LEFAVOR, Willis

Willis Lefavor in Portland, Maine, 1899

LEFAVOR, Willis Mitchell (1878-1973)[SS#551-07-3821], born in Maine April 5, 1878, he completed the 8th grade. By the 1910 census (age 32) he had became a merchant, newspaper editor, printer, realtor and successful businessman at Avalon, Santa Catalina Island. He was also a member of the Santa Catalina Island Twenty-Five Year Club.

According to his World War I Draft Registration card, he was 5 ft. 7-¾ inches tall with brown hair and gray-green eyes.

Mr. Lefavor, businessman turned newspaper editor, was one of the major players in Avalon’s economic status. Any acts of the “Island Company” to restrict trade was not taken well by him and was clearly shown through his newspaper. His “Wireless” newspaper came out—the world’s first newspaper where its news was provided primarily over the new “wireless” device. It was first published on March 25, 1903 and after a number of temporary starts and stops, became a “regular weekly newspaper” in 1905. The “wireless station” was on the flat area, just down from the “Zane Grey,” overlooking the “Casino,” and published at the “Pitman-Dennis Bldg.,” on the corner where “Leo’s Drug Store” now presides. It was conveniently near Mr. Lefavor’s other business interests. Lefavor also had a “Department Store,” a “Novelty Shop,” a “Confectionery Shop,” and even a “Real Estate” office.

After the Company's embarrassment of losing to the “Freeholders” their Pier and “closed harbor” status, the “Island Company” certainly didn’t need Avalon’s only newspaper to constantly print opposing views. They asked Ernest Windle, an Englishman, to come to Avalon and start a paper to reflect the news more from the “Island Company’s” perspective and hopefully run the “Wireless” out of business.

Willis M. Lefavor (at age 23) = [c. 1901] Anna M. Lefavor (born in Germany; immigrated in 1884; murdered July 30, 1947)

The couple had no children.

• The couple was living in Avalon in 1910 (census) on Metropole Avenue in the Hotel Hermansen.
• The couple was still living in Avalon in 1920 (census) on Sumner Avenue.
• The couple was still living in Avalon in 1930 (census) in a house they owned on Metropole Ave.
• In the 1940 census, Anna Lefavor is listed as an Avalon resident. Willis Lefavor is listed as a printer (married) living in San Bernardino, CA.
• In 1942 Willis Lefavor's WWII draft registration card lists his resident as Arrowhead Springs, California.
• Anna Lefavor was murdered in their curio store in San Bernardino on July 30, 1947.

Willis M. Lefavor died at age 94 in January 1973. He is buried in Fred Hunter's Hollywood Memorial Garden, Hollywood, Florida.

In the News~

March 17, 1926 [TIAvalon]: “W. M. LaFavor is fixing up his hillside cottage between Metropole and Sumner avenues, which he and Mrs. LaFavor will occupy as a home place.”

June 15, 1927 [TI/Avalon]: “Baby Show! Costume Ball! Prize Dance! Sugar Loaf Casino Auspices Catalina Boosters. Benefit Catalina Cubs Baseball Club. On Thursday, June 23rd, will be held the first Baby Show Catalina has ever had. Catalina has been telling the world for years what awonderful place it was for babies, and now the Catalina Boosters are out to prove it, by giving the Mothers a chance to sow off their babies, and now the Catalina Boosters are out to prove it, by giving mothers a chance to show off their babies and help prove to the world we have perfect youngsters, bith boys and girls. The baby show will be from 6 to 8 p.m....Mrs. Lefavor requests that all babies be entered as soon as possible, so that they may be classed as to ages, both in the boys and girls classes. She can be reached all day at the Lefavor's store, between the hours f eleven to two, which will be her headquarters for the mothers' convenience.”

August 7, 1947 [TI/Avalon]: “Mrs. Anna M. Lefavor brutally murdered in store in San Bernardino. Many Avalonites were deeply shocked and grieved to learn of the brutal murder of Mrs. Anna Lefavor, aged 67, at her curio store in San Bernardino, Wednesday, July 30. According to the San Bernardino police department, persons yet unknown, apparently entered the store for the purpose of burglary, and because she resisted the thieves, the elderly woman was brutally bludgeoned. Dr. C. S. Small, county autopsy surgeon, state that Mrs. Lefavor had been dead about two hours before the body was discovered. The autopsy revealed that she had 17 gashes on the head, a broken nose, eight broken ribs and severe bruises on both arms. Mrs. Lefavor is survived by her husband Willis M. Lefavor, who, at the time of the incident was employed as a printer at the Arrowhead Springs Hotel. According to Chief of Police Dan Murdock, Mrs. Lefavor had been severely beaten with a bunt instrument, her death being attributed to brain concussion. The sash register in the store had been emptied and it was estimated $67.00 had been taken. Mr. Lefavor spent last Thursday with the San Bernardino police department going over every detail with the hope of finding some clue that would lead to the apprehension of those who had committed the crime. Police reports indicate that during the past few weeks Mrs. Lefavor had reported small thefts of merchandise from the store stock, the work of boys who visited the store at 381 F. t., San Bernardino. In a telephone conversation Tuesday, Chief of Police Murdock stated that the department had two suspects under surveillance, persons known to have been in the store during the day of the tragedy. At the inquest held Aug. 4, the jury brought in a verdict that Mrs. Lefavor had been murdered on July 30 by parties unknown. Until a complete investigation has been made the police stated that the body will remain at the Kremer mortuary, San Bernardino. Funeral arrangements will be announced later. For more than thirty years during the time of her residence in Avalon, Mrs. Lefavor was an active social worker and member of the St. Catherine Church. In addition to the San Bernardino store, Mrs. Lefavor also had a home at 211 Clarissa avenue [Avalon].”