allentown Settlement

 Early Pioneer families often migrated together to establish new settlements. These Early Settlements were often called by the family name. Allentown was named after the Allen Family and had a church, school, blacksmith shop, store, and cemetery.  The Allentown Cemetery remains and is used today. The Bureau of Land Management records indicate that James M. Allen bought 163.75 acres and James G. Allen bought 160.05 acres for cash on April 24, 1820 in Mobile County, which became Allentown. Allentown was located near the area of Wulff Road and Howells Ferry Road.
 
Reverend James H. Allen was born on Nov. 1, 1811 in South Carolina. He was the first Presbyterian Methodist Minister in Alabama. He married Lenora Maples, a native of Washington County. He died on December 22, 1893. Lenora died in 1903. Both are buried in Allentown Cemetery. (Source-Deep South Genealogical Quarterly Vo. 22 in 1985)
 
Perry W. Allen was born on April 28, 1841 and died January 10, 1911 in Allentown. He was a Private in the Confederate Army, CSA 21st Alabama Volunteer. He fought in the Battle of Corinth and Farmington and the siege of Fort Morgan.  When the fort fell, he was taken as a prisoner to New Orleans where he was kept for two months and then sent to Elmira for nine months.  He was paroled and sent home June 15, 1865.   After the war he married Temple Melinda Pierce. He homesteaded property at the corner of Howell’s Ferry and Wulff Rd and established a grocery store, and a blacksmith shop (wagon yard). Their home was a stopover place for weary travelers.  He was a loyal church member for fifty years and was buried in his confederate gray in Allentown Cemetery. (Source- First “Scrapbook of Memories” 1997).
 
Henry Warren Allen (1874-1953) married Harriet Georgia Lowery (1897-1944).  He homesteaded land across from his father, Perry W. Allen.  Some of the Teachers who taught at Allentown school and boarded in their home were Josephine Schmitz, Eugenie Van Aller, Helen Gill, William Fagerstrom, Katie Curry and Essie Williams. Henry and Harriet are buried in Allentown Cemetery.
 
On May 20, 1862, James B. Allen, homesteaded 168.62 Acres: James H. Allen, 80.8 acres; Sarah M. Whiting, and James H. Allen, 161.19 acres.
 
Allen’s born in Allentown

• Alfred E. Allen -Sept. 3, 1839
• Melissa Allen- Aug. 18, 1847
• Nathan James Allen- Feb. 14, 1853
• John E. Allen-Sept, 9, 1832
• Mary Allen Aug. 1, 1834
• Lily Allen Oct. 16, 1837
• Eleanor Francis Allen-Jan. 31, 1837
• Elizabeth J. Allen-June 26, 1843
• Sarah Margaret-Jul. 9, 1845
• Perry Washington Allen, April 28, 1841- Jan 10, 1911,
• Sophronia Allen Mar. 4, 1877
• Henry Warren Allen-Sept 20, 1874
• Ella Allen –Nov. 28, 1866
• Sarah E. Allen- Nov. 27, 1866
• Sebert Allen May 7, 1868
• Joseph E. Allen Sep 13, 1870
• Mary S. Allen- Sep 20, 1874
• Nathan James Allen- Feb 14, 1853
• Percy Washington Allen- May 11, 1850
• Phillip Ellis Allen-May 11, 1855