Erastus R Allen

ALLEN SHOOK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/9/2010 at 18:56:11

Woodbury County History 1982

ALLEN, ERASTUS R.
by Marion Allen Crews

John Allen had two sons, that I know of, born in Washington County, Indiana: Erastus, born November 25, 1825; and Zachariah, born 1834. Erastus married Susan Catherine Shook in her home from Wiota, Wisconsin, (Iowa County, Michigan Territory). Zak married Harriet Shook May 5, 1855 (Woodbury County, Iowa). Their parents were Elias and Sarah (Hale) Shook.

Erastus had two children born in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Charles Wesley, 1851, married Sarah Duval 1878, died in 1924. They had a farm in Montrose, Colorado; children were Bessie Bethana, Robert Morrell, and Francina Bell, Minerva Elizabeth, born 1853, married John Campbell and lived in Loveland, Colorado.

Erastus took his family with him as he followed the rivers. He lived about 30 miles from Spirit Lake on the Little Sioux River where he had a trading post. He made trips to Council Bluffs to pick up supplies for Indians and settlers nearby. The night of the Spirit Lake Massacre, he was awakened by Indians from below Smithland who were dressed in war paint. They were accompanied by the local Indians who came only to protect Erastus and his family. The massacre started one-quarter mile past his post.

In 1855, Erastus’ family lived by Correctionville near his father-in-law, Elias Shook. Like many men in Northwest Iowa, Erastus was recruited as a Frontier Guard in the Seventh Cavalry Company. He farmed land which he owned below the Floyd Monument between Sioux City and Sergeant Bluff, and there raised his children.

Julia, born in 1855; died before 1860.

Louella, 1856, married Arthur Davis November 1873. They moved to Colorado, later to Washington State, where they raised their children.

Caltha Jane, September 1858, married Green Nelson Holder October 1876, died 1924, Sioux City. Children: Lula, Flora Ann, twins Berti Levi and Jessie William, Georgia Earl, and Clarah Mable.

V.J., 1858, an infant.

Laura, December 1860, married Charles Wright Bean, August 1883 Sioux City; died 1940 Southgate, California. Children: Jessie Walter, twins Marion and Mamie, Nellie, Claude, Earl, and Lillian.

Levi Judson, April 1863, married Eleanor Frances Fessenden March 1890, Bronson, Iowa, died June 1928 at Bronson. Children: Florence, Rachel, Harriet Eleanor, and Harold Judson.

William Henry, January 1866, married Hannah Lear McKnight November 1886, Sergeant Bluff; died May, 1960, Mountain View, Minnesota; buried Graceland Park, Sioux City. Children: Susan Sirada 1891, married George LeRoy Becker, died July 1952; Clarence Wesley, 1894, married Lucy Stanley Grous, Hornick. (He is living in San Pedro, California); Pearl May, 1895, married Paul Brawn Shedd, living in Denver, Colorado; Elsie Myrtle, 1900, died 1923 due to swimming and getting water in her lungs; Julia born and died an infant; Edward Walter McKnight Allen, adoped son, born June 1911, lives in Sioux City, married Mildred Vanetta Lamb, Marjorie Cromwell, and Zetta Rosenbaum.

Susan May, April 1868, married William Henry McCarty, 1893, Grand Junction, Colorado, children: Pearl Kathryn, Hazel Elizabeth and William Henry. Married second Thomas Jasper Carner. Susan died October 1953, Montrose, Colorado.

Alice Vindora, October 1870, married William Andrews Archibald; died August 1956, Colorado Springs, Colorado, children: Karl Leslie, Myrtle Katherine, Bertha May Helen, William Everett, Mabel Alice, and Mary Ethel.

Sylvester Grant, May 1872, left Sioux City in the early 1900’s and never moved back. He did visit his sisters in Colorado.

Sarah Etta, January 1875, married Charles Hindman, a railroad man, in Colorado. They were living in Mexico when she was chopping wood and a flying piece blinded her in one eye. She returned to Iowa to be near brothers William and Judd. Later the other eye went blind by itself. She worked for the blink shop for many years. She was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Sioux City. She died February, 1966 and took with her much of our Allen family knowledge.

Erastus and Susan raised Willie Campbell from a sickly little boy; he died in November1881.

Susan was a good mother. She served as a practical nurse for Doctors. She died August 1889 of what is now consider appendicitis. Later Erastus took a trip to Colorado to visit children living there. He returned to Sioux City to spend the rest of his life. He died December 1905 and is buried in their family plot in the Holman Cemetery at Sergeant Bluff along with his wife, two infant daughters, young daughter, and Willie Campbell.