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At our last family reunion 1931 my grandfather related the following true story, "When I was aged eight years my father took me like the Indians on horseback, a blanket underneath and two saddle bags. First went west and he remarked, "across the old Monogahalia river is where your grandfathers lived. One on them was an officer in the Rev. War. Then they went south and eastward to the spot where later was John Brown’s raid. At the time, the land looked like the gods had painted it pink, for the apple trees made the valley pink for miles. Horses and jackasses were at the time on land pulling barges with food and other supplies for the use of Washington D.C. We then went northward through Germantown, then up through Berks and Bucks Counties of Pennsylvania. We at no time stayed in an ordinary home. I was not old enough to know whether the old people were his uncles or his cousins. The whole trip took four and half months. Great grandfather then remarked, I can go to my reward for I have shown my last son the trail of the Germans and of my people." Grandmother was then assisted to her feet by her husband and with an uplifted face, tears running down her dress she remarked, "A heritage I leave unto my grandsons. All my grandfathers came early to this country I love. All my grandfathers served in the American Revolutionary War. Father and I are Dunkards, Isentunker, that is to say we are German Baptists. We would not harm a soul. If father and I be alive and my country asks for their lives give them willingly. Your first duty is to your God and then to your country. This is the Heritage I leave to my grandsons." I am proud to say I am of High Deutch descent. Guere des Alemmani. Durward B. Allaman |
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The personal experience of Durward B. Allaman aboard the destroyer, U.S.S.Aaron Ward |
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by Richard J. Henry While I was growing up in Galesburg, Illinois, Durward B. Allaman often came to visit his cousin and my mother, Helen Henry. He would invariably spend the majority of the evening telling stories of family and friends. Through his stories, we discovered a lot about our family history. Durward is a man passionate for his family. Nothing is more important to him. After a successful and decorated career in the Navy during the Pacific Campaign of World War II, Durward has spent most of his adult life, more than 42 years, pursuing his most burning passion, his family. He has traveled throughout this country and Europe, spending many days searching through libraries and courthouse records, church records and cemeteries, researching the existence, life and adventures of his family. In addition to his work on the Allamans contained in this volume, he has also researched the Motsinger family of his grandmother Julia Etta Motsinger Allaman, which includes the families of her grandparents, the Gilstraps, Hendersons and Johnsons. Mr. Allaman is a well respected genealogist and has consulted for many other genealogists. He has proofed or provided content for many other genealogical works. As Mr. Allaman is growing older, he has asked his family to help him complete his work by publishing his research on the Allamans in The Allaman Heritage. As a 5th great grandson of Jacob Allemong and Anna Maria Balliet, it has been my pleasure to work with my cousin on this volume. Rich Henry |
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The URL http://RJHenry.com will always point to the current location of this website.. |
