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JENKINS CEMETERY
Luther Allen of Eagle Hill
By David L. Minton
Luther Allen was born in Jefferson County, New York on May 14th, 1844, but, sometime during his youth, his family moved to Michigan.
His father was Thaddeus Houghton Allen, born January 10, 1809 in Vermont and died September 27, 1893 at Kenokee, Michigan; his mother was Lucy Clark Allen, born about 1811 in Pennsylvania, and she apparently died giving birth to Luther; her death date is May 14th, 1844. Luther may have never known his Mother, but he had plenty of brothers and sisters to keep him occupied, four brothers and three sisters.
Luther was a farmer and got his mail at Ruby, St. Claire County, Michigan.
When the Civil War broke out, Luther enlisted in the Union Army, enrolling at the age of 18 in the 10th Michigan Infantry, Co. E. on December 19th, 1861.
Luther enrolled at Clyde for a three-year hitch and was mustered in at Camp Thomason at Flint, Michigan.
Luther was a man of average size at five feet, eight inches tall with dark hair, blue eyes, and a fair complexion. Army life must have agreed with Luther, because he reenlisted and was mustered into the service again at Rossville, Georgia on February 16th, 1864 for a period of three years.
Whether for reason of illness or war-related injuries, it is unknown, but, in July and August of 1864, Luther found himself a patient at General Hospital at Farmington, Mississippi. Apparently, he left the hospital in pretty good shape because he served another year until he was mustered out of the army on July 3rd, 1865 in Tennessee. Luther made his way back home to St. Claire County, Michigan and, after a short time, fell in love with and married Emma Carless on May 2, 1867 at Ruby. Of that marriage three sons were born, George, born December 27th, 1873; Charlie, born July 10th, 1880; and Daniel, born July 31st, 1882.
Luther and Emma moved to Barry County, Missouri sometime prior to July 1890 and it was there that he applied for his military pension, alleging permanent disability, “not due to vicious habits”. He claimed he suffered from: kidney disease and enlargement of the artery in his right leg, also rheumatism, heart disease, deafness, varicose veins, and stomach disease.
Then, in 1901, he and the family moved to Woodward, Oklahoma and lived
there until about 1913. While living at Woodward, Emma became ill, and died on September 2nd, 1910.
Luther left Oklahoma in 1913, ended up in Garza County, Texas, where Luther married his second wife, Gladys Reamer at (as they called it then) Post City, Texas on February 9th, 1914. After living at Estacado, Texas over in Crosby County, Luther and Gladys packed up and moved once again, this time in 1915, and they lit in the Jenkins/Eagle Hill area of what is now Lea County. Luther and Gladys got their mail at the Eagle Hill post office.
Luther Allen died September 8th, 1917 and was buried in the Jenkins
Cemetery west of Crossroads in Lea County, New Mexico.
Ole Luther and wife Gladys must have been living a pretty miserable existence, probably just getting by on his veteran’s pension which was very likely in the neighborhood of $24 to $30 a month. The reason I say this is because, after Luther died, a fellow named T.C. Gunter of Eagle Hill was out the cost of the final expenses of Luther’s funeral. Below is the letter he wrote to the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D.C. in an attempt to get reimbursement for expenses.
Sept. 18th, 1917
Commissioner of Pension,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I am writing to find out whether or not the Government will bear the actual expenses of the funeral of a Civil War Veteran, Luther Allen, Corporal Co. “E”, 10th Michigan Infantry who died on the 8th of Sept. 1917.
I employed J.H. Albright of Eagle Hill, N.M. who went in his car to Elida and got the Casket, and the only charge made was $8.00 for the gas consumed, and necessary repairs on the car.
The Casket and Shroud cost $52.50 making a total of $60.50.
Allen leaves a widow who is idiotic with not enough property to meet the cost of his funeral, and if the Government will bear the expense, it will keep people from bearing the loss, who can hardly afford to bear it.
I went with Mr. Albright for the Casket and at his and the undertakers request I am writing you in regard to the matter.
Hoping to hear from you soon, yours very respectfully.
T.C. Gunter
Mr. Gunter’s reply from the Government was that the Federal Government makes no allowance for defraying the expense of the soldier’s burial. The state of New Mexico makes an allowance for that purpose and he should apply to his county commissioners relative to securing the same.
(Gladys remarried to a man named Coin and was living in Oklahoma as late as September 1935.)
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