Allen was the son of Thomas and Martha Scurlock who came from Wilson County, Tennessee between 1825 and 1832. They entered land south of Bainbridge in 1836 in SWNW Section 22, Township 9, range 3E. In 1850, Allen was 19 years old and, with his father and brother John, were listed as farmers. His parents had six children plus three small Parks children and Caroline Davidson living with them. The Parks children are likely grandchildren and Caroline is probably hired help. His father, Thomas, had three wives leaving Allen with 17 siblings and half siblings.
Allen married Jane E. Carlin in Williamson County, Illinois on December 3, 1857. Jane was born on January 13, 1832. She was the daughter of Spencer Carlin and Minerva Hogan.
In the 1860 census, Allen and Jane were living in Township 9 Range 3 on the east side of Marion. They had one child, Marshall H. Scurlock, and Allen was listed as a wagon maker.
By the 1870 census, Allen and Jane had two children, Samantha and Francis; Marshall who would have been 11 was not listed with the family. Allen was listed as a farmer and owned 80 plus acres north east of Marion near what is today Khoury League Road.
An 1875 ad in the Marion Monitor stated that he sold wood reapers, mowers, iron of all kinds, wagon maker, lime, cement, laths and shingles, located 2 blocks north of the public square. In 1877, his stock included threshing machines, wheat drills, plows, steel and iron. Allen was referred to by many as “Uncle Allen.”
In 1880 Allen was 48 years old. He and Jane were listed with their children living in the town of Marion. Allen was a wagon maker and worked with his older brother William before he married. Allen and Jane had six children who were living. Five were living at home.
In 1888 and 1889 he served as alderman under Mayors Brice Holland and William T. Davis. Rueben Borton, Joseph Fozard, E.T. Gallagher, Chas. H. Denison, Oliver S. Tippy were Aldermen in 1888 and Charles H. Denison, O.S. Tippy, Thomas Dunaway, J. H. Burnett, A.J. Binkley, Aldermen in 1889. A. J. Binkley was Allen’s son-in-law.
In the 1900 census, Allen and Jane were living with three children and a boarder. Allen was a carpenter and owned his own home. Jane indicated that she had had 9 children but only six were living.
Jane Scurlock died on May 29, 1908 in Marion, Illinois.
In 1920, Allen was 86 years old and living with Sula and Edward Meyers. Allen had no occupation; Edward was a mine pit boss.
Allen died on March 29, 1929 and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery. His death certificate said that he was a cabinet maker and lived at 108 E. Boulevard Street.
Notes on the Children:
Marshall Hogan Scurlock; Jan 9, 1859 – May 11, 1870
Samantha A Scurlock Campbell; Oct 21, 1860 – Oct 1934. Samantha married James Arthur Campbell (1859 – 1946) son of Oliver J. Campbell and Sydney Stewart. They had five children. Arthur died at 86 in Cook County, Illinois. In the early days he was a livery man and later he worked in the coal mines.
Francis Marion Scurlock; Nov 27, 1862 – Apr, 1913 He married Julia Simpson. In 1900 they were living in Pinckneyville. They had four children: Carl, Ralph, Harold, and Edward. Joe was born later. In 1905 they moved to Carbondale where Frank was working for the Frisco railway. Their eldest son Carl, a 17 year old student at the Normal University, became ill and died two months later. They lived on South Normal Avenue. Probably today’s University Avenue. He worked as materials manager and carpenter for several railroads passing through Carbondale. He last worked for the C & EI in St. Elmo. He died in 1913 and in 1920 Julia, Edward and Joe were living alone. In 1930 she and Joe were living with Harold and his family.
Infant daughter; 1864-1864
Josephine Scurlock Binkley; Born on November 23, 1865. She married Andrew Jackson Binkley in 1887 at her parent’s home. She was a school teacher.
They had no children but it appeared they always had nieces or nephews living with them. In 1900 Birdy Campbell, a niece was living with them. In 1910 A. J. owned a coal mine and his brother George was living with them and working in a mine. In 1930 they were living at 903 North Market St. and he was a real estate salesman. A. J. died in 1933 and in the 1940 census Josephine was living in the same house with two lodgers. Josephine died in December of 1956, burial in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Henry T. Scurlock; Oct. 15, 1868 – Jun 1915. 1889 Henry was arraigned and charged with furnishing whiskey to Isaac Wiley and William Gibbs, fined $75 plus costs. In 1891, he pled guilty to gaming, a $10 fine. In 1894, he was charged with keeping a disorderly house, no contest. In 1899, Henry was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and found not guilty.
“Henry T. Scurlock, 46, died Sun at his residence on N. Market Street. He suffered a stroke of paralysis one week ago and was forced to take to his bed. He leaves a widow, an aged father, Uncle Allen Scurlock, three sisters: Samantha Campbell, Mrs. A. J. Binkley and Mrs. Edgar Myers.” 7 Jun 1915. MDR
William A. Scurlock; Mar. 3, 1871 – 1874
Sula J. Scurlock Meyers; Mar. 3, 1871 – Jul 7, 1938. Sula married Thomas Edward Meyers. In 1910 census they are living next door to Sula’s sister, A. J. and Josephine Binkley, on North Market Street. Edward is a coal mine manager. In 1930 they were living on East Boulevard Street in a home that was valued at $2,500. Edward was still a coal mine manager and their son William was a lawyer. Sula died in 1938 and in 1940 Edward was living as a lodger in the home of his sister-in-law, Josephine Binkley, at 903 North Market Street. Edna Miller, a widow, was also a lodger there.
George W. Scurlock; Mar 13, 1874 – Jan 16, 1912. In the 1910 census 36 year old George was a boarder in the home of Elmer Borum. He was a coal miner. He died in his sister, Samantha Campbell’s home at the age of 37.
(Extracted from Federal Census Records; Egyptian Press; Marion Monitor; Marion Daily Republican; Ancestry.com; compiled by Colleen Norman)