Biography: John Jackson Allen and Caroline Martin Allen

Happy Birthday!

JOHN JACKSON ALLEN and CAROLINE MARTIN ALLEN

of

Clay County, Alabama

submitted by

Earlene Pruet-Clark and Roberta Pruet-Isenhower

[email protected]

John Jackson Allen was born in Covington, Newton County, Georgia on December 4, 1822. When John J. was seventeen his father, mother and sister died of typhoid fever. He made their coffins and buried them himself. An Uncle took his five-year-old twin brothers to Canada or California and John J. never saw them again. Caroline Martin was born in 1832 in South Carolina. They were married in Coweta County, Georgia, August 15, 1852. They moved to Ashland, Alabama in 1854. To this marriage, ten children were born.

As a husband and father, John Jackson Allen was a man ruled by his affection and he chose to rule others in the same manner. He and his wife were gentle in nature and both possessed a loving disposition.

Both were dedicated to God and the Church. John Jackson and Caroline could be found at home except on Sunday during Church services. Early in life John Jackson united with the Missionary Baptist Church, but after his marriage, he and Caroline joined the Methodist Church.

John J. was a successful farmer. He knew how to make an acre of land produce to its capacity. He was always willing to teach his skill to others and for over fifty years, he was instrumental in teaching those in Clay County a better way to farm. He was also a welder and a blacksmith.

When the Civil war began he was exempt from the war, to keep the farm implements repaired, free of charge, for the women folk left behind by those who were serving in the war. He did this faithfully for those who could not pay. There was an old farmer, who had money, asked him to do a job for him. However, the man refused to pay his bill so John J. declined to repair his implements. The farmer reported him to the authorities, and John Jackson Allen was inducted into the Army in three days.

John Jackson Allen served his country during the Civil War from 1861 – 1865. He served with commendable zeal and sacrifice. It was said of him, “He was a lover of Dixie and a Southern Gentleman of the “Old” type”.

When he was released, he walked 500 miles from Virginia to get home. During his trek home, he had to discard his worn out shoes. He tied toe-sacks around his feet, but this was poor protection and his feet became swollen and sore. His clothes had become rags. He felt grubby and his beard was so long that it made him look like a desperado. He had no razor or knife with which to shave. When he reached home, he called to his wife, Caroline, to let her know it was he, because she did not recognize him. He asked her to bring a tub and hot water for him to bathe outside. He would not let anyone touch him, due to the vermin lice that was on him because of the places he was forced to sleep, as he traveled.

John Jackson Allen quietly and peacefully passed away on October 22, 1907. Caroline lived until 1920. Both are buried in the Ashland City Cemetery, Clay County, Alabama.

Eight of their children are listed :

1. James Pascal (b) 1855;
2. Margaret (b) 1857;
3. John Henry (b) 1859;
4. Chesley Burton (b) 1861;
5. Lucinda (b) 1867;
6. William Timothy (b) 1868;
7. George Columbus (b) 1872;
8. Ezele (b) 1875.

Two other children died at an early age.

SOURCE

1. John Elison Pruet, Earlene Pruet-Clark, Juanita Jordan, Carrie Lou
2. Allen and John Jackson’s obituary.

Submitted by:

• Earlene Pruet-Clark and Roberta Pruet-Isenhower; Box 968, Putnam, TX. 76469

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