Barber County Kansas
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Barber County Kansas |
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Died. We are called upon this week to note the death of Mrs. M.E. Allen and that of her son Willie. Willie's death occurred on the 13th inst. And that of his mother on the 14th, inst. Mrs. Allen had been sick for several weeks and had been in a more dangerous condition than was realized by her friends. Her death occurred at about nine o'clock Sunday evening. Willie's illness was of a short duration, only lasting about ten days but his already impaired system could not withstand the unrelenting attack made upon it by the disease - Typhoid fever - and was called away at an early hour on the morning of the 13th.Mrs. Allen settled here in 1882 upon a farm on Turkey creek, moving to this place from Cherokee county. It was her sad misfortune to have located where she did as in the following year the terrible cyclone swept across their farm killing her husband, mother and brother, leaving her alone with her three children, whose interests and welfare she has ever guarded with all a mother's love and tenderness. She leaves two little daughters, a sister and her many friends here to mourn her death. Mother and son have gone from this world of sin and sorrow, to a brighter and better world beyond - gone to their rest in heaven.
The Union, 26 November 1886. Mrs. Blankenship and Louis Lockert have been appointed administrators of the estate of the late Mrs. M.E. Allen. Mrs. Blankenship was appointed guardian of the children.
Excerpts from a letter to Mrs. Ollie Allen Frazier
from Artha L. Van Horn Massey Surber,
dated January 26, 1944.(Ollie was the daughter of Mrs. M.E. Allen.)
"When the Indian Reservation was opened for settlement a R.R. was also being built. Sun City was a "Boom Town." I was standing at the door of the Marshall Hotel. My father was proprietor, we had just moved in and everyone in town was strange to me. I saw a young girl (I judged to be 10 or 11 yrs of age) walking quickly along the street. I remarked to a lady standing by, "That is a nice looking girl going there." Yes, she said, her life is sad, tragic too. Then she told me of the storm clouds in the sky that dipped down at that place, those of you who got into the cellar were safe but three that failed for they were last were blown away with the house. That seemed so strange, just made that one dip to the ground and then rebound from whence it came -- and then just recently they said you had lost your brother and mother. Just you and a little sister were left. But a kind aunt, who before she went, your mother asked her to look after you. This aunt had no children of her own. I thought "how sad" oh so young to grieve for all those loved ones gone beyond the gates ajar. And as I listened to that sad story, a great pity came into my heart for that little girl, for I too had loved and lost . . .
And now in closing I repeat I know you understand, because I have never lost track of the little girl I saw that day when I stood at the door and a pity in my heart so that is a tie that bound you to me for aye. You had hardships that was hard to bear but you were brave and overcome them too and so it made you strong to overcome all wrongs. You laughed them away once you said to me I laugh sometimes when I want to cry and I understood. One time Dr. Hutchinson said of you that you could talk the most of any woman he ever knew and not say any harm of anyone."
B.B. Allen is buried in the Old Sun City Cemetery.
WORK OF THE STORM FIEND: Three Mangled and Lifeless Bodies left as mute witnesses of the fury of the Elements. Sun City Swept by a Cyclone.
Medicine Lodge Cresset, April 26, 1883.
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