Thomas Allen emigrated from North Carolina to Davidson County, TN about 1800 and from there to Greene County, IL in about 1819. The original proprietor of Belltown and mill, as also joint progenitor of the Allen family, came from Tennessee to Madison County, stopping near Upper Alton, about as early as any other white settlers in that region. His wife was Margery Bryan, daughter of John and Sarah Bryan of Rowan County, NC, having been married in Rowan County, NC. His house at Belltown was the first house built north of Apple Creek in Greene County. Mr. Morrow was long miller for Mr. Allen at Belltown. He with the others came to Greene in 1819, locating on Apple creek, and at once establishing a water mill... The building at first was a rude structure, and the dam was made of logs thrown across the stream, with sand filling. On account of the dry summers and spring freshets, this first dam soon went down the stream, as did a number of others after, made in much the same way. Mr. Allen could not have kept his enterprise in operation but for the fact that when each dam would successively wash away the whole country round, without reward, would turn out for days, and weeks perhaps, and restore it. The first successful dam gotten up was made by one Norton, who placed a formidable barricade of brush and dirt, behind a log wall, as usual, and this stood till the usefulness and reputation of the mill site became established. Mr. Allen then became a widely known and important character in the county. He was sociable, cheerful and a real philosopher. He was a Calvinist seceder from the Presbyterian church. He died at Belltown about 07 Sep 1832.
Thomas Allen emigrated from North Carolina to Davidson County, TN about 1800 and from there to Greene County, IL in about 1819. The original proprietor of Belltown and mill, as also joint progenitor of the Allen family, came from Tennessee to Madison County, stopping near Upper Alton, about as early as any other white settlers in that region. His wife was Margery Bryan, daughter of John and Sarah Bryan of Rowan County, NC, having been married in Rowan County, NC. His house at Belltown was the first house built north of Apple Creek in Greene County. Mr. Morrow was long miller for Mr. Allen at Belltown. He with the others came to Greene in 1819, locating on Apple creek, and at once establishing a water mill... The building at first was a rude structure, and the dam was made of logs thrown across the stream, with sand filling. On account of the dry summers and spring freshets, this first dam soon went down the stream, as did a number of others after, made in much the same way. Mr. Allen could not have kept his enterprise in operation but for the fact that when each dam would successively wash away the whole country round, without reward, would turn out for days, and weeks perhaps, and restore it. The first successful dam gotten up was made by one Norton, who placed a formidable barricade of brush and dirt, behind a log wall, as usual, and this stood till the usefulness and reputation of the mill site became established. Mr. Allen then became a widely known and important character in the county. He was sociable, cheerful and a real philosopher. He was a Calvinist seceder from the Presbyterian church. He died at Belltown about 07 Sep 1832.
Inscription
Thomas Allen - Died Sept. 7, 1832 - aged 66 years
Gravesite Details
Thomas Allen married Margery - daughter of John Bryan - had a brother, Zachariah. They left Tennessee the summer of 1819 along with Samuel Allen, Thomas Rattan, Levi Reeder, and others and went to Madison county Illinois.
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