secretary and President on the Board of School Directors in District #5. His political allegiance was given to the Democratic Party where he frequently performed public speeches supporting his party and their rallies. He and his family were members of the Catholic Church. Juan Santos was never sick, and he worked everyday until the time of his death. He died on May 21, 1956 of natural causes at the ripe old age of 87 years.
According to family elders, our spanish ancestors settled in "New Spain". Many of the Avila's who emigrated from Spain, were Conquistadors and served with Cortes in the conquest of Mexico from 1519 to 1521. Records indicate there were 433 different surnames of these early settlers ('Avila' being one of them) who made their way north into Northeastern Mexico or 'New Spain' prior to 1724. The 1st record of public mention in the "New World" for the surname Avila was in 1628. The meaning of the surname 'AVILA' (Spanish) is "To watch, be vigilant" or "capable, intelligent" and originates from Castile a province of Spain.
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Family Trees
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- Ancestors and Descendents Of Juan Santos Avila (23 KB)
This Tree lists the Descendents and Ancestors of JUAN SANTOS AVILA. The Avila's were one of the very first Settlers to Colorado, namely the Pass Creek area of Huerfano County. AFTER CORONADO, Antonio de Aviles was mentioned as being in New Mexico 13 July, 1719 and Ignacio de Aviles was killed in battle 13 August, 1720. MISSIONS and PUEBLOS OF THE OLD SOUTHWEST - Alonzo Gil de Avila (a priest) in charge of San Pascual Mission at Hawikah, was killed by indians on Jan 23, 1675. Fray Pedro de Avila was stationed at La Cocepcion Mission of Hawikah and also killed by indians (Apache) on August 7, 1670. SURNAMES included in this family tree are Avila, Abila, Martin, Pacheco, Duran, Naranjo, Sanchez, Rodriquez, Johnson, Santisteven, Aragon, Brown, Applegate, Rael, Trani, Roybal, Lopez, Cruz, Garcia, Baca, Ochoa, Romero, Morgan, Pitney, Mandiola, Gallegos, Ciarlo, Kelly, Spaulding, Lauck, Medina, Hiphsman, Trujillo to list just a small few spanning over 250 years.
- Pedro Avila Family Tree (22 KB)
- Pedro Avila Family Tree (20 KB)
Descendents of Pedro Avila
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