From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, currently out of print.
Maximilien Reverchon (1810-1878), born near Lyon, France and educated at Cluny College, from an early age was interested in social reform. He came to Dallas in December, 1855 to help establish the La Reunion Colony 3 miles west of Dallas at Chalk Hill on the old trail to Fort Worth. There were 300 colonists and 2,080 acres of land. Three-room cabins and a community kitchen were built of limestone rock found nearby. Maximilien Reverchon had been in the wine-making business in France and thought such an industry might be successful in the Dallas area.
The grapevines, fruit trees and vegetables found 1855 and 1856 good years for growing crops. The pastures were lush and green; however, the summer of 1857 was a different story because of the continued drought. The colonists became discouraged; some moved to Dallas; and a number returned to France. Maximilien remained active in La Reunion for several years, but finally became discouraged and built a small stone house on land he purchased from the Colony, where he lived with his son Julien until his death in 1878.
Maximilien and his wife, Florine Pete, who because of illness never came to Dallas, had 5 children: Dr. Paul Reverchon and Elisi Reverchon, a botanist, remained near Lyon, France.
Three of the children came to Dallas: Louise Reverchon, who married Pierre Girard, had one child, Paul Girard, a wheat farmer near Krum, Texas. He had one daughter, Louise Girard, who married Virgil Archer.
Julien Reverchon (1837-1905) was a professor of botany at Baylor College of Medicine and one of the most distinguished naturalists of his time. His collection of more than 2,500 species and over 20,000 specimens was given to the Shaw Museum in St. Louis. Reverchon Park in Dallas is named for him. Julien and his wife, Marie Henry, had 2 sons who died from typhoid fever at an early age. All four are buried in La Reunion Cemetery in West Dallas. Their foster son, Dr. R. M. Freeman, was a prominent physician of Dallas.
Eugenie Reverchon (1840-1892) married George Caillet, Sr. (1825-1912). They bought 163 acres of land on Lovers Lane in North Dallas near Cochran Chapel Community, later selling 55 acres on the west side near the present Roper Street. They had four children.
Fleury Paul Caillet (1871-1939) was a carpenter and contractor in North Dallas. Many homes he built in Bluff View, Greenway Parks and University Park are still in use. He married Laura Riehn of Farmers Branch in 1899. Her family had come to lllinois from Germany in 1867 and then migrated to Texas in 1882. The Caillets built their home on Lovers Lane and lived there the remainder of their lives. Fleury · Paul continued his interest in hunting and fishing, which he had done as a young man to help support his family. Laura Caillet began growing irises in the 1920’s and eventually opened a commercial business, The Dallas Iris Gardens. They are buried in Keenan Cemetery, Farmers Branch. Five children were born: Louise Caillet (1901 – ) married Arthur F. Dieterich; Shirley Caillet (1903- ) married Clyde W. Welch; Otto Ren Caillet, M.D. (1904-1980) married Elizabeth Perry; Margaret Caillet (1915- ) married Hal R. Swann, Jr.; Marta Marie Caillet (1915- ).
Eliza Caillet (1875-1953) married Larry Elsby (1871-1922), who was also from an early pioneer family of Dallas. There were five children: Mae Elsby (1895-1975) married Will Eldredge; Rosa Elsby (1897- ) married Ewell Buckner; Rena Elsby (1901-1959) married Barney McDuff; Willie Elsby (1903- ) married John Formby; Joe Elsby (1906-1960). The Larry Elsby family left Dallas in 1908 by covered wagons and became pioneers on the Cap Rock near Crosbyton, Texas.
George Caillet, Jr. (1877-1949) married Hattie Ritchey. They had three children, Irving, Myrl and Vinnie, all deceased. He later married Mikie Odum. Three of their children live in the Dallas area: Eva Caillet (1914 – ) married Ray Altman; Robert Caillet (1924- ) married Joyce Owens; Raymond Caillet (1926 – ) married Mary Stone.
Eugenie “Kitty” Caillet (1883- ) married Ches Sanderson and moved to Lauwrence County, Alabama. They had three daughters, whereabouts unknown.
By Louise Caillet Dieterich, Dallas and Marie Caillet, Frisco
