I will preface this with a little information on the original author. Her name was Willie Allen. She was the daughter of Sam J.
Allen and Hassie Eugene Harris who will be discussed extensively in a latter part of the work. Her father and my
great-grandmother were siblings. Sam was the second of eight children and Teula, my great-grandmother, was third. This work
has given me a lot of insight into the life and times of that era, not to mention wonderful genealogical data. It speaks mainly of
the time around the turn of the 20th century. Some information dates earlier than that and there are some mentions of the Civil
War, the Texas Oil Boom, the Texas Dust Bowl period, and the Great Depression. It talks of family trips, family illnesses, fun
family times, and the first family car. It speaks of the hardships of life on a farm and the togetherness of a community. I am
trying to leave her work as it was, but occasionally I will make a note in [brackets]. I hope it helps some of you, too. It is quite
lengthy. It is almost 40 pages typed, double spaced on the copy I have. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Kristie Robinson
PROLOGUE When my sister, Tommie, suggested that I record my memories of our early lives, I was reluctant to do so. It
would bring me both gladness and sadness. Once I had begun, however, I couldn't stop. We were a family like many other
families of the early twentieth century, but we were not exactly like any others I have known. Of course, that is to be expected.
Probably I have omitted important events, but I have tried to think of those which affected us all. It has not been possible,
however, for me to avoid all personal feelings or thoughts. I must begin with our grandparents, for I know only hearsay of our
earlier ancestors and very little of that. The United States reported some years ago that there were over a 1,000,000 Allens in
this country and that they are all descendents of one man -- an illegitimate son of a royal prince of England who lived some 300
or 400 years ago. If so, that isn't much to make us proud. Certainly we are of Anglo Saxon descent, for Allens, Allans, Alans,
Allyans or any other spelling all mean "good-looking". Its doubtful whether this should be a matter of pride either. However, I
do take great pride in our little twig of that large tree, and I include my cousins -- the Houstons and the Lindsays. So far as I
have been able to determine there has been no criminal, no bad man or loose woman, not even one drunkard or shiftless fellow
in our branches for four generations. I believe this is noteworthy, and I am very proud to record the fact. OUR PATERNAL
GRANDPARENTS Our grandfather, JOHN CHAPMAN ALLEN, must have been a striking figure in any crowd. He was
about 6'4" tall and weighed 325 to 350 pounds. Tales of his strength are numerous, such as that in his prime he could lift a
loaded wagon. He had dark brown eyes set in a rather stern countenance. As a child I felt awe before him. He was born
February 28, 1838, in the vicinity of Paris, Tennessee. At the age of 18, Chap, as he was called, set out on horseback for
Texas. His family did not know his whereabouts for years, and so far as I know he never returned to his native state. What he
did in the period before the Civil War broke out I have no idea. He must have conducted himself well, for Grandmother once
said to me, "I wouldn't have accepted his proposal had he not been a man whom people respected". In 1865 at the close of
that conflict he married another native of Tennessee, LUCRETIA ANN HIGGINBOTHAM CATON. I have often wondered
whether the two families were acquainted in their home state. Born April 12, 1844, Lucretia Ann Caton, at the age of six
months, was brought by her parents to a new home in Red River County, Texas. She was the oldest of several children -- three
sisters and one or two brothers. Her sister, Margie visited us when I was very young. Later a niece and family from Clarksville
came to see us -- the niece a daughter of a sister. Still a third sister married an Allen[Cynthia Antonia Caton & William Sutton
Allen], a cousin of Grandfather Allen. Greatgrandfather Caton had a plantation in the vicinity of Detroit [Texas] and owned
many slaves, reportedly 1,000. In Clarksville there was established a select school for girls, famous in the history of education
in Texas. Lucretia's father put her behind his saddle and took her to this school. At the age of ten, she was the youngest girl
there and learned many things, both good and bad, from her schoolmates. It was considered necessary to dip snuff so she
joined in that. Sometimes she would talk of the cirriculum, which included learning to read and write and to play the organ a
little. The most important subject was "How to Entertain a Gentleman," which included how to stand or sit, as well as how to
walk. However, I am certain she learned more -- ettiquette and good behavior. She was a lady and dressed, spoke, and lived
as a lady throughout her long life. After their marriage the Allens lived for a time in Red River County, where their eldest son,
Edgar, was born. In Titus County, where they resided a short while, Sam was born. The next stop on the way west was in
Hunt County, near Wolfe City. The family increased with the birth of two daughters, Tuela and Mercia (later called Mercy),
and three sons Oscar, Tom, and Earl. A son named John died very young and was buried there. In 1921 the Sam Allen family
visited the deserted old house and the grave of little John. In 1889 the family again moved westward and settled in the very
small town of Breckenridge, County seat of Stephens County, Texas. In this area they spent the remainder of their lives and
today lie buried in Breckenridge Cemetery. Chap died in 1919 and Lucretia in 1926. In Breckenridge Chap was for a time a
ginner, operating a machine where cotton was cleaned and baled ready for shipment to the world. About 1891 he purchased
400 acres of land some seven miles northeast of the town. Sam, Oscar and Tom worked with their father in fencing, tilling, and
building a house and barn. In 1981 the old barn still stands used by Troy Allen, son of Tom, whose children own the land
today. The field still is very productive. All the grandchildren have an interest in the mineral rights of this land. When they grew
older, the Allens moved into town and rented the land. Eventually Tom rented it and after his parents' deaths, he bought the
surface. It has been an Allen possession for at least 90 years. Here I was six years old and begging to go to school. My grand-
parents let me stay with them. The school was near their home so it was convenient for all of us. I learned to love both of them
very much and believed whatever they said or did was right. I'd like to describe our life vividly, but words fail me. Grandfather
had a large horse called Smoky from his color. I didn't like Smoky because he had a wicked gleam in his eye when he saw me,
as if he were thinking, "Now, who's this little white-headed girl?" The three of we often went in the buggy to visit friends in the
country, I sat in the foot of the buggy and Old Smoky behaved nicely. On the back of the lot Grandfather had a garden and
took great joy in his fine potatoes. I could watch but not help. In the morning he usually walked the tree blocks to the
courthouse and stores but was home for lunch. He like to tease Grandmother. Things something similar to the following
happened often. "Mr. Allen, what is the news today?" asked Grandmother. "No news," he said. "How can you spend the
morning in town and learn nothing?" was the retort. His eyes twinkling, he replied, "Nothing much going on. So and so does
have a new baby." "And you call that nothing do you?" she asked sharply. At first I thought they were angry, but this was
amusing when I realized they enjoyed such little tiffs. Grandfather was a Mason and when he carried the Bible at Masonic
Funerals, I thought him a grand looking man. Grandfather believed that whiskey was a good medicine and kept a bottle in the
right front corner of his large trunk. He never drank himself, but the whiskey was for any child who sniffled, looked flushed, or
exhibited any symptoms of a cold coming on. When we entered his room, he looked us over and if he detected bad signs, he
got out that bottle, went into the kitchen, and prepared hot toddy. We waited anxiously, hoping there would be toddy for all
and there usually was. He kept a watchful eye on us all as we "sipped". To this day I don't know which we enjoyed more -- the
toddy or Grandfather's attention, but together they were supreme joy! Grandmother was not very tall but grew heavy in her
later years. Her eyesight dimmed so that she could do only one kind of handwork-tatting. She spent many hours sitting in her
rocker by the window, her small beautifully-shaped hands throwing the shuttle back and forth through the threads and creating
all kinds of circles and laces. Of course, her dress was amusing to us -- never less than three petticoats under a black skirt, all
so long only the toes of her shoes could be seen and all sweeping the ground behind her. Actually, she was very graceful in
walking. On dressy occasions she wore a black velvet ribbon fastened by a broach. On her left shoulder her watch was
penned. A perky little hat on her head completed the costume. Grandmother liked to call on her neighbors, nearly all younger
than she. This was a formal matter, and she dressed as I have just described. I put on my very best dress and away we went -
maybe east or south or any direction. As we walked she instructed me, "Sit up straight and speak only when spoken to." In one
afternoon we made three or four calls of about fifteen minutes each. Thus I came to know all the ladies about us, and I enjoyed
these visits. Grandmother never learned to cook well, but that didn't concern her much. On Saturday mornings she would say
to me, "We must bake a cake. Perhaps some of the boys will come today." Now I knew very well that Uncle Edgar, who was
an accountant and had part of Saturday free, would come and naturally so did she. Her cakes had eight or ten thin layers
covered with a runny caramel and really were not good, even though she worked on them carefully. The cake was placed in a
certain place in the kitchen safe. When Uncle Edgar came, he visited a while with them and then asked, "Ma, do you have any
cake?" "Yes," came the proud answer, "there's one in the safe." When he had cut a large piece, Uncle Edgar ate, telling her
how good it was. Both Aunt Ellen, his wife, and my mother could bake fine cakes, so how could he say that? Each son as he
came by went through the same ritual, Grandmother smiling and pleased. I asked my mother why Pappy would tell such a fib
and she replied, "He loves his mother and wants to please her. Your Grandmother is a smart woman, dear, and knows how to
make her sons love her." I didn't understand that but years later I know my mother was quite smart too. She had thoughts far
beyond housekeeping and cooking. Grandmother discussed politics with the men, was against our entry into WWI but strongly
advocated woman suffrage. I adopted her view on the second topic and rejoiced when that priviledge was granted and made
sure to vote the very first time I was eligible. Grandmother liked to write reports for the local paper and even by present
standards she did it well. Although this section of my memiors is lengthy there is another aspect I must include. I was a
Methodist from my Mother's teaching. My grandparents belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. But never did they
do or say anything against my church, The Methodist Church, on the next block. Sunday morning Grandmother saw that I was
properly dressed and off I went to Sunday School. Aunt Ellen, Uncle Edgar's wife, was organist at our Church so Cousin
Nellie and I sat together. Often I would hurry home where Grandmother dressed as I have described, awaited me and we went
two blocks east to the Presbyterian Church. I enjoyed going with her. For years I didn't know the name of the church or the
building made any difference to anyone. You went to church and that was good. When I was staying there, my two Uncles,
Oscar and Tom, were grown but unmarried men, and it was still their home. Two brothers more different in looks and in
character it would be difficult to find. Uncle Oscar was short and fleshy, had thin black hair, was quiet and could walk very
softly; he stayed at home and was very helpful to his parents. Uncle Tom [line drops off page] matching complexion, blustery
and noisy, talkative, often made trips of weeks into the outside world. Uncle Oscar seemed to ignore me, but Uncle Tom
teased my cousin Nellie and me all the time. We would cry, but I was stubborn and resisted his efforts to frighten me. Uncle
Tom, during these years went to Tennessee and saw his cousins. One year he came home with a Victrola-big horn, crank, rolls
of records. Everyone from the youngest to the oldest was enchanted. I can in imagination still hear some of those songs such as
"Whispering Hope" or "Jerusalem! Jerusalem!" Uncle Edgar later bought that machine, and I don't remember what became of
it. Everyone agreed it was like Tom to do surprising things, as they said again, some years later when he was among the first to
buy a car. Grandfather and Grandmother never showed their feeling very much, but I thought Grandmother admired her tall,
red headed son's doings. However, they depended upon Uncle Oscar for help -- cutting the wood, cooking breakfast every
day, washing the laundry! Yes, some mornings Grandmother would say, "Oscar, we'd better wash today." No word in reply,
but as soon as he finished her breakfast, he went out to fill the washpot and build a fire, placed the tubs on boxes and filled
them ready for the clothes which she had sorted. He actually did the work, but Grandmother pottered around, supervising it
seemed. Sometimes she would allow me to stir the pot. She usually put the nicer things on the line to dry. When he had finished
and put things in place, still silent, Uncle Oscar went off to work. Uncle Tom was a very energetic person, but a little the
younger so it seemed Uncle Oscar assumed the tasks. He remained with his mother after their father's death, married and
brought his wife home and stayed until the house burned. Also one of my cousins, six years older than I, Carl Houston, son of
Aunt Mercy, spent one school term with us. He was in high school, small for his age, very good looking, and a friendly person
who made many friends about his age. I admired him from afar. He had no sisters then but two brothers so I suppose he
considered me below [bottom line drops off again] his ability to gather others to him. Those were good years. I loved school
and my teachers and liked to be there. On the other hand I also wanted to be at home. I must have been spoiled, for when I
grew too homesick, Pappy came for me. OUR PARENTS Our father, Sam J. Allen, the second son of the J. C. Allens, was
born in Titus County, Texas on October 13, 1871. During his childhood, he was sickly, but he outgrew all those illnesses and
as a man was exceptionally healthy. He attended school in Hunt County and must have had good teachers, using the familiar
McGuffey Readers and the Blue-Backed Speller. He read well and wrote a very nice hand. He was a "whiz" at figures. His
native intelligence added to those accomplishments made him an educated person. Sam grew to a height of 6'1 or 2" inches,
always thin, but with strong, straight carriage. His shiny coal black hair with his startling clear blue eyes denoted a bit of Welch
or Irish Blood. I have always been happy to have inherited his blue eyes. He was not handsome but had a pleasing countenance
for he looked upon other as friends. I suppose he never disliked anyone, or if he did, he tried to find something good in that
person. He was calm, wise and strong -- the one on whom all his family leaned for advise or even financial aid. After his
marriage Mama's family also recognized his strength and often sought his counsel. In fact, together our parents were the center
of their families. Pappy, as he wished us children to call him, was a natural leader - - not that he sought places but his fairness
and good judgment was needed. He at one time, though not even a Methodist, was superintendent of the Pecan Sunday
School. At Ivan he was a school trustee again and again. During the war he led the Liberty Bond drives. When tasks involved
the land and something had to be done, he gave the land to build a dipping vat for the cattle and headed the entire operation.
Usually at election time he supervised. In fact, whatever was done for the benefit of the community was interesting to him.
Pappy was also a good farmer, studying his land, following practices such as crop rotation that those around did not know. He
always subscribed to the Semi-Weekly Farm News of Dallas and studied it carefully. I don't remember his ever having a
complete crop failure. Drought or rain, cold or hot, there was cotton, corn, wheat, maize or something that did well. He was
thrifty so his stock was carefully tended and his tools such as plows put under cover when not in use. He could perform all the
many tasks needed on a farm, but if one required assistance, Uncle Tom would be available. That reminds me that of all his
brothers, he and Tom were closest. They were opposites in character but very close anyway. Impetuous, rash Uncle Tom
could be calmed and brought to reason by Sam's steadiness. It seems that Sam especially loved his sister Mercia, and when
she married, he thought it was a bad choice. Upset, he left home and went westward to Matador or thereabouts where he
worked on the famous Pitchfork Ranch. After two years, he returned to Stephens County and purchased a 320 acre tract of
land five miles northeast of his parents' home. The purchase was in 1901 (April 9), consideration: ($1,440.00) Fourteen
Hundred Forty Dollars of which sum ($240.000) Two Hundred and Forty Dollars is cash in hand paid by the said S. J. Allen
of the County of Stephens and State of Texas, and ($1,200.00) unpaid and to be paid and for which sum notes (six) of
($200.00) due and payable in 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 months from date and same bearing ten per centum interest per
annum. During the years of fencing, tilling and building barns, houses, etc. he lived in a dugout. Both Oscar and Tom helped him
get things in order. Before his marriage, Pappy erected a one-room house with shed room and small porch attached, to which
he planned to bring his bride. It was on February 12, 1904, that he and Hassie Eugene Harris drove in his buggy to
Breckenridge where they were married by the Methodist minister. Mamma once told me she had first seen him when she was
15 years old and had liked him then but never dreamed she would one day be his wife. Sam had been seeing Hassie for
months, but his family thought he was courting another young lady, Mattie Dodds. They were quite surprised at his choice but
soon realized he had been wise again, for Hassie was a capable housekeeper, a faithful wife, and a devoted mother. She was a
devout Christian, a woman of great moral strength, fit helpmate to Sam. One of my cousins tells me that the Allens realized she
was a "great lady." Hassie Harris, one of six daughters of Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Harris, was born October 28, 1881. The Harris
family had moved in 1891 from Enterprise, Alabama to Texas, traveling by rail to Houston and then by wagon to Moran and
later over into Stephens County. At the time of Hassie's marriage the Harrises lived in Yellowfork Community located some 8
or 10 miles northwest of Pecan. My mother was my idol, and I cannot look at her objectively. Her influence upon all her
children cannot be measured. I understand that she loved Pappy very deeply, that she had marked intuition, that her love kept
us all warm, that she was extremely generous, and that she possessed all the womanly qualities of any or all other women. She
had little formal education, but her understanding of people was profound. Pappy talked decisions over with her, and he
learned to take her advice. When he did not, he usually regretted it -- no matter the issue. But if he chose wrongly, she was still
on his side. He died long before she did in a terrible and unnecessary automobile crash; she was almost completely devastated.
When she remembered she had two young boys - she gathered her strength and went on. Through all the vicissitudes of the
depression of the 30's, World War II, our growing up and departing from her, she lived. One day she said, "God was good to
take Sam before these things happened. He couldn't have stood it!" Suffering from cancer for years, she bore up bravely, still
the mother who knew each child's weaknesses and strengths and who dealt with each as he needed. Her faith was unfaltering
to the very last. But I must return to that pioneer home they established. Here all seven children were born, two daughters dying
at birth. The survivors were Willie, J. C., Tommie, Ina, and Fred in that order. They made a typical family, working hard but
sharing the work and the results of that work. The children had a happy time, for there were many things to do and see. There
was one unique feature about their lives, for the home was just halfway between two communities. To the southwest was Pecan
with a one teacher school and an organized Methodist Church, all meeting in the same building. A minister came from Caddo
once a month, but Sunday School was regular and often there were itinerant ministers of different faiths. To the northeast was
Ivan, a town with a postoffice, a two-teacher school, a blacksmith shop, three small stores, and a cotton gin. We were in Ivan
school district and would be required to attend there were old enough. Since mama was a Methodist and Pappy's old home
was near Pecan, we attended church there. In other words, in two communities we lived and learned to know many people.
After the big cotton crop of 1906 an addition was made to the house of a wide hall, another room and a long porch across the
front. We enjoyed the larger house. February 12, 1908, when Tommie was only two days old, Grandmother Harris died
suddenly of apoplexy. I have one faint memory of her and have always regretted not knowing her. She must have been a
remarkable woman, for she reared six daughters, all of whom were good women in every sense of the word. I a few years all
the Harris children were grown and Grandfather homeless. He went from one to the other, but much of the time was with us. J.
C. and I played around his chair. It was the happiest of all worlds! One incident I recall vividly happened when Tommie was a
baby. J. C. toddled across the room to a table on which there was a white scarf. When he pulled, the scarf fell off along with
the scissors, and they landed point down on top of his foot. Shortly after, I was running along where some splinters from the
new building lay and turned a splinter up and almost through my foot. There happened to be a circus in Breckenridge.
Determined to go, Pappy carried me, Grandfather Allen carried J. C. and Mama had baby Tommie in her arms. My father's
friend "ribbed" him about having three babies. The circus must have been a poor one, but I was elated to see an elephant and a
camel.

Last Update Saturday, 21-Sep-2024 17:44:06 MDT

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