1850 :: The Census Taker

On this date in Milam County, Texas . . . the 21st day of October . . . in the year 1850 . . . T.J. Allen is acting as "the census taker" and is busy visiting residents of Milam County . . . this particular Mr. Allen just happens to be the third husband of Matilda Connell Allen Allen nee Roberts . . . who is an older sister of our Mahala . . . who is a 3rd great grandma to the Keeper of this Rockdale history blog . . . regarding the job of "the census taker" it has been written that . . . 

It was the first day of census,

and all through the land;

The pollster was ready,

a black book in hand.

He mounted his horse

for a long dusty ride;

His book and some quills

were tucked close by his side.

A long winding ride

down a road barely there;

Toward the smell of fresh bread

wafting up through the air.

As an enumerator for Milam County, one of the households Mr. Allen documented on this date contained the following family members . . .

Charlotte Dougherty 47

Lucinda Dougherty 3 [sic]

Elijah Goodnight 17 [sic]

Elizabeth Goodnight 16

Charles Goodnight 14

Cyntha Goodnight 12

The woman was tired,

with lines on her face;

And wisps of brown hair

she tucked back into place.

She gave him some water

as they sat at the table;

And she answered his questions

the best she was able.

He asked of her children

Yes, she had quite a few;

The oldest just turned nineteen,

the youngest is still two.

He noted the sex,

the colour, the age.

The marks from the quill

soon filled up the page.

They came from Illinois,

of that she was clear;

But she wasn't quite sure

just how long they'd been here.

They spoke of employment,

of schooling and such;

They could read some and write some,

though really not much.

When the questions were answered,

his job there was done;

So he mounted his horse

and he rode back toward home.

We can only imagine

his voice loud and clear -

"May God Bless you all

for another ten years."

As it turned out, by the time the next census is taken (1860), T.J. Allen has died of yellow fever while working as editor for The Galveston Journal . . . most of the members of this branch of the Goodnight and Daugherty family have moved on to other parts of Texas . . . and the above mentioned "Charlie Goodnight" has been a member of the Texas Rangers (1857) . . . 

Before another census comes around in 1870, Charlie has been involved in a near state-wide round-up of feral Texas longhorn cattle that have been roaming free during the years of the war between the states . . . he has invented the "chuck wagon" . . . 

and he has used that early version of a "food truck" when he and Oliver Loving drove their first herd of cattle northward out of Texas along what would become known as the Goodnight-Loving Trail (1866) . . . 

Now picture a time warp -

it's now you and me;

As we search for the people

on our family tree.

We squint at the census

and scroll down so slow;

As we search for that entry

from long, long ago.

Could they only imagine

on that long ago day;

That the entries they made

would effect us this way?

If they knew, would they wonder

at the yearning we feel;

And the searching that makes them

so increasingly real.

We can hear if we listen

the words they impart;

Through their blood in our veins

and their voices in our heart.

Slightly adapted

from

original poem

by

Darlene Stevens

P.S. . . . as an additional tidbit . . . on this date in the year 1899 . . . Noah Smithwick dies in California . . . but back in 1850 he was also living in Milam County, Texas . . . and on the 11th day of September in that year, he was also enumerated by T.J. Allen . . . this Noah Smithwick is the author of Recollections of Old Texas Days . . .

1913 :: Confederate Pensions

County Judge John Watson was over from Cameron Tuesday for the purpose of fixing up the papers for a number of old Confederate soldiers who were applying for pensions under the new law. Final proofs were taken for the following:

• Isaac Long, Milano, Route 3.
• Dr. E.W. Allen, Rockdale.
• Lee Wallace, Minerva.
• N.C. Jones, Rockdale, route 2.
• Mrs. E. Denham, Rockdale, route 2.
• Mrs. Mary Joyner, Rockdale.
• Mrs. E.J. Ashby, Rockdale.
• Benj. F. Arthur, Rockdale, route 6.
• G.H. Davenport, Rockdale, route 3.

Applications and part proofs were taken also for B.V. Arnold and A.L. Pleasant.

There is a deal of seemingly unnecessary red tape to be unwound before these old heroes can avail themselves of the pittance awarded, but Judge Watson is using all due dilligence in the matter, and is entitled to the thanks of the veterans for the interest manifested. According to the red tape each of the applicants is supposed to make a trip to Cameron, taking along their proofs and witnesses, and Mr. Watson's trip over here was quite an accomodation and appreciated by all concerned.

Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, August 28, 1913

1903 :: Death of Rev. Fred L. Allen

Rockdale, Tex., Aug. 2. -- Rev. Fred L. Allen died at his home in Rockdale on yesterday afternoon in his 68th year. He had been in feeble health for some time, but the immediate cause of his death was from a carbuncle on his face, which almost wholly destroyed one side of his face. He was a member of the Texas conference of the M.E. Church for over thirty years, where he served as pastor and presiding elder. He had resided and labored in Rockdale for a number of years, where he was held in high regard. His remains were taken in charge by the members of Camp Sam Davis, of which he was a member, at his late residence, at 10 o'clock and escorted to the M.E. Church, where the funeral services were conducted according to the ritual of that church. His remains were then taken in charge by the Masonic fraternity and interred under the ceremonies of that lodge. Dallas Morning News, August 3, 1903 

---

Frederick Lowery Allen was born of Christian parents in the state of Georgia, February 5, 1835, and died at his home in Rockdale, Tex., August 1, 1903. He came of a sturdy old stock, and is much indebted to his ancestors for the strong characteristics that made him a strong, manly man. His grandfather, William Allen, was in the Revolutionary War, and was badly wounded in the battle of Yorktown, and was left on the field for dead: but the God who watches over us even in battle and time of need brought him out of his peril, and partial recovery followed; but he never entirely recovered from his desperate wounds, and died in the prime of life. His parents were not converted until after they had resting on them the cares of a family, but from the time of their conversion they were devoutly pious.


In a brief sketch of his life written by himself, in speaking of his early life he said: "My first recollection of my parents as religious people was in a love feast at Shiloh Church In Fayette county, Georgia. I was then about four years old. The strange feature of that scene left its impress on me, as I could not understand how religion made them cry and rejoice at the same time. Thank God, I understand it now." It is not strange that with parents who prayed in the home and rejoiced in the love feast, and who made so much of their religion, their children felt its power, that he should have been led in early life to give his heart to God. At nine years of age he joined the Methodist Church, but even earlier than this he said he enjoyed religion. When twenty years of age he felt called to the ministry, but like many others fought against duty and tried hard to escape its behest. He left his home three times and started out into the great West hoping to leave duty behind, but just as often God's Spirit followed him and led him back.


In 1861 he entered the Confederate Army, and for four years he endured the hardships and privations of a soldier's life and came out of the war without a wound, and with the honors and confidence of his comrades, having been promoted to the captaincy of Company F, Third Georgia Cavalry.


Of his fight against his call to preach, through all these years of trial, exposure, and danger, he says: "No one knows, except the called to this work, how much intense anxiety and mental anguish I suffered." But at last grace conquered, and he made a full and complete surrender to the work in which he lived so long and wrought so well. He was licensed to preach November 11, 1865, and was at once recommended to the Georgia Conference for admission on trial. When admitted he transferred to the Texas Conference, but reached the seat of the Conference after it had adjourned, and was employed by Rev. I.G. John, presiding elder of the Austin District, as supply on the Winchester Circuit.
 
From that year, 1866, to the time of his superannuation, in 1901, he was one of the most faithful, active, and consecrated members of the Texas Conference. No charge was considered too unimportant to enlist his most earnest efforts; on the circuit, in the station, on the district, he was the same earnest, faithful, painstaking "minister of the word."


He served the following charges: 1866, supply on Winchester Circuit, and reappointed to the same charge for 1867-8; 1869-70, Webberville Circuit; 1871-3, Cedar Creek Circuit; 1874-6, Bastrop Station; 1877, Austin Circuit; 1878, Bastrop Station; 1879-80, La Grange; 1881-2, Huntsville Station; 1883-6, Calvert District; 1887, Bremond and Reagan; 1888, Davilla Circuit; 1889-90, Cameron District; 1891-4, Calvert District; 1895-6, Franklin Station; 1897-9, Rockdale Station: 1900-1, Willis Station.


At the Conference of that year after thirty-five years of loyal and uncomplaining service to the Church, he was forced by declining health to ask for a superannuated relation, and allow his younger and stronger brethren to push the battle. He retired gracefully and with a Christian spirit, and waited in good hope till the Master called him up higher.


Brother Allen married in 1868 to Miss Celinda Whipple, of whom he wrote in his private diary: "A better helpmeet no itinerant preacher ever had." She shared with him the lights and shades of the itinerancy for nearly thirty-five years, and how much she helped him we will never know till we see "face to face." Three children blessed this union, all of whom survive him, his oldest son, Beverly, being an honored member of the Conference.


Brother Allen's preaching was earnest and effective; he spoke with authority, and seemed never to doubt his call or the sacredness of the message that he was commissioned to preach. His ministry was not barren and fruitless, but strong, earnest, and successful. The years he was presiding elder were years of widespread revival influence. He led in many a meeting that was crowned with wonderful success, and the districts were wrapped in revival flames from one end to the other. At the Conference held at Huntsville in 1901 he had to retire from the active work, and returned home to wait for his transfer to the Great Conference above. 

Soon after getting home he sent to the Texas Christian Advocate a very touching little piece, headed "I'd Do It Again." In it he spoke of the years he had spent in the ministry; the toils and privations, the hard places and the easy ones, the lack of sympathy, the times of discouragement and misjudgment; what he had given up and what he had suffered for his Lord and Master, and closed by saying, "If I had my life to live over, I'd do it again."


Blessed heroic spirit, known only to those who serve their Lord and love their fellow-men. His work is done. He rests from his labors, and has gained the crown. May we also be ready. 

Minutes of the Annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for the Year 1902 (Google eBook) Methodist Episcopal Church, Southern Methodist Publishing House, 1902

1874 :: News from Rockdale

Milam County. -- The Messenger says : "The claim of Jesse Stancel, as attorney in fact for Media Thompson, to the William Allen survey, upon which the greater portion of Rockdale is situated, is spurious and illegal. 

We have fully investigated the matter and find that the International Railroad Company has a perfect chain of title to the land in question, and deem it our duty to warn the public against this unjust, unwarranted and shameless resort of these unprincipled land sharks, to deprive them of their legally acquired rights and property. There is not the slightest cause for alarm, and no one, unless sadly demented, would either make or accept an offer of compromise." 

The writer is not half so emphatic about the "Jesse" as was J.B. Simpson when he wrote of him. . . . A snake, nicely coiled in one of the cases of the Messenger office, and which had been out of use for several days, was discovered by one of the compositors, who was looking for a certain style of letter. The reptile immediately died a violent death. Galveston Daily News, July 7, 1874