Walter Hanz Allen, MD
Surnames: ALLEN, HAMILTON, FALCONER, SHAW, HARD, WARD, NUTCHER, GRAVES, BARTLETT, HARLAN, BARGANIER, LANG
Walter Hanz Allen, M. D., b September 18, 1868 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, was killed in the collapse of the Brazos River bridge west of Marlin, Falls County, Texas, on May 16, 1922 and buried in Calvary Cemetery--was a son of John William and Mary (Hamilton) Allen. His father was a veteran of the Confederate States Army during the Civil War. Walter H. lived his entire life in Marlin, except for four years in his youth in California. After finishing high school in Marlin, he entered Texas A&M College in 1885, from which he graduated with a B.S. degree in 1888, as the first honor man.
After two years in Marlin as a druggist, he entered Missouri Medical College, subsequently transferring to Tulane Medical School--receiving his medical degree from Tulane in 1892. His entire medical career was spent in Marlin as a physician and surgeon. He constructed the Allen Hospital in 1916, operating it until his death in 1922, when Dr. Neil Dugald Buie, Sr. purchased it and changed its name to Buie Hospital.
In 1899, Dr. Allen married Nettie Falconer, b September 14, 1876 in Mississippi, d June 29, 1956 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas and buried in Calvary Cemetery by her husband--a daughter of Willis Lang and Emma (Shaw) Falconer, who moved to Falls County, Texas with their ten children in 1885. Nettie was one of six members of the first graduating class of Marlin High School in 1892. She earned a B.A. degree several years before her marriage from George W, Peabody School in Nashville, Tennessee, and had taught in the Marlin Public Schools for a time.
In 1912, Dr. and Mrs. Walter H. Allen built their in Marlin on Ward Street, which now the civic landmark known as "The Allen House." They were the parents of four children:
Willis Lang Allen--a retired production engineer--married Lillian Hard, and lived in Houston, Texas. They had Willis Lang Allen, Jr., and Richard Lea Allen, who both settled in Houston.
Walter Hamilton Allen, b September 11, 1905, d December 15, 1979 and buried in Calvary Cemetery. They had three children: Walter Hamilton Allen, Jr., b May 4, 1935, d December 13, 1969 and buried in Calvary Cemetery; Emily (Allen) Nutcher, of Roseburg, Oregon; and Ward Lang Allen, of Waco, Texas. Walter Hamilton Allen was office manager of Family Life Insurance until his retirement in 1976. He married second to the former Elizabeth Graves Bartlett (called "Betsy")--duaghter of Thomas Battle and Elizabeth (Harlan) Bartlett, Sr., who had a son, Thomas Bartlett Sehon, by her first marriage.
Emily Allen--the only daughter--died March 12, 1936.
Bolivar Lea Allen, b March 2, 1912, d November 29, 1977 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin--narried Virginia Barganier, and they were the parents of Virginia (Allen) Breihan, of Dallas, Texas; and Richard Lang Allen. Bolivar Lea was chief counsel of the hydro-carbon divison of the Monsanto Company, and they resided in Houston until his death.
Some biographies from "Families of Falls County", compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical Commission.
Permission granted to Theresa Carhart by the Falls County Historical Commission, for use on this page.
