Workday Wednesday: IDA MAE ALLEN CRIDER's letter seeking her birth certificate yields family history - 1943

Copyright 2015, The Hopelessly Hooked Genealogist

(B. Harrison)

I have taken a long hiatus from writing in this Blog to enjoy some time doing other things, including travel...and additional research on my ancestral lines.  Now, I'm back to share more info about some of my ancestors.

Looking through daily blogging prompts from Geneabloggers.com for ideas to get myself back into the blogging-writing mode, I came across the prompt for "Workday Wednesday" and decided to share this letter written in 1943 by my maternal grandmother, Ida Mae Allen Crider, addressed to the "Dept of Confederate Pensions" in Frankfort, Kentucky.  She was trying to obtain documentation of her own birth from the Widow's Pension file of her mother (Lucy "Fannie" Clark Allen), in order to obtain a birth certificate or proof of birth from the state of Tennessee, (where she says she was born), which she needed to obtain "some useful employment".  She was age 53 at the time, living in Poplar Bluff, Butler County, Missouri with her husband (my maternal grandfather) Stephen Linn Crider, 17 years her senior at age 70.

The letter is a genealogy goldmine of information.  Along with the details mentioned above, the letter contains her father's full name ("the late Thomas C. Allen") and her mother's name ("Lucy F. Clark Allen"); along with confirmation of her father's service in the Confederate States Army, Company I, Regiment 12, Kentucky Cavalry. (Interesting to note she used the word "calvary instead of "cavalry"; a common mistake). It also confirms the existence of her mother's Confederate Widow's Pension Application filed with the state of Kentucky, where her father had served.  The letter confirms that Ida Mae was born in the state of Tennessee, although her later death certificate information in 1968 as reported by her daughter-in-law says she was born in Fulton, Kentucky in 1890.  This discrepancy, and the fact that Ida herself stated she was born in Tennessee, prompts me to search Tennessee records further for information on her parents' lives circa 1890.

I have had a copy of this letter for quite some time, and had posted it in my trees as a scanned media attachment, but looking at it again to write this Blog post opened my eyes to that new piece of information that I had previously overlooked. I had been looking in Kentucky for information on her parents' lives circa 1890 and coming up empty. So, either they came to Kentucky later than I had thought, or there is a discrepancy in Ida's birth date and location to be further investigated. It is possible Ida was 10 years older than her stated age.

Below is a photo of my maternal grandparents Ida Mae Allen Crider and Stephen Linn Crider taken circa 1935-1940 in Missouri. 

Tombstone Tuesday: Lucy "Fannie" Clark Allen 1860-1939

My maternal great-grandmother was Lucy Frances "Fannie" Clark Allen, who was born 24 June 1860 in Fulton County, Kentucky and died 24 Feb 1939. She is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Fulton County, KY; and has a memorial page that I posted for her on the Find A Grave website at memorial # 58405248. Rest in Peace, Fannie.

Fannie passed away several years before I was born. Her Kentucky Death Certificate is # 03730. She was married in 1877 to Thomas Calvin Allen, a Confederate Veteran of the Civil War. Their marriage took place in Troy, Obion County, Tennessee (which was the groom's home state) according to Lucy's deposition in her Widow's Pension application in 1912; but it was recorded in Fulton County, Kentucky (which was the bride's home state). It was the groom's 2nd marriage, but the bride's 1st marriage. Fannie was the daughter of William Calvin Clark (also a Confederate Civil War Veteran) and Harriet Angeline Gray.

Obituary Sunday: Frances "Fanny" Hudgens 1811- 1879

            Copyright 2013, The Hopelessly Hooked Genealogist (B. Harrison)

Following is the obituary and headstone photo of my paternal 2nd-great-grandmother, Frances Hudgens (Wilson Allen Malone), who was born 6 Dec 1811 in Washington County, Kentucky and died 11 May 1879 in Phelps County, Missouri.  She is buried at Allen Cemetery in Phelps County, Missouri.  Her nicknames were "Fanny" and "Aunt Frankey". She had at least 3 husbands as she kept outliving the men she married.

Transcript of the Obituary of Mrs. Frances Malone-Source: Courtesy of Phelps County Genealogical Society, Rolla, Missouri- July 1995 Quarterly "The Rolla Herald, 15 May 1879""Frances Hudges Wilson Allen Malone, died at her residence on Little Piney, May 11th 1879. Frances, widow of the late George Malone, aged about 68 years. Mrs. Malone was married three times. The late Napoleon Wilson was her oldest son by her first marriage. Her second husband was father of V. Allen Esq., who was her only child by her second marriage. Mrs. Malone was mother on nine children, the most of whom survive her. She was the daughter of William and Susannah Hudgens, the eldest of twelve children, four of whome survived her, namely: Mrs. Nancy Bond, Mrs. Matilda Woolsey, Mrs. Martha Huskey, and Mrs. Mary A. Paulsell. It is a meloncholy pleasure to surviving friends in some way to give expression to their deep sorrow, and to pay some tribute of respect when one, who by familiar intercourse and intimate acquaintance for years, they had learned to love for her many virtues, kindly deeds and uncomplaining faithful discharge of life's duties, has passed away from earth away. Such a one in the feelings and estimation of the writer and many friends in Phelps County, was Aunt Frankie Malone. A number of years ago she embraced the Christian religion and at her death was a member of the Free Will Baptist Church. Her end was peace, and it is confidently beleived her future will be glorious. She was buried on Monday the 12th inst., near the residence of her son Esq. Allen. The regious services were conducted by the writer, J. J. Watts. " She is buried at Allen Cemetery, Phelps County, Missouri.  Source:genie-in-az (#46847723).

Mrs. Frances Malone, born in Washington Co, Ky, Dec 6th 1811, died on Little Piney, Phelps Co., May 11, 1879 aged 67 years 6 ms. and 5 ds."- Rev JJ Watts Journals. Frances Hudgens was the daughter of William Hudgens and Susannah Tucker. She was born in Kentucky but resided most of her adult life in Phelps County, Missouri. Frances was married 3 times: 1st husband Valentine Wilson, 2nd husband Samuel T Allen, 3rd husband George W Malone. Frances Hudgens Wilson Allen Malone had several children born of her three marriages. Among her children were "Bushwacker" Bill Wilson, infamous Missouri desperado during the Civil War years. Clint Eastwood portrayed the title character in a film entitled "Outlaw Josey Wales" based loosely on the life and times of Bill Wilson. Another of Frances' son's was Valentine Allen, half- brother to Bill Wilson. Frances' father, William Hudgens, was born in McMinn, Tennessee. Her mother, Susannah Tucker, was born in Ambrose, Virginia in 1792; the daughter of William Wofford Tucker and Nancy Lee. The Tucker ancestors arrived in Virginia, America in the late 1600's from Kent, England. The Lee family arrived in Virginia in the early 1600's from Worcestshire, England. Frances was also a descendant of the Penn family of Virginia; Frances' maternal great-grandmother was Frances Penn married to Ambrose Lee. Frances' ancestor George Penn was born in Sussex, England in 1571 and came to the Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts, America in the early 1600's. The Penn ancestry was originally in Gloucester, England in the 1500's.

Sentimental Sunday: Remembering Minnie Allen 1871- 1878

Copyright 2011, The Hopelessly Hooked Genealogist (B. Harrison)

This Sentimental Sunday morning, I am remembering a discovery I made a while back when searching through Find A Grave records online, for headstone photos and burial locations on some of my ancestors.   I came across the gravesite for little Minnie Allen, daughter of my great-grandparents Valentine Allen and Catherine Ellen (Fore) Allen.  Here is a photo of Minnie's headstone, born 1871- died 1878, buried at Allen Cemetery in Phelps County, Missouri, USA:

                                                            

Finding Minnie's gravesite prompted me to recall a story related to me by my Aunt Lona, as part of the oral family history she held onto.  Whenever my elderly Aunt got an urge to share stories of the past and could find someone who might listen, she would talk about the family history stories that had been passed down to her.    From the time I was a little girl, I remember being fascinated by the stories of generations past that my Aunt could tell.  We lived across the country from my Aunt, so I did not get to hear her stories very often.  Little did I know at the time that I would one day grow up to be a full-fledged GeneAholic!  Now that my Aunt is gone, besides missing her terribly, sure wish that I had listened a little more closely to those family history stories she had to share. My Dad (her brother) rarely talked of such things, but it was my Aunt who kept the memories of the past alive and passed them down to the younger generation.

I found a mention of Minnie's death in a brief entry in the log of itinerent minister, Rev. John J Watts, from the Watts Collection  of birth, marriage and death records in Phelps and Maries County, Missouri, a partial transcript of which can be found online at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mophelps/vitals/death/watts.htm.

"#6 Minnie Allen


Minnie, daughter of Valentine and Catherine Allen, born on Little Piney, Pulaski Co., July 28th 1871, died there Feb. 3rd 1878, aged 6 yrs, 6 ms. and 5 days, and Aug. 25th 1878, funeral services at his house by singing, prayer and remarks by Rev. J.J. Watts= Bro. T.E. Carr failed to come as expected. Relatives: Father and Mother, 2 brothers and 5 sisters survive. "

There was, of course, more behind this story.  It is a sad story.  Little Minnie died as a result of a tragic accident.   My Aunt remembered well hearing the story of what happened to Minnie,  as told to her by her own mother; "Susan" (Susannah) Allen Harrison, younger sister of Minnie.   Minnie Allen, not yet age 7 years,  was helping to tend to her younger siblings and the baby of the family early one winter morning, while the parents were out at the barn milking the cows.  Minnie was dancing around the room merrily singing and twirling, to entertain her little sisters, baby  Lula (age 5 months), and toddlers Susan (age 3) and Amanda (age 5).   No doubt the baby and toddlers were giggling at Minnie's antics.  Older siblings Sarah (13), Stephen (11), and Napoleon (9) may have also been in the little farmhouse, or perhaps they were out helping the parents at the barn with the morning chores.  Older children rarely were exempt from the many daily chores required to maintain the family farm, feed the livestock, and milk the cows. It was a freezing winter morning with a blanket of snow covering the ground outside, but a nice warm fire crackled in the fireplace inside the farmhouse cabin.  It was a typical large open fireplace with hearth,  also used for heating kettles of water and cooking as well as for a source of heat.   All was well as the little girls played merrily in the warm cozy cabin that bleak winter morning, until suddenly tragedy struck.  As will often happen when little children are playing and prancing happily about, Minnie lost her balance, tripped and fell...right into the flickering fire in the hearth.   Minnie fell straight into the flames.  Her clothes and hair caught on fire, and she raced screaming outside, calling to her parents to help her.  My great-grandparents came running up the hill from the barn, shocked at the sight of their little girl with hair and clothes ablaze, racing towards them, pleading for help.  They did everything they could to try to save their child.  They rolled little Minnie in the snow to douse the flames, picked her up an carried her into the cabin.  They tried their best to tend to the burns suffered by their mortally injured and dying child.  They tried to comfort Minnie, and her horrified little siblings who had witnessed the accident, but there was little that could be done. They had little with which to even ease their little daughter's pain.   After lingering for 2 or 3 days with severe burns over most of her body, that poor precious little girl succumbed and went to join the angels.  

Minnie rests in the Allen family cemetery, near her parents and other family members.  My great-grandparents Valentine and Ellen had already lost 3 other of their children to childhood diseases and epedemics, before this accident took Minnie from them. When doing genealogy, we are constantly reminded of the hardships and suffering our ancestors did have to endure on a routine basis.  Hardship and loss was a part of their daily existence. They went through so much.   It makes me feel ashamed to whine about my own trivial problems, whenever I think of all they went through.

I live too far away, across the country, to have the opportunity to visit Minnie's gravesite or the gravesites of other Allen kin buried there.  The best I can do for now, is to leave virtual flowers and a praying child-angel graphic on Minnie's online memorial on Find A Grave, and record a memorial to her here as well.   Rest in Peace, little angel Minnie Allen.  You are not forgotten.