Captain Samuel Avis (1805-1868)
Alton Businessman; Civil War Soldier
Captain Samuel Avis was born in Massachusetts [possibly Boston]
in about 1805. He moved to Alton in 1831, and married Elizabeth M.
Hages in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 10, 1844.
Samuel Avis and William Manning (of Boston, Massachusetts) arrived
in Alton in 1831. William Manning was Samuel’s brother-in-law, so
William was possibly married at this time to Samuel’s sister.
William Manning opened a dry goods store opposite the old city hall
on Broadway in Alton, and Samuel worked in the store at that time.
In 1837, William ended all partnership in the mercantile business,
but directed all debtors to pay Samuel Avis at Stone & Co. (probably
another dry goods store). In June 1837, Samuel announced that he
formed a partnership with Justin Shapley, under the name of Shapley
& Avis, in the general jobbing business (mercantile business). In
June 1853, it was reported in the Alton Daily Telegraph that Samuel
Avis opened a new general merchandise store on the south side of
Broadway, seemingly without a partner.
Elizabeth M. Hages Avis died May 9, 1853, leaving the following
children: Catherine “Kate” Avis McPike (1846-1934); and Charles B.
Avis. Another daughter, Mary Slater Avis, died in 1848.
“Kate” Avis, daughter of Samuel & Elizabeth, married the brother of
Alton Mayor Henry Guest McPike - William Cowper McPike - who died
February 3, 1911, in Kansas City, Missouri. William and Kate had
four daughters and two sons: Avis G. McPike; Mrs. (Bertha) W. T.
Bland; Mrs. (May) Robert McQueen; Misses Blanche and Geneveve
McPike; and Jess McPike.
Samuel Avis remarried to Sophia Hager Malcom, who was born in
Hagerston, Maryland in 1813, and had resided in Alton since 1852.
Sophia died in Alton on December 21, 1882. Surviving her were the
following children: Mr. S. H. Malcom (age 68 at the time of her
death); and two stepchildren: Mrs. William C. McPike and Mr. Charles
B. Avis.
Additional information on Captain Avis:
1837 served as Secretary of the Total Abstinence Society in Alton.
In 1837, both William Manning and Samuel Avis voted in favor of
incorporating the town of Alton.
1854 served as treasurer of the Board of Directors of the National
Guards.
In September 1864, Samuel was appointed Quartermaster at the Alton
post during the Civil War. In January 1865, it was reported that he
was to be replaced at the Alton post, and was to report for duty at
Hilton Head, South Carolina. At some point, Samuel earned the rank
of Captain.
In September 1852, Samuel was one of many businessmen who sent a
letter to Captain Benjamin Godfrey, inviting him to attend a
recognition dinner, in honor of Godfrey completing the Alton &
Sangamon Railroad.
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Captain Samuel Avis died at his residence in Godfrey (it is unknown
when he moved from Alton to Godfrey] on June 9, 1868, and is buried
in the Godfrey Cemetery. He was a member of the Free Masons.
Sources: Alton Telegraph, June 12, 1868; History of Madison County, 1882; Find A Grave