Thomas Andrew Allen was born to Elizabeth Jane Pugh and Thomas A. Allen in Orange County, North Carolina on October 7, 1847. He was the third of eleven children, and the second of seven sons born to this union.
On April 8, 1862, Thomas lied about his age in order to enlist in the Confederate military serving as a Drummer Boy with the rank of private. It had to be a convincing story told to enlistment officials, and a tall tale at that as his stature was barely five feet during his adult life.
Sometime soon after the Civil War, Thomas traveled by wagon taking a route through the Cumberland Gap to Texas and finally settled in Van Zandt County, Texas. In the small township of Canton, Texas he married Julia Ann Murff. It was an odd relationship. Thomas barely five feet in height, whilst Julia stood a statuesque five feet, ten inches.
It was said, through family stories, that when visiting in town he would often require Julia to walk ahead of him. In his reasoning it made the height differences less noticeable to others...
Thomas was a strict disciplinarian, and had a firm belief in what was morally right and wrong, as well as a sense of correct behavior of gender roles of the times.
Julia and Thomas were married for seventeen years at the time of her death in 1886. The union produced eight girls and two boys. Of the two sons, only one survived to adulthood.
During his lifetime, Thomas bought and sold land numerous times. In 1863, he inherited a portion of 300 acres after his father-in-law passed away, and sold the land for $180.00 cash to J.J. Starnes. In 1881, Thomas and a Mr. Dickerson agreed to new boundary lines of ten acres of a 190 acre tract. His wife Julia, purchased land from her husband for $200.00 in 1884 - this land was inherited by her children after her death. On Dec. 16, 1886, Thomas bought land on "the waters of Cedar Creek," 13 miles NW of Canton for $100.00. In Dec. of 1889, he sold an unspecified amount of acreage to his son, Guy Allen for $55.00 cash. In 1893, in the month of December, he purchased land with an outstanding lien placed upon it from his daughter Gertha Allen Nalls for $200.00, half in cash and half in a new lien. In the following January, his daughter Fay Allen Droughon, her husband Robert Luther, sold back their inheritance from Julia back to Thomas for $100.00 each.
In Dec, 1894, Thomas and second wife Malvinia sold 182 plus acres for $632.80 cash to Z. Miller. Feb. 1895, Thomas paid off a promissory note to W.L. Burkes, giving him clear title to land listed as 1/7 interest in Scurry Scroggins 320 acre survey in Van Zandt, and Kaufman Counties. On October 25, 1898, he bought 62 1/2 from H. F. Goodnight, for $625.00, paid in $125.00 cash and 4 notes for $125.00 each plus 10% interest, due Oct. 1st. 1899, 1900, 1901 & 1902. The land being part of the original W. A. Allen survey, of Dec. 7th. 1842. On March 8, 1906, T.A. Allen and new wife Sarah Letha Allen sell 37 & 8/10ths acres of the W.A.Allen original survey #17, to Lively and Stanford Co. for $750.00, the land adjoined another 37 & 8/10th acres that had been partitioned off for ex-wife Malvinia D. Allen.
On April 30, 1906- T. A. Allen and wife Sarah Letha Allen, sell 61 and 1/10th acres of the original W.A. Allen survey of land to Lively and Stanford for $750.00 cash, and 256 acres of the Goodnight survey to I. H. Spikes in lieu of payment of a loan in the amount of $2,100.00 and $1,300.00 due to H. F. Goodnight, for notes they are unable to pay. On April 30,1906, T.A. & Letha Sell Malvinia's 37 8/10 acres to Wynne & Blanks for $10.00.
After repeating the same tragic mistake his only adult male heir had made, Thomas passed away of pneumonia at the age of 75 on April 4, 1923. He had worked in the rain plowing the land for spring planting.
Sources:
Title: Van Zandt Death Certificate
Page: #13680
Text: Date of death 4-4-1923 , of pneumonia, signed A. J. Killiam, M.D., Canton, TX
Title: 1900 Van Zandt Co., TX Pct. 3, D. 128 Census
Repository:
Media: Book
Text: This Census lists his date of birth as Oct. 1847.
Title: Van Zandt Co., Marriage Records
Title: Van Zandt Co., 1880 census
Repository:
Media: Book
Title: Colfax Cemetery, Van Zandt Co., TX
Repository:
Media: Book
Title: Van Zandt Co., Death Certificate
Page: #13680
Title: Van Zandt Co., Marriage Certificate
Repository:
Media: Book
Text: Grooms 1848-1884, A-Bi
Title: Van Zandt Co .Marriage Records
Page: Book B, page 202
Text: Ceremony conducted on the 28th day of March, 1869, by Rev. John Neugent,
and duly recorded on the 2nd. day of July, 1869.
Title: Marriage Record-Van Zandt Co., TX
Page: Book 4, page 193
Text: Ceremony conducted by W. L. Haynes, Justice of the Peace, lists Thomas A. Allen and Mrs. Dillihuh Lee. (Maiden name Melvina Dellihuh Grisham)
Title: Van Zandt Co., TX Book of Deeds # 82 pg. 179-180
Text: Dated March 8, 1906, this deed refers to T. A. Allen and WIFE Leatha.
Rootsweb.com - Sept. 9, 2009
On April 8, 1862, Thomas lied about his age in order to enlist in the Confederate military serving as a Drummer Boy with the rank of private. It had to be a convincing story told to enlistment officials, and a tall tale at that as his stature was barely five feet during his adult life.
Sometime soon after the Civil War, Thomas traveled by wagon taking a route through the Cumberland Gap to Texas and finally settled in Van Zandt County, Texas. In the small township of Canton, Texas he married Julia Ann Murff. It was an odd relationship. Thomas barely five feet in height, whilst Julia stood a statuesque five feet, ten inches.
It was said, through family stories, that when visiting in town he would often require Julia to walk ahead of him. In his reasoning it made the height differences less noticeable to others...
Thomas was a strict disciplinarian, and had a firm belief in what was morally right and wrong, as well as a sense of correct behavior of gender roles of the times.
Julia and Thomas were married for seventeen years at the time of her death in 1886. The union produced eight girls and two boys. Of the two sons, only one survived to adulthood.
During his lifetime, Thomas bought and sold land numerous times. In 1863, he inherited a portion of 300 acres after his father-in-law passed away, and sold the land for $180.00 cash to J.J. Starnes. In 1881, Thomas and a Mr. Dickerson agreed to new boundary lines of ten acres of a 190 acre tract. His wife Julia, purchased land from her husband for $200.00 in 1884 - this land was inherited by her children after her death. On Dec. 16, 1886, Thomas bought land on "the waters of Cedar Creek," 13 miles NW of Canton for $100.00. In Dec. of 1889, he sold an unspecified amount of acreage to his son, Guy Allen for $55.00 cash. In 1893, in the month of December, he purchased land with an outstanding lien placed upon it from his daughter Gertha Allen Nalls for $200.00, half in cash and half in a new lien. In the following January, his daughter Fay Allen Droughon, her husband Robert Luther, sold back their inheritance from Julia back to Thomas for $100.00 each.
In Dec, 1894, Thomas and second wife Malvinia sold 182 plus acres for $632.80 cash to Z. Miller. Feb. 1895, Thomas paid off a promissory note to W.L. Burkes, giving him clear title to land listed as 1/7 interest in Scurry Scroggins 320 acre survey in Van Zandt, and Kaufman Counties. On October 25, 1898, he bought 62 1/2 from H. F. Goodnight, for $625.00, paid in $125.00 cash and 4 notes for $125.00 each plus 10% interest, due Oct. 1st. 1899, 1900, 1901 & 1902. The land being part of the original W. A. Allen survey, of Dec. 7th. 1842. On March 8, 1906, T.A. Allen and new wife Sarah Letha Allen sell 37 & 8/10ths acres of the W.A.Allen original survey #17, to Lively and Stanford Co. for $750.00, the land adjoined another 37 & 8/10th acres that had been partitioned off for ex-wife Malvinia D. Allen.
On April 30, 1906- T. A. Allen and wife Sarah Letha Allen, sell 61 and 1/10th acres of the original W.A. Allen survey of land to Lively and Stanford for $750.00 cash, and 256 acres of the Goodnight survey to I. H. Spikes in lieu of payment of a loan in the amount of $2,100.00 and $1,300.00 due to H. F. Goodnight, for notes they are unable to pay. On April 30,1906, T.A. & Letha Sell Malvinia's 37 8/10 acres to Wynne & Blanks for $10.00.
After repeating the same tragic mistake his only adult male heir had made, Thomas passed away of pneumonia at the age of 75 on April 4, 1923. He had worked in the rain plowing the land for spring planting.
Sources:
Title: Van Zandt Death Certificate
Page: #13680
Text: Date of death 4-4-1923 , of pneumonia, signed A. J. Killiam, M.D., Canton, TX
Title: 1900 Van Zandt Co., TX Pct. 3, D. 128 Census
Repository:
Media: Book
Text: This Census lists his date of birth as Oct. 1847.
Title: Van Zandt Co., Marriage Records
Title: Van Zandt Co., 1880 census
Repository:
Media: Book
Title: Colfax Cemetery, Van Zandt Co., TX
Repository:
Media: Book
Title: Van Zandt Co., Death Certificate
Page: #13680
Title: Van Zandt Co., Marriage Certificate
Repository:
Media: Book
Text: Grooms 1848-1884, A-Bi
Title: Van Zandt Co .Marriage Records
Page: Book B, page 202
Text: Ceremony conducted on the 28th day of March, 1869, by Rev. John Neugent,
and duly recorded on the 2nd. day of July, 1869.
Title: Marriage Record-Van Zandt Co., TX
Page: Book 4, page 193
Text: Ceremony conducted by W. L. Haynes, Justice of the Peace, lists Thomas A. Allen and Mrs. Dillihuh Lee. (Maiden name Melvina Dellihuh Grisham)
Title: Van Zandt Co., TX Book of Deeds # 82 pg. 179-180
Text: Dated March 8, 1906, this deed refers to T. A. Allen and WIFE Leatha.
Rootsweb.com - Sept. 9, 2009
Thomas Andrew Allen was born to Elizabeth Jane Pugh and Thomas A. Allen in Orange County, North Carolina on October 7, 1847. He was the third of eleven children, and the second of seven sons born to this union.
On April 8, 1862, Thomas lied about his age in order to enlist in the Confederate military serving as a Drummer Boy with the rank of private. It had to be a convincing story told to enlistment officials, and a tall tale at that as his stature was barely five feet during his adult life.
Sometime soon after the Civil War, Thomas traveled by wagon taking a route through the Cumberland Gap to Texas and finally settled in Van Zandt County, Texas. In the small township of Canton, Texas he married Julia Ann Murff. It was an odd relationship. Thomas barely five feet in height, whilst Julia stood a statuesque five feet, ten inches.
It was said, through family stories, that when visiting in town he would often require Julia to walk ahead of him. In his reasoning it made the height differences less noticeable to others...
Thomas was a strict disciplinarian, and had a firm belief in what was morally right and wrong, as well as a sense of correct behavior of gender roles of the times.
Julia and Thomas were married for seventeen years at the time of her death in 1886. The union produced eight girls and two boys. Of the two sons, only one survived to adulthood.
During his lifetime, Thomas bought and sold land numerous times. In 1863, he inherited a portion of 300 acres after his father-in-law passed away, and sold the land for $180.00 cash to J.J. Starnes. In 1881, Thomas and a Mr. Dickerson agreed to new boundary lines of ten acres of a 190 acre tract. His wife Julia, purchased land from her husband for $200.00 in 1884 - this land was inherited by her children after her death. On Dec. 16, 1886, Thomas bought land on "the waters of Cedar Creek," 13 miles NW of Canton for $100.00. In Dec. of 1889, he sold an unspecified amount of acreage to his son, Guy Allen for $55.00 cash. In 1893, in the month of December, he purchased land with an outstanding lien placed upon it from his daughter Gertha Allen Nalls for $200.00, half in cash and half in a new lien. In the following January, his daughter Fay Allen Droughon, her husband Robert Luther, sold back their inheritance from Julia back to Thomas for $100.00 each.
In Dec, 1894, Thomas and second wife Malvinia sold 182 plus acres for $632.80 cash to Z. Miller. Feb. 1895, Thomas paid off a promissory note to W.L. Burkes, giving him clear title to land listed as 1/7 interest in Scurry Scroggins 320 acre survey in Van Zandt, and Kaufman Counties. On October 25, 1898, he bought 62 1/2 from H. F. Goodnight, for $625.00, paid in $125.00 cash and 4 notes for $125.00 each plus 10% interest, due Oct. 1st. 1899, 1900, 1901 & 1902. The land being part of the original W. A. Allen survey, of Dec. 7th. 1842. On March 8, 1906, T.A. Allen and new wife Sarah Letha Allen sell 37 & 8/10ths acres of the W.A.Allen original survey #17, to Lively and Stanford Co. for $750.00, the land adjoined another 37 & 8/10th acres that had been partitioned off for ex-wife Malvinia D. Allen.
On April 30, 1906- T. A. Allen and wife Sarah Letha Allen, sell 61 and 1/10th acres of the original W.A. Allen survey of land to Lively and Stanford for $750.00 cash, and 256 acres of the Goodnight survey to I. H. Spikes in lieu of payment of a loan in the amount of $2,100.00 and $1,300.00 due to H. F. Goodnight, for notes they are unable to pay. On April 30,1906, T.A. & Letha Sell Malvinia's 37 8/10 acres to Wynne & Blanks for $10.00.
After repeating the same tragic mistake his only adult male heir had made, Thomas passed away of pneumonia at the age of 75 on April 4, 1923. He had worked in the rain plowing the land for spring planting.
Sources:
Title: Van Zandt Death Certificate
Page: #13680
Text: Date of death 4-4-1923 , of pneumonia, signed A. J. Killiam, M.D., Canton, TX
Title: 1900 Van Zandt Co., TX Pct. 3, D. 128 Census
Repository:
Media: Book
Text: This Census lists his date of birth as Oct. 1847.
Title: Van Zandt Co., Marriage Records
Title: Van Zandt Co., 1880 census
Repository:
Media: Book
Title: Colfax Cemetery, Van Zandt Co., TX
Repository:
Media: Book
Title: Van Zandt Co., Death Certificate
Page: #13680
Title: Van Zandt Co., Marriage Certificate
Repository:
Media: Book
Text: Grooms 1848-1884, A-Bi
Title: Van Zandt Co .Marriage Records
Page: Book B, page 202
Text: Ceremony conducted on the 28th day of March, 1869, by Rev. John Neugent,
and duly recorded on the 2nd. day of July, 1869.
Title: Marriage Record-Van Zandt Co., TX
Page: Book 4, page 193
Text: Ceremony conducted by W. L. Haynes, Justice of the Peace, lists Thomas A. Allen and Mrs. Dillihuh Lee. (Maiden name Melvina Dellihuh Grisham)
Title: Van Zandt Co., TX Book of Deeds # 82 pg. 179-180
Text: Dated March 8, 1906, this deed refers to T. A. Allen and WIFE Leatha.
Rootsweb.com - Sept. 9, 2009
On April 8, 1862, Thomas lied about his age in order to enlist in the Confederate military serving as a Drummer Boy with the rank of private. It had to be a convincing story told to enlistment officials, and a tall tale at that as his stature was barely five feet during his adult life.
Sometime soon after the Civil War, Thomas traveled by wagon taking a route through the Cumberland Gap to Texas and finally settled in Van Zandt County, Texas. In the small township of Canton, Texas he married Julia Ann Murff. It was an odd relationship. Thomas barely five feet in height, whilst Julia stood a statuesque five feet, ten inches.
It was said, through family stories, that when visiting in town he would often require Julia to walk ahead of him. In his reasoning it made the height differences less noticeable to others...
Thomas was a strict disciplinarian, and had a firm belief in what was morally right and wrong, as well as a sense of correct behavior of gender roles of the times.
Julia and Thomas were married for seventeen years at the time of her death in 1886. The union produced eight girls and two boys. Of the two sons, only one survived to adulthood.
During his lifetime, Thomas bought and sold land numerous times. In 1863, he inherited a portion of 300 acres after his father-in-law passed away, and sold the land for $180.00 cash to J.J. Starnes. In 1881, Thomas and a Mr. Dickerson agreed to new boundary lines of ten acres of a 190 acre tract. His wife Julia, purchased land from her husband for $200.00 in 1884 - this land was inherited by her children after her death. On Dec. 16, 1886, Thomas bought land on "the waters of Cedar Creek," 13 miles NW of Canton for $100.00. In Dec. of 1889, he sold an unspecified amount of acreage to his son, Guy Allen for $55.00 cash. In 1893, in the month of December, he purchased land with an outstanding lien placed upon it from his daughter Gertha Allen Nalls for $200.00, half in cash and half in a new lien. In the following January, his daughter Fay Allen Droughon, her husband Robert Luther, sold back their inheritance from Julia back to Thomas for $100.00 each.
In Dec, 1894, Thomas and second wife Malvinia sold 182 plus acres for $632.80 cash to Z. Miller. Feb. 1895, Thomas paid off a promissory note to W.L. Burkes, giving him clear title to land listed as 1/7 interest in Scurry Scroggins 320 acre survey in Van Zandt, and Kaufman Counties. On October 25, 1898, he bought 62 1/2 from H. F. Goodnight, for $625.00, paid in $125.00 cash and 4 notes for $125.00 each plus 10% interest, due Oct. 1st. 1899, 1900, 1901 & 1902. The land being part of the original W. A. Allen survey, of Dec. 7th. 1842. On March 8, 1906, T.A. Allen and new wife Sarah Letha Allen sell 37 & 8/10ths acres of the W.A.Allen original survey #17, to Lively and Stanford Co. for $750.00, the land adjoined another 37 & 8/10th acres that had been partitioned off for ex-wife Malvinia D. Allen.
On April 30, 1906- T. A. Allen and wife Sarah Letha Allen, sell 61 and 1/10th acres of the original W.A. Allen survey of land to Lively and Stanford for $750.00 cash, and 256 acres of the Goodnight survey to I. H. Spikes in lieu of payment of a loan in the amount of $2,100.00 and $1,300.00 due to H. F. Goodnight, for notes they are unable to pay. On April 30,1906, T.A. & Letha Sell Malvinia's 37 8/10 acres to Wynne & Blanks for $10.00.
After repeating the same tragic mistake his only adult male heir had made, Thomas passed away of pneumonia at the age of 75 on April 4, 1923. He had worked in the rain plowing the land for spring planting.
Sources:
Title: Van Zandt Death Certificate
Page: #13680
Text: Date of death 4-4-1923 , of pneumonia, signed A. J. Killiam, M.D., Canton, TX
Title: 1900 Van Zandt Co., TX Pct. 3, D. 128 Census
Repository:
Media: Book
Text: This Census lists his date of birth as Oct. 1847.
Title: Van Zandt Co., Marriage Records
Title: Van Zandt Co., 1880 census
Repository:
Media: Book
Title: Colfax Cemetery, Van Zandt Co., TX
Repository:
Media: Book
Title: Van Zandt Co., Death Certificate
Page: #13680
Title: Van Zandt Co., Marriage Certificate
Repository:
Media: Book
Text: Grooms 1848-1884, A-Bi
Title: Van Zandt Co .Marriage Records
Page: Book B, page 202
Text: Ceremony conducted on the 28th day of March, 1869, by Rev. John Neugent,
and duly recorded on the 2nd. day of July, 1869.
Title: Marriage Record-Van Zandt Co., TX
Page: Book 4, page 193
Text: Ceremony conducted by W. L. Haynes, Justice of the Peace, lists Thomas A. Allen and Mrs. Dillihuh Lee. (Maiden name Melvina Dellihuh Grisham)
Title: Van Zandt Co., TX Book of Deeds # 82 pg. 179-180
Text: Dated March 8, 1906, this deed refers to T. A. Allen and WIFE Leatha.
Rootsweb.com - Sept. 9, 2009
Family Members
Children
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May Allen
1870–1873
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![]()
Guy Allen
1872–1896
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![]()
Ella Oretha Allen Pinkston
1874–1954
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Huey B "Hue" Allen
1876–1876
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Gertha Allen Nalls
1878–1900
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Fay Allen Draughon
1880–1902
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Minnie Allen
1883–1883
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Jimmie Vera Allen Cady
1883–1932
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Julia Ann Allen Sullivan
1886–1962
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Charlie Andrew Allen
1909–1992
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Flora Estell Allen Franks
1911–1968
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Festus Edward Allen
1912–1995
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