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Note: Ella's story is still an ongoing mystery. On March 25, 1892, Ella's brother Guy Allen shot and killed Robert Layne, Jr for 'seduction' of his sister. The family story is that Ella was raped while taking water to the men in the fields, and that her brother shot the man after learning that he was in town bragging about the Deed; whether seduction or rape, we don't know, but Ella gave birth to a son she named Robert, in July of 1892, four months after the death of Robert Layne Jr. Whatever happened, she never recovered fully. Ella Allen married W.J. Newcomb and older widower with children, but had divorced him by the 1900 Census. She is shown on the Dallas Co., TX 1900 Census of early June, living as Ellen Newcomb with son Bob Newcomb born 7-1892, working as a housekeeper for Edwin Erwin. Two weeks later, June 14, 1900 Census of Van Zandt Co., the child is living with his grandfather T.A.Allen., listed as Robert Allen, grandson.(Newcomb never officially adopted the child).
This may have been near the time when she married Mr. Erwin. In Sept. 1905, T.A.Allen. was charged with assault against his daughter Ella Erwin. He pled guilty, and was sentenced in the Sept. 1906 court term to a $25. fine and 20 days in jail which he served. The family story is that Ella left the child and refused to raise him any longer; that can't be verified but the child does not appear on the 1910 census. Erwin apparently didn't work out either, but the divorce date is still unknown. Years later a man by the name of Pinkston (last name unknown), 25 years younger than Ella, took care of her until she died. She was still alive in 1944-45 in the Dallas area, her date of death, under what name and place of burial are not known. What became of young Robert Allen is also unknown.
There are several Ella Allen's in the Kaufman and Van Zandt Co., areas. This Ella Allen did not have other children, and did not raise her son Robert to adulthood, the last record of Robert is on the 1900
Van Zandt Co., TX Census, living with his grandfather T.A.Allen.
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