Pg. 284 <Picture just above "Elisha Allen": "William Edward and Mary Melvin Allen Laughlin. Mrs. Laughlin was the daughter of Elisha Allen."> Elisha Allen, a veteran and colonist in the Republic of Texas, was born in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana, on December 16, 1813, to William and Hannah Pride Allen. In 1827 William Allen moved his family to Texas and settled on Cow Bayou, near Sabine Bay, in what is now Orange County. When the Texas Revolution began in 1835, Elisha Allen volunteered his services from November 18, 1835 to January 2, 1836. From December 5 - 9, 1835, he participated in the Siege of Bexasr, which was led by Benjamin Rush Milam and Francis W. Johnson, who with about 300 troops, attacked San Antonio de Bexar then held by the Mexican Army of 1200 men under Martin Perfecto de Cos. When Elisha was discharged he returned home to Orange County and worked for his brother-in-law, George A. Pattillo, who owned the only mill in that part of the Republic. For his military service he received bounty and donation land grants from the State of Texas in 1858. In 1849 Elisha Allen married Margaret Wood, a daughter of William and Sallie Frazier Wood. She was born in Mississippi on October 28, 1830, and came to Texas in 1840 or 1841. The Allens were probably married in Jefferson County, because the 1850 Census shows them living there where he was a shoemaker. In the early 1850s the Allens were among the first pioneers to settle in Williamson County where he engaged in farming and raising stock. They remained there until the early 1870s when he moved to a farm purchased from his brother, Moses Allen, on Indian Creek in Bell County. At this time the land was undeveloped and only two or three families lived between there and Belton. His home became a landmark in this section. The heavy materials and doors of this house were made of cedar hauled overland by ox wagons from Jefferson, Texas, a distance of over 200 miles. He built the first neighborhood church and school house in his pasture and the little church was presided over in later years by Rev. J.M. Robinson. The first teacher of the school was Susan Roberson, who later married a son of the donor of the building. The student body of this school was made up of Allens, Gillilands and Stocktons. Elisha Allen died on March 6, 1893, and his wife, Margaret E. Allen died on July 10, 1904. Their graves in the Old Bartlett Cemetery are marked and fenced. Mr. and Mrs. Allen were the parents of seven children: George A. Allen, who married Susan Roberson; Elijah M. Allen, who married Jennie Mitchell; Sarah A. Allen, who married Thomas J. Denson; William B. Allen, who married Nannie Parnell; Mary Melvin Allen, who married William Edward Laughlin; John M. Allen; Samuel O. Allen; and Rachel D. Allen, who married J.D. Phillips. An official Texas Historical Grave Marker honoring Elisha and Margaret Allen was unveiled and dedicated at a program held at their graves in the Old Bartlett Cemetery on May 1, 1977. Submitted by: Rev. E.F. Allen, Jr. ====================================== Pg. 286 <Picture: "William Gilliland and his wife, the former Rachael E. Allen. She was the daughter of Moses and Nancy Williams Allen." Moses Allen Moses Allen, a veteran and colonist in the Republic of Texas, was born in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana on December 14, 1808, to William and Hannah Pride Allen. He moved with his parents to Texas in 1827 and settled on Cow Bayou near Sabine Bay in an area later to become part of Orange County. By 1835 Moses Allen was married to Nancy Williams, a native of Wouisiana. She was a daughter of Hezekiah Williams and a sister to Mrs. William McFaddin. When the combat for Texas Independence began, Moses All became active in the campaign. His first service in the war was from November 18, 1835, to December 13, 1835. During this period he participated in the Siege of Bexar. His next period of enlistment was from June 6, 1836, to September 6, 1836. The 1840 Census of the Republic of Texas lists the following: Moses Allen, 1 Pole, 38 cattle, 1 wood clock, Jerfferson County, Texas. In recognition of his allegiance to Texas during the struggle for independence, he received several grants of land. On January 1, 1842, he was awarded a bounty warrant for 320 acres in Tyler County, from the secretary of war. On June 5, 1847, he received another grant for 320 acres in Coryell County from the adjutant general for his participation in the Siege of Bexar, where he served as a private in Capt. Martin B. Lewis' Company. The original muster roll for this company is in the texas State Archives, Austin. When the 1850 Census for the State of Texas was taken Moses Allen, a farmer with real estate valued at $2000, was a resident of Milam County. His household consisted of the following: Moses Allen, 41 years; Nancy Allen, 36 years; Emily A. Allen, 14 years; Rachel E. Allen, 12 years; Elisha W. Allen, 10 years; and Marion William, 20 years. On January 22, 1850, Bell County was created from Milan County by an act of the state legislature. On October 16, 1850, a patent for 640 acres of land was granted to Moses Allen in the new county. He received the Donation Certificate for the land on December 22, 1848, from the adjutant general for his services at the Siege of Bexar. After receiving this land he became a resident of Bell County. The name of Moses Allen appeared on the first official "Jury List" for Bell County, which was made up by the Commissioners Court on February 18, 1851. The family was listed in the 1860 Census for Bell County. At that time Elisha was the only child still living in the household, and they had an H.M. Lewis, an 18-year-old female guest in the home. Moses Allen was dead by June 22, 1869, when his heirs sold their land, which was located west of Bartlett on Indian Creek and in the vicinity of the Stockton Family Cemetery, an existing landmark. On this date they sold 1466 acres for $1590.17 in gold to John Q. and Eliza A. Adams. The sellers of the property included William Gilliland, Rachael E. Gilliland, O.C. Felton, E.A. Felton and Nancy Allen. Mrs. Nancy A. Allen, the widow of Moses Allen, died on May 2, 1889. Her grave in the Old Bartlett Cemetery is marked. The burial place of her husband has not been determined. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Allen included the following children: Emily A. Allen, who married Daniel Gilliland, Jr. and later O.C. Felton; Rachael E. Allen, who married William Gilliland; and Elisha W. Allen, who died between the time the 1860 census was taken and before his father's estate was settled on June 22, 1869. Daniel Gilliland, Jr. and William Gilliland, brothers, who married Emily and Rachael Allen, were sons of Daniel and Precilla Boutright Gilliland. Daniel Gilliland, Sr., with horses, cattle and farming tools, was among the original settlers in the Colorado District of the Austin Colony. He settled his family down stream from the Brazos Ferry location on December 31, 1821. The Gilliland family Bible confirms that William Gilliland and Rachel E. Allen were married on December 3, 1851, and Daniel Gilliland, Jr. and Emily Allen were married July 25, 1854 in Milam County. Submitted by: Rev. E.F. Allen, Jr. (Note: I have photographs of the Allen sites in the Old Bartlett Cemetery for DeWayne Wallace...I just need your snail mail address again, please. mab)