Frank Allen Part 2- What happened to Frank Allen's family after his death?

About ten days after Frank's death, his widow, Mary Durney Allen petitioned to be the executor of his estate, and a probate was filed, with Hugh Allen and Michael Powers signing as securities. The estate was valued at about $1700 with Frank's heirs being Mary (Durney) Allen, his wife, and Adele (Delia) and Margaret (Maggie) Allen, his children.

                                  Source: Probate Records Vol. B-D 1877- 1906, Jersey, Illinois

Two months later, in January, 1873, the estate was settled. There were claims paid to Frank's brothers, Richard and Patrick. A public sale of personal property was held, and Patrick Allen bought a stallion for two hundred dollars- quite a sum at the time.

Three years later, on August 16, 1873, Mary Durney Allen married John Fahey.

                         Ancestry.com. Illinois, County Marriage Records, 1800-1940

Mary amoved to St. Louis, Missouri with her husband.

On August 20, 1879, eighteen year old Adelia Allen married John R. Aylward at St. Francis in Jerseyville.

Catholic Diocese of Springfield; Springfield, IL; Illinois, Church Records, 1853-1975

 A confusing note in the family history notes that in February, 1885, Mary Durney Allen Fahey submitted bills to the probate court for the care of Delia and Margaret and these funds were forwarded to St. Louis.  S.H. Bowman was listed as guardian of the girls and there was a claim for board and keeping in the amount of $1,416 for the years up to June 1875. So Mary had borrowed $1500 on the estate. In any case, the farm in Jerseyville was sold to settle the accounts. (Source: book of Jody Allen)

John Fahey died and Mary was listed as a widow in the St. Louis directory. Maggie, was living with her mother at 2228 Clark Ave. in St. Louis when in September, 1889 she contracted typhoid fever, and tragically died at age 19. 

Ancestry.com. Missouri, Death Records, 1850-1931 [database on-line]

There was a packed funeral at St. Francis Xavier Church in Jerseyville. But Maggie's step-sister, Delia, is not mentioned in the announcement.

Source: book of Jody Allen

Maggie Allen was buried with her father, Frank Allen, at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Jerseyville.

Source: findagrave

Mary Durney Allen Fahey moved back to Jerseyville, living in the upstairs apartment of an orange building on East Pearl Street (near where the Stadium Theater is standing today. (source:book of Jody Allen)

She is shown here on the 1900 and 1910 census. The 1910 census shows her as 84 years old. Mary died in 1913. Her funeral expenses were paid by Hugh Allen and Thomas Allen. (source:book of Jody Allen)

 

Next Post: But before she died, Mary Durney Allen Fahey wrote a very unusual will...