An Allen Family Tragedy

Every now and then, when I am looking through old photos of New Gretna, I can't help getting nostalgic and thinking that it would have been great to live in New Gretna a few generations ago. There was a tremendous pride in hard work, family togetherness, and a community life that revolved around the Presbyterian and Methodist churches in town.

Were I given a chance to accept an opportunity of living in the first part of the 20th century in New Gretna, it would have to be with one important caveat. I would like to go back to this simpler time, but with today's health advances. This becomes shockingly obvious as one walks on the hill at Miller Cemetery and observes the many small tombstones of young children who were the victims of diseases we seldom hear about today, such as diphtheria and fatal cases of measles.

The tragedy of a family losing young children came to my attention this past week as I have been looking though old photos from Ben and Elaine Allen's family albums. Ben's parents, Harry and Ray Etta Allen had nine children, with five either dying at birth or in their early childhood. (See these children's names highlighted in blue below)

Ray Etta Mathis, daughter of Joshua H. (2043) and Rebecca (Grant) Mathis, born December 26, 1892, died 1973, married (a) John Allen Jr. and (b) Harry Allen, both are sons of John and Sarah (Gray) Allen. Harry was born July 27, 1890, and died January 29, 1983. They are buried in Miller Cemetery, New Gretna.

i. Leon Allen, born July 19, 1911, died January 30, 1983, married December 31, 1941, Georgia Griffin and had Anna Rebecca Allen (b 11-16-1943) and Sara (b 9-16-1946). John Allen, Ray Etta's first husband, was Leon's father.

ii. Benjamin Allen, born December 10, 1917, married Elaine Bangert, born April 10, 1924. Their child: Philip Michael.

iii. Lawrence Allen (died in infancy). Buried in Atsion Cemetery.

iv Ann Allen, born May 19, 1922 married (a) August Hickman and (b) Ralph Newman.

v. George Allen, born February 10, 1925, married Pauline Buss. Their children: Arthur (b 10-15-1953); Susan Rebecca (b 5-26-1955); George Jr, (b 5-2-1958); and John Austin (b 4-13-1963).

vi. Sara Allen, born August 5, 1927, married Howard Ware.

vii. Jessie Allen, buried Miller Cemetery (died in infancy).

viii. Harry M. Allen Jr., born July 21, 1932 buried Miller Cemetery (Died of measles at age 2).

ix. Joshua Raymond Allen, a twin to Harry M., born July 21, 1932 (Died of measles at age 2. Joshua and Harry M., Jr. died only hours apart.)

x. Esther (stillborn).

Reading the names of the lost children in a genealogy list is sad enough, but the tragedy really struck me in an unexpected way. While working on an ongoing obituary collection project and also scanning photos of Harry Allen's family for our photo collection, the two projects came together. I had come across an obituary for Harry and Ray Etta Allen's two year old twins in our obituary files and a photo of their burial in an Allen family photo album. The tragedy suddenly became more meaningful as names on an heretofore impersonal genealogy list suddenly had a face. I couldn't help thinking about the sorrow of Harry, Ray Etta and their surviving children. Two small children who had been born on the same day, less than two years earlier, now leave this life together, on the same day, because of measles which was often fatal to infants and young children just a few generations ago.

April, 1934 obituary from the Tuckerton Beacon.

Joshua and Harry Allen, Jr., twin sons of Harry and Ray Etta Allen, are buried in the West section of Miller Cemetery in New Gretna, in April, 1934. (Photo courtesy of Elaine Allen.)

I paid a visit to Miller Cemetery a few days ago and found Harry and Ray Etta Allen's family plot containing a large stone for Harry and Ray Etta, a veteran's foot stone for Harry, and three small stones for Esther and the twins, Joshua and Harry.

The Harry and Ray Etta Allen plot in the West section of Miller Cemetery, New Gretna. (December 3, 2009 photo by Pete Stemmer.)

Harry and Ray Etta Allen's tombstone in Miller Cemetery, New Gretna. (December 3, 2009 photo by Pete Stemmer.)

Harry Allen's veteran's foot stone. (December 3, 2009 photo by Pete Stemmer.)

Baby Jessie Allen's stone on the Harry and Ray Etta Allen family plot in Miller Cemetery, New Gretna. (December 3, 2009 photo by Pete Stemmer.)

Baby Esther Allen's stone on the Harry and Ray Etta Allen family plot in Miller Cemetery, New Gretna. (December 3, 2009 photo by Pete Stemmer.)

Twin baby Joshua Allen's stone on the Harry and Ray Etta Allen family plot in Miller Cemetery, New Gretna. (December 3, 2009 photo by Pete Stemmer.)

Twin baby Harry Allen's stone on the Harry and Ray Etta Allen family plot in Miller Cemetery, New Gretna. (December 3, 2009 photo by Pete Stemmer.)

Well, that ends today's sad journey into a time when it was not unusual for families to endured tragic deaths due to diseases that, today, would be nothing more than minor annoyances. So, the "good old days" may not have been so good, after all.

Pete S

PS- You can read more about the Harry Allen family in the May 8, 2009 Blog entry which can be found by clicking on the link below:

http://bassriverhistory.blogspot.com/2009/05/harry-allen-family-4-generations-photo.html