Abraham Allen (1827 - 1891)

Born 4 Sep 1827 in Ray County, Missouri, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 12 Jul 1891 at age 63 in Colorado, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mary Allen [send private message]

Biography

Major Abraham Allen served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 1862
Mustered out: Feb 12, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 6th Regiment, Missouri State Militia Cavalry, Co. F & S

Birth

Maj. Abraham Allen was born on 4 September 1827 in Ray County, Missouri, United States to Reuben Allen Jr. (1802-1853) and Rhoda Rowland (c. 1807-1884).

Marriages and Family

He married twice.

1. Martha Tucker (1837-1883) on 4 September 1859.
2. Nancy Fortune, (1843-1922) the widow of William Fletcher (1832-1883) when she married the widowed Abraham Allen on 16 May 1885 in Orrick, Ray, Missouri. ^[1]

Children of the Allen-Tucker Marriage

1. Ethan Allen was born and died on 22 November 1861 in Missouri, United States. ^[2]
2. Elizabeth Jane Allen, called Lizzie, was born on 13 December 1864 in Ray County, Missouri, United States. She married Thomas Gooch (1862-1939) on 7 March 1888 in Ray County, Missouri. Lizzie died on 20 October 1942 in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, United States.
3. Cecil Jesse Tucker Allen, called Jesse, was born on 27 August 1867 in Ray County, Missouri, United States. He married Ollie Frances Loyd (1878-1953) on 27 December 1896. Jesse died on 14 June 1923 in Orrick, Ray, Missouri, United States.
4. John William Allen was born on 29 June 1870 in Ray County, Missouri, United States. He married Leona Johnson (1875-1948) in 1896. John died on 8 April 1899 in Colorado, United States.
5. Catherine Scoville Allen, called Katie, was born on 9 November 1872 in Ray County, Missouri, United States. She married Fred W. King (1871-1927). Katie died on 26 March 1936 in Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas, United States.

Government Employment

In 1849, he decided to begin work as a teamster for the government wagon train that traveled to New Mexico. The route to Santa Fe took about 90 days. He did this for a little over 2 years. From there he was employed by Quartermaster Sibley at Fort Union, New Mexico; however as the Civil War was beginning, all citizen teamsters were discharged and after a short stint panning for gold in Placer, California, he enlisted in the United States Army to serve in the Civil War. He had organized a company of men who served in the home guard from October 1 until December 25 1861. In February of the following year, his company were mustered into the Missouri state Militia Service. They were headquartered at Richmond, Missouri. He participated in the Battle of Springfield, Missouri and was the commander of two companies. Later in 1864, he had to fight neighbors in his own area of Missouri as the state was so divided in sympathies for the North and South during the war. He had arrested a famous bushwhacker, Louis Vandevere who was a former member of an 1863 bushwhacker band and sent a letter to Union officials that the arrest stirred up southern wrath against him.^[3] This probably explains his temporary removal to Texas.

Military Service

He first enlisted in the United States Army in 1851 when he joined H Company, 2nd United States Dragoons, commanded by Lieutenant Johnson. He was assigned to the ninth department of New Mexico where he fought Indians. He was wounded there several times, but not seriously. While participating in the Battle of the Mines on the Gila River, he was shot through the chin and mouth and carried out the base of his ear. ^[4]This severely disabled Abraham as it took part of his tongue. He was under medical treatment for that wound until July 1856 when he returned home after an absence of seven years.

Residences after the Civil War

He lived in Texas for two years and then returned to Ray County, Missouri in August 1868. He was appointed by the County Court to the office of Deputy Constable.^[5]

Death and Burial

Abraham died on 12 July 1891 in Colorado, United States at the age of 63. He was buried in the, Aspen, Pitkin, Colorado. A headstone with military service is available. Find A Grave: Memorial #8657827

Sources

• 1830 United States Federal Census for Reuben Allen Junior in Ray County, Missouri. Tally Only with a household of 4 consisting of 1 male under 5; 1 male 20-29; 1 female under 5; 1 female 15-19.
• 1840 United States Federal Census in Fishing River, Ray, Missouri. Tally only for Reuben Allen with a total household of 8 consisting of 1 male under 5; 1 male 5-9; 1 male 10-14; 1 male 30-39; 1 female under 5; 1 female 5-9; 1 female 10-14; 1 female 20-29.
• 1850 United States Federal Census on 29 August in District 75, Ray, Missouri. Family 444. All children born in Missouri, United States.^[6]
• 1860 United States Census on 1 July in Camden, Ray, Missouri. Family 313. ^[7]
• 1870 United States Census on 21 June in Camden, Ray, Missouri. Family 180. ^[8]
• 1880 United States Census on 24 June in Fishing River, Clay, Missouri. Family 224. ^[9]
• Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Missouri. NARA microfilm publication M405A, rolls 1–200. Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s–1917, Record Group 94. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. Abraham Allen 36, enlisted in 1863. Military unit was 6th Missouri State Militia, Cavalry, A-Bo.
• Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registrations, 1863-1865. NM-65, entry 172, 620 volumes. NAI: 4213514. Records of the Provost Marshal General’s Bureau (Civil War), Record Group 110. National Archives at Washington D.C. Abraham Allen b. c. 1826 in Missouri, age on 1 July 1863 was 37. White, married, residence Camden, Ray, Missouri. There is also Abraham Allen, 20 on this list. They both give former military service under Col. Catherwood in the 6th M.S.M. The younger Abraham would be Abraham Lincoln Allen (b. 1844), son of Abraham Allen (b. 1794). They would be cousins as their fathers were brothers.
• Missouri Historical Company. History of Ray County, Mo. St. Louis: Missouri Historical Co., 1881. pp.644-645.
• Missouri Marriage Records for Abraham Allen and Nancy Fletcher in Orrick.
• Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans.
  • Says Abraham Allen MO SM Cavy.
• Union Provost Marshals File Relating to Individual Civilians. Abraham Allen, Capt. Co. B. By Provost Marshal at Richmond. It's an oath to support and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States. The document seems to be under his authority as he is not one of the signers. His name is typed at the bottom of the sworn statements on 12 April 18__?
• Nichols, Bruce. Guerrilla Warfare in Civil War Missouri. Volume III, January-August 1864. Unknown: McFarland, 2014. pp. 147-148.
• U.S. Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 for Abraham Allen. Widow is Nancy N. Allen. Service: B3, MO M Cav. Widow when she applied on 2 Feb 1892. Unable to read unit section completely, there's much more, but faded.

Footnotes

1. ↑ MO Mar Rec
2. ↑ The great American patriot for whom the baby was named died exactly one month later on 22 December 1861.
3. ↑ Nichols, B. pp. 147-148
4. ↑ Hist of Ray Co. p.644
5. ↑ Hist of Ray Co. p.645
6. ↑ 1850: Allen, Reuben 48, b. Tennessee, farmer, head; Rhoda 43, b. Virginia, wife; Mary J. 15, daughter; Abraham 22, laborer, son; James 13, son; Julia A. 9, daughter; Reuben 7, son; Jesse 4, daughter; Amanda 1, daughter.
7. ↑ 1860: Allen, A. 32, grocery keeper, head; Martha 22, wife.
8. ↑ 1870: Allen, Abraham 44, farmer, head; Martha 30, wife; Eliza 5, daughter; Jesse 2, son.
9. ↑ 1880: Allen, Abraham 52, farmer, head; Martha 42, wife; Elizabeth S. 15, daughter; Jesse T. 13, works on farm, son; John W. 9, son; Catherine S. 7, daughter.

Acknowledgements

1. Unsourced family tree handed down to Mary Allen.
2. Darlene Scott Kerr created bio and added sources on 13 April 2018.