Florence Duval West

Florence Duval West (September 1, 1840 – November 22, 1881) was a 19th-century American poet. Her published works include The Land of the Lotus Eaters, and The Marble Lily and Other Poems. As a letter writer, she had few, if any equals. Early life and education Florence Randolph Duval was born in Tallahassee, Florida, September 1, 1840. Her paternal grandfather was Gov. William Pope Duval of Florida Territory. She was a daughter of Judge Thomas Howard DuVal, who successfully practiced his profession of the law until 1857, when he was appointed United States District Judge, filling the office till his death. Two brothers of Judge Duval were also conspicuous in Texas history, Burr Harrison Duval and John Crittenden Duval. Both were in James Fannin's army during the Goliad massacre an event of the Texas Revolution that occurred in 1836. In 1845, the family removed to Austin, Texas. Gen. Mirabeau B. Lamar, in one of his published "verse memories," wrote fondly about Florence when she was a child. She began singing at the age of thirteen or fourteen for her friends and for the benefit of various charities, her interpretation of old Scotch ballads being unusually happy.