SECOND GENERATION

7. Allen PRIER was born in Dec 1839 in Crawford County, Illinois. He died in 1910 in Lonoke, Arkansas. Allen and his family including his mother, Frances Martin Prier, his sons, James and Fred along with James' Family moved to Arkansas around 1895. They settled in Cross County near Fair Oaks, Arkansas.

Allen is listed in the 1900 census as a farmer in the Brushy Lake township of Cross county Arkansas. He is listed as the owner of the farm with no mortgage. (Farm Schedule #28).

Listed with Allen are his son Fred and his Granddaughter, Stella; Stella, also known as "Vessie" was the daughter of James (Jim) Prier and his first wife. There is no mention in the records of other family members including Allen's wife Clarissa.

No one really knows why the Allen Priers moved to Arkansas; however, there is a family of Martins listed as neighbors in the 1900 Cross County census. The birthplaces of those listed suggest that they could have been relatives of Frances, Allen's mother. Thus providing an incentive for relocating to Arkansas.

He was married to Clarissa Jane BROWNFIELD on 4 Feb 1858 in Illinois. Clarissa Jane BROWNFIELD was born about 1840 in Illinois. She died in Jun 1909 in Arkansas. There was a report of Clarissa's death published in a Crawford county Illinois periodical in 1909:

June 15, 1909

Mrs. Allen Prier who went with her husband and family from this county to the vicinity of Lonoke, Arkansas a few years ago, committed suicide last week by cutting her throat with a razor. She had suffered from ill health for some time, her mind no doubt being thereby deranged. Allen PRIER and Clarissa Jane BROWNFIELD had the following children:

+21 i. James (Jim) PRIER.
22 ii. Able PRIER was born on 19 Mar 1860 in Hardinville, Crawford Co., lllinois. He died on 6 Jun 1913 in Crawford County, Illinois. He was buried in Oblong Cemetery, Crawford County, Illinois.
+23 iii. Joseph (Joe) S. PRIER.
24 iv. Franklin PRIER was born about 1870 in Illinois.
+25 v. Fred PRIER.
26 vi. William (Bill) PRIER was born about 1878 in Illinois. William was married and had two daughters about 1901 and 1903. He was listed in the 1910 census as a widower and working as a laborer. The name of his wife is unknown.
27 vii. Sarah PRIER was born about 1879 in Illinois.
+28 viii. Emma PRIER.

Return to Table of Contents