Alonzo Allen

Co. G

7th U. S. Inf.

Alonzo Allen Headstone

Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales

  1. Biographical Information

    Alonzo Allen was born March 25, 1809 in Essex county Vermont to Henry Allen and Orma Pricilla Powers. Family contends that he is a descendant of Ethan Allen and Ira Allen. He fought in the Florida Indian Wars the Mexican American War and the civil War. He initially served in the Florida Indian War of 1835 enlisting at Ogdensburg, N. Y. on or about Mar. 5, 1835 and was subsequently honorable discharged in Everglades, FL in January of 1838. He then re enlisted the same day and served in Company H in the 2nd regiment of the U. S. Infantry. As well as, company E and D of the 7th U. S. Infantry. Until discharged in May of 1846. At the time of his initial enlistment, he was 25 years old 5' 6" in height with blue eyes and light brown hair. He has served as a farmer and baker prior to his enlistment. Subsequently he lived in Brownsville, Rio Grande City, Dallas and Corpus Christi. He married Ann O'Neill in Brownsville, TX on July 16, 1850. He had been previously to Annie Smith who died at Brownsville on or about May 15, 1849. AT the time of his application for a service pension, his friends noted that he was about 83 years old, bedridden and blind. His wife, who was also very old, was keeping a boarding house as well as caring for her husband and a large family. He died in Corpus Christi, Oct. 29, 1895.

    Submitted by: Sara Jane Hobbs

    Transcript: Geraldine D. McGloin

    Updated by: Mary Ella Willis Leonard and Carrie Leonard Zirbes

  2. News article, 1952

    FIRST HOTEL HERE STARTED BY ORPHANED IRISH GIRL

    Editor’s note: This is another in a series of stories about pioneer South Texas families which the Caller is running in connection with Corpus Christi’s centennial. An orphaned Irish girl who came to Texas in early teens, Ann Elizabeth O’Neal, co-founded with her husband Corpus Christi’s first hotel.

    Among her descendants here today are Mrs. Mary Willis Corkill and Grace Willis Moody, both of 4213 Colima, and John Willis of 1219 Retama and Erskine Willis of 102 Adams Drive.  They are brothers and sisters.

    Ann O’Neal left Ireland Feb. 29, 1830 and emigrated to Brownsville. Among her companions the voyage across the Atlantic were Miss Henrietta Chamberlain and a Catholic priest.  Miss Chamberlain later married Capt. Richard King, founder of the ranch.

    Miss O’Neal married Alonzo Allen of Brownsville in 1848.  The couple moved here in 1850 and built the Allen Hotel, the first in Corpus Christi.

    The hotel was constructed at Mesquite and Schatzel, present site of the Western Auto Supply co.  The date the hotel was built or when it was razed are not known.

    Allen fought in an Indian war, the Mexican War and the Civil War.  He left his family here to enlist on the side of the North during the War Between the States.

    When Corpus Christi came under Yankee bombardment in 1862, Mrs. Allen fled to the country in an ox cart with her children.  When she retuned she found an unexploded cannon ball lodged in the hotel.  The missile may be seen today at the College Academy Museum.  The Allens had six children, among them Ella Margaret Allen, born in 1862.  She married John Willis who had emigrated from Ireland when he was 18.  They were the parents of descendants living here.

    A son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen was Alonzo Allen, Jr.  He was elected city constable here in 1874 and served 20 years.

    Source: Corpus Christi Caller, June 7, 1952

Biographical data on Alonzo Allen:

1860 U. S. Census for Nueces County page 273 a shows: Alonzo Allen, age 45, occupation merchant, born in Vermont.  Family consists of Ann age 28, born in Ireland, Alonzo, Jr. age 9, born in Texas, Albert age 8, born in Texas, Ann age 6, born in Texas, and Alexander age 5 born in Texas.

 

Research and Transcription by:  Geraldine D. McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission

Changes and Additions:
Given by Alonzo Allen and Ann O’Neill Allen, descendants, Mary Ella Willis Leonard, father John Allen Willis, Sr. and Carrie Leonard Zirbes, granddaughter of John Allen Willis, Sr.

  1. Ann Elizabeth O'Neal should be corrected to Ann Elizabeth O'Neill.
  2. Ann Elizabeth O'Neill co-founded Corpus Christi's first hotel with her husband Alonzo Allen.
  3. Grace Willis Moody should be corrected to Grace Willis Moody Moore.
  4. Ann O'Neill was born February 29, 1830 in county West Meath, Ireland.
  5. Miss O'Neill married Alonzo Allen in Brownsville on July 16, 1850.
  6. The unexploded cannon ball is now displayed at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.
  7. The Allen’s had six children, Alonzo Allen, Jr., Albert Allen, Ann Eastern Allen, Charles Alexander Allen, Amelia Catherine Allen and Ella Margaret Allen.
  8. Ella Margaret Allen was born in 1862. Her first husband was Thomas McComb. They had six children, Samuel E. McComb, Daisy McComb, Lillie McComb, Robert L. McComb, and two died in infancy, Annie and Wilie McComb. Ella Margaret and Thomas McComb divorced and she later married John Knox Willis, her second husband who had emigrated from Belfast, Ireland when he was 18. They had eight children, David J. Willis, Brian M. Willis, Eileen R. Willis, Eleanor L. Willis, Grace R. E. Willis, Mary A. H. Willis, John A. Willis, and J. Erskine Willis.