Bureau, Allyre

Allyre Bureau
Musical Conductor

Allyre Bureau was native of Paris, France. He was born into a family of music and art lovers. He received an education in both music and art. During his residence in Paris, he became the musical conductor of the orchestra of the famous O'Deon in Paris, and was also a teacher of music. He was one of the signers of the charter of the European American Society of Colonizationwhen it was organized. Leaving France with his wife and daughter Alice, they sailed for New Orleans.

When the ship was being loaded prior to its departure, Bureau placed aboard a small French piano along with many of his cherished possessions. This piano afterward proved to be the first instrument of its kind to reach the small town of Dallas. During his residence in the colony, Bureau was made a Director in charge of the colony operations, following the resignation of Francois Cantagrel. He held this post until the beginning of the colony's dissolution.

He was an excellent musician and a composer of note. In later years one of his compositions was used in the public schools in Dallas. Despite his many official duties, he found time to assist in the cultural life of the colony. He was a member of the Choral Society which had been formed by Charles Cappy. He and his wife entertained lavishly in their home during the colony's existence, furnishing much of the music for the benefit and pleasure of the colonists.

He was a man of many accomplishments and was well liked by most of the members of La Reunion. His health however became impaired due to the strenuous duties imposed upon him by the affairs of the colony and this caused his resignation of his directorship in the latter part of 1857.

In that same year he decided to return to his native land for an extended visit. Accompanied by his wife and daughter Alice, he began the overland trip to Houston, Texas, but en route to that city he contracted yellow fever and died in a sanitarium (old term for hospital) about twenty miles north of Houston.