William Gibbs ALLEN (VETERAN CSA)

MAJOR CSA
Civil War Confederate
October 21, 1836 - November 27, 1924

*Photo courtesy of Ed & Susan Dunn

*Obituary
Chattanooga Times November 28, 1924

MAJ. W.G. ALLEN DIES AT AGE OF 87
Gallant Confederate Officer and Good Citizen.
While ill for some time, He had entertained friends yesterday afternoon.
Maj. William G. Allen, aged 87, Confederate veteran and former prominent citizen of Rhea county, died last night at 8 o’clock at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. John O. Benson, 120 Hixon pike, North Chattanooga, following an illness of several months duration. William Gibbs Allen was born in 1836 in Jackson county, Alabama.
Until a few months ago he was a strong and active man, having recovered his eyesight and ability to read and write without spectacles. He wrote with a self-made goosequill pen. He entertained friends yesterday afternoon, his demise causing surprise and regret.
A very remarkable memory was possessed by Maj. Allen. He could recall numerous dates, events, and incidents of the early history of the country and Rhea and Meigs counties. He was the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Allen III, and a cousin of William Gibbs McAdoo, former secretary of the Treasury.
He is survived by a son, John G. Allen, of Dayton, and two daughters, Mrs. Miller, of California, and Mrs. Benson, with whom he had made his home for more than a year. He was a brother of the late Chancellor V. C. Allen, Judge N. Q. Allen, Maj. B. Allen, Thomas Allen, Mrs. Fannie Arrants, of Decatur, Tenn., and Robert L. Allen, of Dayton.
Maj. Allen was a county officer and merchant of Rhea county several times prior to the war between the states. He made a magnificent military record in the Confederate army, being adjutant to Col. G. W. McKenzie, of the Fifth Tennessee cavalry, regiment throughout the war. He was in some twenty-odd battles and wounded several times. It is said that he had as many as a half-dozen horses shot from under him during the war. He was for a time one of Wheeler’s scouts, piloting his command across the Tennessee river at Cottonport on one occasion.
Maj. Allen was a member of V. C. Allen camp, United Confederate Veterans, at Dayton, and was an honorary member of the N. B. Forrest camp, of this city, and was a regular attendant at practically all of the functions and meetings of both organizations. Adjt. Allen was promoted to the rank of major on a battlefield where he had distinguished himself. At one time he was in business at Washington, Tenn., with Capt. D. N. Colville, Maj. T. J. Payne and Capt. W. P. (“Dick”) Thomasson as partners. He was considered by his friends to be an aggressive man of high character and ability. His word was his bond, no contract being necessary with him regardless of the magnitude of the transaction.

The funeral of Maj. William G. Allen, who died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Benson, in North Chattanooga Thursday night, will be held at the M.E. church, south, Saturday at 1:30 o’clock.
Interment at Buttram cemetery. The Rev. C. R. Jones will officiate, assisted by the Rev. R. C. Camper and the Rev. L. M. Cartright.
Pallbearers are: P. T. Foust, R. W. Johnson, P. W. Pierce, B. F. Sykes, W. A. Ault, B. G. McKenzie, J. B. Swafford, F. E. Robinson. Honorary pallbearers are Sam Jewell, James Jewell, I. K. Brown, W. F. Blevins, W. P. Thomison, all Confederate veterans.

Contributed on 1/30/21 by MryAl8
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Record #: 212972

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