Is this John H. Allen b. 2/7/1843? How about a Royce Allen? Let me hear from you. Jan Baldwin wrote: > I have a question regarding real estate that I am hoping someone may be able to help. My Allen family line lived in Atkinson and Geneseo from 1866 until mid 1930's and may still have unknown cousins there. > Family lore is that they owned very expensive homes, along with cottages on Rock Creek. In 1930 my great great grandfather John Allen had a 4 bedroom brick house listed worth $10,000 at 325 N. State Street and his brother Andrew Allen and wife Dana Burton lived at 602 Oakwood with a house value of $4500. I have side photos of the one on State Street and their is a building that looks like a big church or hall next to it. Are these buildings still standing? I tried to do a check online and came up with nothing. > Would those prices be normal or above average? I have been arguing that they were nice but not mansions. Other family members insist that they were extremely large. Per my mother, the Allen family had quite a bit of money until the depression and John Allen loaned it out and never got repayed as no one had the money during the depression. My mother claims she saw one suitcase filled to the top with checks he had written and that the family had gotten this wealth from the invention of certain farm equipment. My Great Great Grandmother and Great Grandmother both claimed to have gone to Augustana College in the 1880's and 1920's and my great grandmother had one of the first cars in the area. She also toured with Miller's All Girl Band. > One of my reasons I wonder is that I do not see the Allen family mentioned in any of the county guides and I am not finding anyone else researching them. From what documented sources I dont see them as being outstanding. Did Geneseo have a large social scene during the late 1800's early 1900's? > Any info appreciated. During the depression my great grandmother became quite embarrased of her family accumulations and I do know per her that they hid alot of items and photos as they didnt want to appear snobby and hurt other peoples feeling (we found her secret stache when she died) and if I even thought about being overly proud about anything I would get THE lecture. > Best wishes to all...Stephen > Researching in Henry County: > direct lines: MORROW, ALLEN, HAMILTON, STEELE, LUTHER, HOOVER > via marriage: BURTON, PRITCHARD, HARBROUGH > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now > > ==== ILHENRY Mailing List ==== > --------------------- ILHENRY-L Mailing List --------------------- > Visit the Henry County Genealogical Society's Home Page!! > http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilhcgs/index.html