The Allen Family Tragedy

Mother and seven children interred at Shady Grove Cemetery, all in one grave

Submitted by Dennis Earle

March 16, 1940.
Up on Highway 110 a few miles from Shirley a horrible fire occurred and eight people were killed. Mrs. Sally Allen, wife of Otis Allen, seven of her children ranging in age from four to nineteen and Tom Treece Mrs. Allen’s Brother. Mrs. Allen and her children were all buried in one casket. One of the boys who survived, Willard, was later Killed in Action and buried at sea during the war.

Willard Allen Memorial in Africa

Mrs. Allen had lost her first husband Floyd McCoy during WWI. One of so many heart breaking stories in Van Buren County. If you want to see the Article from the Van Buren County Democrat, email me and I will email it to you, if you high speed internet. "

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