Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1879-04-02
Bob Aston, who were the later Ais.
tons immediate ancestors.

Bob Aston, who we're the later Ais
tons immediate ancestors.
Old Col. Aston, who was himself
killed in a duel, had three SONS
Willis, Gideon and Augustus Will
lis Aston was the father Of Col. X.
A. Aston. Each of these brothers
came to his death by violence, or
died, as the family tradition runs.
"in his boots Gideon Aston, the
| first of the three to die, WAS killed
in a peculiar manner. His brother
Willis was in Nashville Oh a lordly
frolc, when he became very much
enamorcd OF the lady who after
wards married Sam lIouston-a
Miss Trimble, l believe. He paid
her assiduous suit for several
months, and, while engaged in this
dalliance, formed an attachment
for a young Spanish boy named
Pelat. This boy was friendlcss and
poor. and Aston adopted him, TAX
ing him home with him when he left
Nashville. 1t appears that there was
some feeling between Pelat and
Gideon Alston; at any rate they
left the house at night and went
into the yard for the purpose Of
"pIacticing with their pistols Gid
con was then college boy. having
Just turned sophomore in the State
, University. In few moments az
ter he left the house with Pallet he
was found in the yard with a pistol
buffet through his brain. Pallet
said that he had shot himself acct
dentally, and this is all that was
ever known Of the matter.
And now comes one of the most
remarkable tragedies in the history
of this section 40 full Of tragedies.
}! There was living in Florida, then
y primitive region, yOung~1eigh
= Reed, q man of great ability, gen
tleness aud courage. He WAS al
most idolized by the people OF the
State for his gallant services in the
e Indian wars, having by LIS SIKH
n and frarlessness several times saved
- the little colony from destruction
IL bv the Seminoles and their allies
re a story is told of him that will il
3. lustrate his character, aud NJ the
V same time show how delicate was
is the sense of personal honor at that
of time. Gen. Reed was politica
e. opponent of Gov. Calls son aud a
1T the same time his personal friend
oil Political feeling ran very high, ant
III on election day Mr.. White made
lr. some reflections upon the integrit,
of Gov. Call. Reed at once cha
of lenCed him for a duel. The me-
&c met, were both desperately WOUNDED
nd and behaved with great galIantry
e. fighting, | believe, with bowie
Al. knives. their left hands benz
tn strapped together. Some time after
he ward Reed became involved in
ls. difficulty with the Alstous. CIV
,r, the story as it was given me b
nv Col. X. \. Aston himself. lie SAL
lie that an article appeared in news
M, paper rejecting on Gov. Call. Co
Id Augustus Aston, who was the leat
,st er of the Call faction, demande
ne, the name of the author He wa
On furnished with the name OF Gei
IN. Reed, who was the leader Of tn
ng opposite faction. He at once cha
ed lenged Gen. Reed, and a meetin
a was arranged. The weapons se'ec
as ed were "yagers," this deadly we
an pom being, as ! have said, . favo
Ms. tic with the Alstons. Col. Alsto
his was attended by Mr.. kenon, h
,ck brotherin.law. At the word "On'
,ol. Col. Alston's gun exploded, 1t OelI
a hair triggered. The contents We
ha. discharged into the air. Gen. kee
IAN aiming with deliberatiOn, fired, al
inc Col. Aston dropped dead in b
NO, tracks. His sister, a most splrit'
his woman, was nearly crazy at q
FOR. news of his death. She secured q
am. lead that had killed him, and wi
ms. her own hands she nodded 1t in
n. bullets aud sent them to her bro'
,ole er. Willis Aston (the father OF X.
nor. Alston), and implored him to cor
rom and avenge the death Of his bro'
r i'm or. She wrote that he had be
,un. murdered, and the Alstons adher
vel to this belief, although the gene
d a statement is that the meeting wa
men fair one, Gen. Reed using only
OK. Just right in firing after the exl
,ove sion of Alston's wager AT a
nigh rate it was very well nndersto
Ais. that Willis Aston would seek
,iect venge for his brothers death, AS
her family generations had made one
her all their quarrels. The first me
se of ing between Aston ana heed
her." dramatic. Inc Legislature
nee. lust met, and Reed had been cleo
ight, Speaker. be was = young MAJ
tand exceptional power and popular