HistoricSiteMarkers
Early Republic

Elisha Allen

Bartlett, Williamson County, Texas

Marker Inscription

(December 16, 1813 - March 6, 1893) A native of Louisiana, Elisha Allen moved with his parents in 1827 to what is now Orange County. When the Texas Revolution began, Allen joined the army and fought at the Siege of Bexar, Dec. 5-6, 1835. He explored the Texas frontier with a survey party in 1838. In 1849 he married Margaret Wood; they had 8 children. A Williamson County pioneer, 1850-1870, Allen settled on Indian Creek in Bell County in 1870 and helped build a community church and schoolhouse.

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

A Louisiana native who came to the Texas coast as a boy, Elisha Allen joined the revolutionary army and fought at the Siege of Bexar in December 1835. He later explored the frontier with a survey party, raised a family of eight, and helped build a church and schoolhouse in Bell County—a pioneer whose life spanned Texas's transformation from Mexican province to settled statehood.

Why it matters

Allen represents the citizen-soldiers and surveyors who won Texas independence and then stayed to lay the groundwork of frontier community life.

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Related people

  • · Elisha Allen
  • · Margaret Wood

Themes & tags

Military & WartimeWestward ExpansionFrontier HistoryLandmark

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