Allen Baggett
1845 - 1941

The Baggetts moved to Lincoln County, KS in the 1880s, along with the family of America's brother, Bryen Cagle. Their father, Mathew J.J. Cagle was also with them

Tennessee Native - Allen Baggett's life provided him with the more changes and events of modern man than anyone can imagine. His unique life span, a total of 95 years, saw him fight in the Civil War, participate in the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1890, see the industrialization of America, view World War I, live the Great Depression and watch untold world events. He also saw the introduction and full use of electricity, the telephone, automobile, radio, airplanes and innumerable appliances, inventions and profound changes in the standard of living.

According to his death certificate he was born in Clarksville, Tennessee in 1845 to Thomas and Lydia Baggett. There were a lot of Baggetts in Montgomery County, Tennessee at this time and in Illinois, just north of Tennessee. There were also a lot of Baggetts in Kentucky. I believe, Allen's family moved around these three areas when he was young.

Civil War - It appears Allen settled in Illinois when he was a young adult. When he was 17 years old, in December 1863, he joined Company D, 56th Illinois Infantry Regiment. (see the accompanying story). He enlisted at Metropolis, Illinois, which is in the southern tip of the state. After being released from the Libby confederate prison, he was mustered out of the Union army May 22, 1865.

Marriage - America Cagle and Allen were married on August 16, 1865 in Montgomery County, Tennessee. Montgomery is in northern Tennessee with Clarksville as the major city. America was born in Dickson County, Tennessee, which is just east of Nashville. The information about America was taken from the 1860 Federal Census for Dickson County Tennessee.

Move to Kansas - They moved to Lincoln County, Kansas in about 1885. Allen bought 80 acres probably adjacent to Orange Clark's homestead. I believe they were next door to the Clarks because the census in 1885 listed them next to each other. Their oldest daughter, Ada, married John Clark in 1885 in Lincoln County. On their marriage license, they are both listed as residents of Woody, Kansas, which is 1 mile west of the Orange Clark homestead.

When the Baggetts moved to Lincoln County, the Bryen E. Cagle family, evidently moved with them. This was one of America's brothers. They are listed in the 1885 Kansas Census living next to Orange Clark and the Baggetts. America's father Mathew J.J. Cagle and here brothers and sisters were living with Bryen and his family at this time. Rebecca (America's mother) was not listed, and had probably died.

Indian Territory - On September 16, 1893, Allen and John Clark (Allen's son-in-law) participated in the Cherokee Strip Land Rush. Allen claimed some land west of Braman, Oklahoma. Braman is just into Oklahoma from Kansas and only about 23 miles from Caldwell, KS. He built a dugout to live in and farmed this land for several years5. When he retired from farming they moved into Braman. The 1900 Federal Census for Oklahoma confirms this. It lists Allen, wife America and daughter Fannie as living in Lowe township, Kay County, Oklahoma.6

In a letter from the Chikaskia Rebekah Lodge in Braman, Oklahoma to Maggie Clark in August of 1935 the following information was taken. America was a charter member of the Rebekah Lodge No. 178 in Braman Oklahoma in 1905. Her daughter Fannie was also a member. Allen Baggett was appointed an Outside Guardian in 1907. It is not known how long the Baggetts stayed in Oklahoma. America died in Wichita in 1913 of heart disease and arterial sclerosis.

Allen returned to Webb City, Missouri (north of Joplin) late in the 30's and was a member of the W.B. Goodrich Post No. 1990 of the GAR. This was a civil war veteran's organization. He moved back to Wichita when he health began to fail and lived with his grand daughterThora Ketchel, daughter of Minnie Baggett Ketchel.

I believe the following thumbnail pictures to be members of the Baggett family. Most of these are small tin type photographs approximately 2 x 3 inches. The tintype became very popular during the Civil War and immediately after. These pictures were probably taken in the late 1860s and 1870s. By the 1880s pictures were generally printed on paper.

These pictures were in the possession of Ora and Maggie Clark. One, if not several of the pictures I believe are a young Allen Baggett. Especially the first picture. The piercing eyes, big ears, long nose, and a constant beard, all definitely point out the similarities.

While a lot is not know of Allen Baggett's parents and siblings, he did have several brothers. Some of these may be included in the pictures below. Also, it is possible the larger picture of the couple may be Allen Thomas (A.T.) Baggett and wife Lydia - parents of Allen Baggett. Considering this picture would have been taken shortly after the Civil War, and the age of the couple in the photo, they are obviously from an earlier generation.

Allen Baggett's brothers and sisters included:

  Stephen (b: 1833)
  Elisa (b: 1837)
  Serena (b: 1838)
  William Riley (b: 1839)
  Rufus (b: 1841)
  Mary (b: 1844)
  Elly J. (b: 1848)
  Nancy (b: 1851)

This could be Allen Baggett's parents - A.T. Baggett and Lydia.  In 1870 he would have been about 60 years old.  The above tin type was compared very carefully with know pictures of Allen Baggett.  The similarities led me to this conclusion.