Email From Gary Aden to Gary Aden 
Email Dated 5/26/2001 

     WILLIAM B. ALLEN: The most remarkable accomplishment of  William
Allen's oldest son's,  William B., short life surely was his fathering
the celebrated Methodist minister, John William Barkley Allen. His fall
from a horse, albeit accidental in the absence of evidence to the
contrary, days after the future Reverend was born was  the second death
in this young family  for his 17 year old wife, Susan. Their oldest
child, William, had died shortly before while only an infant. She had
been but 14 years old when she married William, at the time 29. She was
the daughter of a businessman who periodically abused alcohol to the
chagrin of his family and associates. He may have been illiterate
signing his will with an X,  but nonetheless left a substantial estate
to his wife Mary WISE Olliver and four married daughthers, including
Susan, the oldest, who had remarried two years after William  B.'s death
to Thomas BRADLEY, at the time, age 29,  a War of 1812 veteran, Indian
fighting, swashbuckler, and decidedly different in temperament,
interests and religion than Susan, a devoted Methodist. He also drank
more than his  share of alcohol to the distress of Susan and young John
whose guardianship he had legally assumed. Thomas and Susan became quite
wealthy. Because he died before the Civil War, the estate sale in their
eventual home of Walton County, Georgia brought top dollar with the 23
negroes alone fetching $17,672.69. The couple had ten children, two of
whom died in the Civil War, one at Gettysburg. The home place was
purchased by her son, James, with whom she lived until her death at the
age of 83. Not bad for a misguided 14 year old, I'd say! For more
detail, see Section on Oliver(Susan's spelling) or Olliver(father
Elijah's spelling) of family surname. Susan, for me, was the
undiscovered gem of my genealogical quest. She may be the real story in
the William B. family and I found myself wanting to know more about her. 

      I searched and searched in vain to find proof that William B.'s
middle name is Barkley. It defies logic to believe it could be
otherwise. 

      L.P. Allen's biographical sketch of the Allen family in general
describes them as being "venturesome, impulsive and nervous" often
taking "chances and chances went against them." One wonders how this
19th century assessment would correspond or equate to contemporary terms
like "risk taking" associated with alcohol/drug abuse or "dysfunctional
family."

      Reverend John William Barkley Allen, in his book Lessons for
Youth, rewards our family and the world with his autobiographical
description and professional evaluation of his family which is attached.
We are most fortunate to have this genealogical legacy.