Joseph Allen (b. October 08, 1799, d. September 23, 1860)
Joseph Allen (son of Rev. James Allen and Mary "Polly" Woodruff) was born October 08, 1799 in Woodruff, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, and died September 23, 1860 in Itawamba County, Mississippi. He married Sarah Willis Baxter on January 09, 1835 in Woodruff, South Carolina.
Notes for Joseph Allen: Notes from Edna Westmoreland:
This Joseph Allen was a son of Rev. James Allen and Mary "Polly" Woodruff Allen, and was a brother of Elizaeth Allen Cox. He also was the Joseph Alen who had the store near here in 1835-1837, and I have a copy of his ledger for those years. The original ledger now belongs to Newell Cox Jr.. Around 1840, Joseph Allen left this area and went to Mississippi.
FROM BOOK ON EARLY SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS OF PONTOTOC COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI page 26-27
Further down Red Bud Creek from old Bethel, another settlement existed. In the general vicinity of present Moore's Mill, Edward Gannaway was postmaster of Cotton Ridge in early 1843. the Cotton Ridge post office was discontinued in September, 1855. In time Cotton Ridge faded away. Meanwhile, the identity of Allen's Mill, later Allen's Store was emerging. Joseph Allen (1799-1860); and his wife Sarah, and their family had moved from near Woodruff, South Carolina, about 1842-1844 to settle near Red Bud Creek in the present Moore's Mill community. From the onset the contributions of Joseph Allen and his family were noteworthy. The family contributions were destined to continue to present Belmont. Joseph Allen operated a gristmill and gin on Red Bud Creek and served also as justice of the peace in 1847 and 1848 in Itawamba County. A store was established near the water mill , and the settlement became known as Allen's Mill. Later, it was known as Allen's Store and kept this name into the 1880's. the children of Joseph and Sarah Allen married into several of the pioneer families of the area. One daughter Keturah, married W.P. Womack. Another daughter, Isabella, married John A. Beachum. his father John Beachum (1789-1845) was a prominent early settler who lived near and is buried in the Mitchell (Beachum) Cemetery. Kiever Allen married Barcia, the daughter of one of the local settlers, John Hood. Three other Joseph Allen children-Wister, Cordelia, and Charnel Hightower, married into the family of the respected old settler, John Strother Gaines, who lived at present Pleasent Valley in Prentiss County. C.W. (Wister) Allen and his uncle Holland Allen, became Primitive Baptist Ministers. C.H. Allen and his brother, L. B. (Benona) Allen, attended Louisville Medical College and were qualified to be a doctor. Charnel Hightower Allen chose to operate the mill and store. In time, he improved and added to the mill to better serve the people of the community around Allen's Store (Allen's Mill). The proximity to Bay Springs and Old Bethel created many friendship bonds for the early settlers of Allen's Mill. In fact, several of the settlers of Allen's Mill and Bay Springs worshiped at the old Mackey's Creek Primitive Baptist Church north of Bay Springs. Obviously, many other settlers made valuable contributions to our overall area. From the virgin forest, they and the settlers mentioned build homes, constructed churches, and cleared farm land. No doubt, many of these pioneers helped lay a foundation upon which "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" could be pursued. As more people moved into the area, settlements became more evident. Despite the importance of all settlements to the growth pattern and eventual emergence of a place called Belmont, the dominant settlement of this period was to be Bay Springs. ___________________________________________________________________________________
Tishomingo County
The following information was obtained by David Baker from Mrs. Maureen Crow of Prentiss County, Mississippi. We thank Mrs. Crow for helping us obtain Prentiss & Tishomingo County information for this quarterly.
This letter was written to Moses Holland Allen of Jack's Creek, Henderson County, Tennessee. The postmark on the outside of the envelope was Woodruff, S.C. Holland Allen had a large family of girls, three of whom were, Elizabeth who married a Campbell. Sarah, who married a Riddle. And Emely Clarandy who married Edmund Henry Walker Caveness. Joseph Allen was 43 years old when he wrote this letter. Sometime between 1842 and 1845 did come to Tishomingo County and prospered. In 1845 Hightower Allen was born near a place called Moore's Mill (the mill having been started by Joseph Allen and sold to a Mr. Moore). The child Casper Wister was 6 years old when the letter was written. the second two children listed in the letter are buried near Belmont, Miss Joseph, Sarah, Casper Wister, Hightower, and several other of this family are buried in the Mackey Creek Cemetery.
Spartanburg, S.C. January 15, 1842 Dear Brother & sister & relations all. It is through the kind hand of the almighty God that I am permitted to write a few lines to inform you that I received your letter by cousin Gosh & Fatima which I read with some satisfaction which was to hear that you all was well and all of the connection which is the greatest blessing that this life can afford. i was sorry to hear that you was so tight run for money as to request me for 40 or 50 dollars as it is not within my power to send it as I can't pay my own contracts to save my life and there is no chance to borrow money here as these are the hardest time in this country and worse times expected. You wanted to know what expense that mother's was to us. I can't give you a correct statement of the expense as it is not settled yet. These amount coming to you will be about one hundred dollars. The sail money will be due next January. I can't say when the money will be ready. You asked me to come see your country and if I like it move. I intend doing so if I can sell my land here. And if I don't sell I can't move as I am in debt and have to get out if I can. Cotton is low at this time only worth 2 to 7 dollars per hundred which makes times so hard and money so scarce. John and myself made 33 bail of cotton but it look like it don't do much good in paying large debts. Corn is worth from 1 to 2 dollars per barrel. Horses don't sell at all for their worth. there is no property that will sell but young negroes and land. Perk is work 3 cents per pound and ground flour ain't to be had. Tell Uncle James and Aunt Sarah Hendrex that cousin Gosh and Fatima got here safe and sound and found all the connections well. they come very unsepect to them all and they was entire strangers to them all. I think I should have known Fatima but would not have know Gosh. He has grown of my knowledge. there was one disappointment when they got here. the week before Amanda Allen was married the week before to one William Todd. Fatima and Gosh has not determined where they will return in a short time or not. Tell Betty that her folks was well the other day. I think of you often and would like to see you all if it was the will of Providence but I can't tell when it will be as I am got to be very imfurm and has a young family to maintain. Two boys and two girls. Casper Wister, Katura, Jecofa, Isabella Rocsina, Kever Tillery. That is the cause that makes me want to move is so many children. I want to be where I can get land for them as it will not be within my power to get land for them here. I can do as well here as any in my time. I have 500 acres of land and some good land for this country. My brother in law, James M. Sutherlin has got this fur from Virginia and is awanting me to sell and will stay till next fall for me. So I must close this letter with these few lines may reach you all safe and well and doing well. Give my respects to as many as thinks fit to inquire after me.
Joseph and Sarah Allen ____________________________________________________________________________________
From the book "Tishomingo County Mississippi-History and Families"
Article written by Robert Allen
Joseph Allen. Between 1842 and 1845 three brothers James, Joseph, and Moses Holland Allen moved to the area near Bay Springs in Tishomingo County, Mississippi. they brought with them their families and all of their possessions. They were the sons of James Allen and grandson of John Allen.
Joseph Allen, his wife, Sarah and their four children (Keturah, Isabella, Kiever and Wister) came to Mississippi from near Woodruff, South Carolina. They settled near what is known as Moore's Mill. Joseph established a mill and store on Red Bud Creek, then known as Allen's Mill. Three children were born to Joseph and Sarah after moving to Mississippi. they were Charnel Hightower, Cordelia and Lassiter Benona.
On August 16, 1845, Joseph and Sarah were two of the founding members of the Mackey's Creek Primitive Baptist Church north of Bay Springs. They are buried in the adjacent cemetery. Both C.H. and L.B. attended Louisville Medical College and were qualified to practice medicine. Dr. L.B. Allen went to the Hill County, Texas to practice there. Although qualified to be a doctor, C.H. chose to operate the mill and store. C.H. married Belvideere Gaines (daughter of John Strother Gaines and Eliza Patton Gaines). They had one child, Lunsford Paul Allen. In 1884, when Lunsford was three years old, C.H. died of pneumonia. He is buried in the Old Mackey's Creek Cemetery.
More About Joseph Allen: Burial: Unknown, Mackey's Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Tishomingo County, Miss. Religion: August 1845, Mackey's Creek Baptist Church, Tishomingo Couty, Miss..
More About Joseph Allen and Sarah Willis Baxter: Marriage: January 09, 1835, Woodruff, South Carolina.
Children of Joseph Allen and Sarah Willis Baxter are:
Joseph Allen (b. October 08, 1799, d. September 23, 1860)
Notes for Joseph Allen: