Allen Boles was born on December 13, 1865 to Henry Boles and Nancy Jane Franklin in Southern Township in the vicinity of Pulley’s Mill. The 1870 federal census located Allen living in this location at the age of five in his parent’s home with five siblings and his father working as a farmer.
Ten years later, the 1880 census found the family in the same location. Allen was 14 and working as a farm laborer while attending rural schools. His siblings at the time were Eliza A. 20, Lucky 18, Elvira 12 and Ida 9. Living in the home was his mother Nancy’s mother Judy Reece.
On March 2, 1890, 24-year-old Allen got married to 21-year-old Mary Louella Simpson, daughter of Stephen J. Simpson and Eliza J. Scurlock.
In the 1900 census, Allen 33 and Mary L. 30 were living in Marion and had three children, Lizzie 8, Fannie 6 and Virgil 7. Allen listed himself as a farm laborer. By 1907, Allen and his wife were recorded as living at 720 E. Main Street in Marion and Allen was working as a coal miner.
In 1908 and 1909, Allen Boles served as city alderman for the city of Marion under Mayor J.C. Mitchell.
On March 19, 1910, while Allen was working at Peabody No. 3 coal mine near Marion, he was crushed by a rock falling from the mine’s roof that measured 7’ long, 5’ wide and 6” thick. Death was instantaneous. He was buried at Shiloh Cemetery south of Marion.
When the 1910 census was taken, his widow and four children were living in Ward 4 of Marion at 210 N. Buchanan St. and had taken on two boarders in the home, both coal miners. The children in the home were Eliza 18, Gussie 14, Virgil 12 and the latest Ora aged 4.
When the 1920 census came around, Louella, who went by Ella, was age 50 and still had son Virgil aged 21 who was working as a coal miner and the youngest daughter Ora, aged 13 at home. Also, living with her was her 75 year old father Stephen Simpson.
Louella continued living in Marion and never remarried. She was born on July 15, 1869 and passed away on May 21, 1950. She was buried with Allen at Shiloh Cemetery.
Notes on Children:
Elizabeth Boles Casey, born July 13, 1891, died December 1981 in Alton, Illinois. Married Lindolph H. Casey (1889-1963)
Gussie Boles Stephens, born August 21, 1895, died November 12, 1934. Married Lloyd Ike Stephens (1895-1965)
Virgil A. Boles, born July 6, 1898, died April 25, 1966. Married Ida Mae Reed. Burian in Egyptian Memorial Gardens.
Ora Ava Boles, born October 7, 1902, died January 1977 in Marion.
(Sources: Federal Census Records, Marion Street Directories, WCHS Cemetery books, FindaGrave.com, Newspapers.com. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 3/2/2024)