Obituary: Allen Blake, 30 Jul 1891 - Smith County, TX Contributed by Vicki Betts 12 January 2003 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************************** TEXAS CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, August 20, 1891, p. 7, c. 3 BLAKE.—Allen Blake, eldest son of John and Mary N. Blake (nee Connolly), was born near Arbacooche, Cleburne County, Ala., October 24, 1866. He came to Texas with his parents December, 1881, and located near Tyler, Smith county, and died triumphantly on the 30th of July, 1891, at 6:30 p.m. The day before he died he called his father and mother and made his requests known and drew them out in reference to the future. His mother is a good Methodist. She with a broken heart was weeping. He put his arms round her neck and said: "Ma, don't weep for me, it nearly kills me to see your grief for me. I am not afraid to die." He told his only sister that it took him some time to get in the right way, "but I am in it and I am not afraid to die." He sang several songs on his dying bed. The last one was "Jerusalem, My Happy Home." He was perfectly rational until the last. He recognized the faces and voices of friends. He gave directions for his funeral, chose his burying place, commended his friends to God; closed his eyes, folded his hands on his breast and breathed out his life to Him to gave it. Father, mother, brother, sister, remember Allen's dying words and prepare to meet him in heaven. He will be watching and waiting for you. W. N. BONNER. TYLER, TEXAS.