Our Story

Allen Barnes, Sr.

The Story of our family began in Nanafalia, Alabama in 1847 when Allen Barnes, Sr. was born to an enslaved mother and slave owner father.  Allen's mother bore a total of five children including Allen.  Because Allen was the son of the slave master, he was given special privileges from his father.  This was a common practice during the antebellum period.  One of these privileges was the right to live and work inside the slave plantation.  He was considered a "house slave," a privileged class of slaves who were usually mulatto.  The slave mistress, the wife of Allen's father, resented Allen's presence inside her home.  As a result, she mistreated Allen when her husband was away.  As the story goes, Allen's father returned home one day, caught his wife abusing Allen, and put an end to the abuse. 

In 1865, the Civil War ended, and the slaves were finally freed when Allen was 18 years of age.  He remained in the Nanafalia area.  In 1872, he married Julia Emma Bush, the daughter of Dr. Boaz Bush of Selma and a Native American mother, Tabbie Bush of Beatrice, Alabama. 

From this union of two seedlings, a tree sprang forth that produced 14 branches over a period of 29 years.  The first branch began with Maggie in 1874, then Lula in 1876, Fletcher in 1880, Martha in 1885, Vallie in 1886, Norman in 1888, Posey in 1889, Ella in 1890, Tabitha in 1895, Allen Jr. in 1896, Adley in 1897, Walter in 1901, Printilla in 1902, and Theresa in 1903.  Grandpa Allen and Grandma Emma were busy!

In 1886 Allen Barnes, with his wife and his four children (at the time), including three-week old Vallie came down the Tombigbee River and settled in McIntosh, an area that had gained some notoriety.  One of the last confederate battalions surrendered in McIntosh in 1865.  Also, Aaron Burr, former U.S. Vice President, became a controversial fugutive after he was captured after killing his longtime enemy, Alexander Hamilton, in a gun duel.

Allen Barnes prospered in his new home. He worked long hours to acquire many acres of land.  From savings, he built and owned the first grocery store in McIntosh.  His was the only such story for many years.  He also had the first telephone in McIntosh.  He led the building of the first Baptist Church in McIntosh -- St. Paul Baptist Church, where he was the first Deacon.  He was also instrumental in making the first highway in McIntosh a possibility.

Allen Barnes believed in education.  As the story goes, his children had to walk many miles to reach the nearest school.  Several were sent to the boarding school at Selma University.  He was one of the first trustees of what is now McIntosh Union High School.  These trustees bought 40 acreas of land and established a school that included grades 1-12.

Allen Barnes had 14 children, 35 grandchildren, and at last count 136 great grandchildren, and now scores of great-great and great-great-great grandchildren.  In his very old age, he abandoned the use of automobiles and traveled around McIntosh in a buggy drawn by his horse, Bessie.  Many of his great grandchildren remember fondly the buggy rides with him.






Note:  This biographical sketch was taken from material written by Emma Love Willis Reed, Bettye Reed Davis, and others