ALVA FITZPATRICK was born in Green County, Ga. on June 30, 1801. Died Sept. 8, 1859, in Victoria, TX. His father was William Fitzpatrick, an American Revolution soldier. His mother was Ann Phillips.
After the death of his parents, Alvah's older brothers moved the family from Georgia to Weturnpka, AL. There, Alvah grew to adulthood. He married his second wife, Catherine Moulton Vickers, Jan. 22, 1839. They had two children: Fanny Fitzpatrick (1839-1915) and Joseph Thomas Fitzpatrick (1841-1924).
Alvah brought his family to Texas in 1841. His plantation, "The Arinosa," was between the Garcitas, Navidad and Arinosa Rivers in Victoria County.
The family business was cotton. Alvah built a cotton gin on the plantation to bale his and his neighbor's cotton. The bales were floated down the Arinosa River by barge to Fort Lavaca Bay and sold.
Alvah's own words, in a letter to his nephew, Phillip Fitzpatrick in Alabama, best describes the man's philosophy of life, "If you desire one higher station in life, you must let your words always be truth; let your walk be always straight ahead, deviate for no man, then you will be a great man."
-Georganna Latham Stuart, (GGGD), 14826.
Source: Daughters Of The Republic Of Texas, Patriot Ancestor Album, Volume I, Turner Publishing Company, 1995; Pg. 95
