Big Bend Genealogical Society

Respected Citizen of Jeff Davis County Dies at Home of Daughter Fort Davis, Jan. 21-Ethan Allen passed awy of pneumonia at the home of his daughter, Mr.s C. Ch. Bird, at Fort Davis Saturday morning, January 19, at the age of 90 years. He had been making his home with the Birds for about two years, and had led an active and interested life until he became ill the first of the week.

Ethan Allen was a Confederate veteran. He served from Louisiana throught the Civil War, engaging in many of the major battles and coming out a commissioned officer. He was wounded three times, once through the body. Soon after the war he came to Texas living around Waco and in Coryell county, and also at various times in New Mexico, Oklahoma and California. Mr. Allen was born in St Landry Parish, Louisiana, Juy 27, 1838. He and Fredonia Singleton were married in 1867. Mrs. Allen passed away three years ago after fifty-nine years of married life. She was buried at Smithville.

Four sons and three daughters survive as follows: Lloyd Allen of Los Angeles, Calif.; J. E. Allen of Houston; R. E. Allen of El Paso; A. T. Allen of Johnnie, Nevada; Mrs. C. H. Bird of Fort Davis; Mrs. W.T. Tippen, Smithville, Texas; Mrs. Andrew Hynds, Johnnie, Nevada. The body was taken to Smithville for burial. Accompanying were Mrs. Bird and R. E. Allen, the latter being present at his father's passing. They left Sunday.

The sympathy of the community is with the bereaved family.

Came to Murphyville from Ft Davis in 1884 and earned a living as an itinerant merchant who supplied goods to the Mexican-American settlements along the Rio Grande.

James Ross Anderson was an early arrival in Brewster County. He was born April 2, 1840 in South Carolina and died August 5, 1917 in Alpine. He is buried in Elm Grove Cemetery in Alpine. A 1903 news article in the Alpine Avalanche related that he came to Brewster County in 1888. He was a Civil War veteran, serving in Company A, Third Georgia Cavalry. He married a first time in Alabama to Elizabeth Paulk and they had three children: Anna Louise, James Eric, and another, name unknown. His second marriage was to Isaphenia Lee Ferrel. Their children were Carrie, Kate, James Allen (J.A.). James Ross resided in Fairfield, Freestone County, Texas before traveling to West Texas. The report of his death in 1917 in Early Brewster County Death Records indicates he was widowed and the son of Thomas Anderson--official cause of death was given as senility.

Syl Adams, pioneer settler of Brewster County arrived in the area in 1884, or 1885. He acquired land and cattle, locating his operations near Terlingua Creek, west of the Nine Points Mesa. This is near the present day Big Bend National Park. In later years, Adams purchased the Kendrick Ranch near Marathon. He was born and raised in Coleman County, Texas. This pioneer was married three times: Jennie Pulliam, Jennie Manning, and Ida Mae McKinney. He died in 1922 and is buried in Oklahoma.

He is survived by his widow, Tomasa Aranda, and a son, Jose Angel. Funeral arrangements are pending.