Harry Walter Allen was adopted by Sherdian and Nellie Calhoun when he was 16 years old. Before that he was adopted by Harry Allen when he was around 6 or seven and this couple named him Harry Allen, we cannot find out his real name. All records were burnt in a fire, he was left on the steps of the Hannibal Orphanage called Home for the Friendless, His adopted mother after about a year took him back to the home, came and got him at Xmas of the same year and took him back again and left. The Calhouns had a son named Eldridge about Harry's age and needed a brother for him, but they never adopted him. He married Ival Lucille Carter, daughter of James Milton and Nora Ellen Carmack Carter. Harry and Ival had 12 children, my mother Doris Allen Herington was the 3rd oldest of the twelve. 2 died young, not making it to 2 years I think...they had 3 boys and 9 girls. Leonard, Darlene, Doris, Rosemary (Pode), Walter, Minnie Bell, Clifford, Leona, Juanita, Robert Lee, Sandra Sue, and Alice Louise. All are dead except My Mom, Doris, sister Rosemary and Juanita. All are in very health, my mom probably better health than her sisters. Harry Walter Allen died very young.(Information from his granddaughter Betty)

MORE INFO:Harry was placed in an orphanage, later adopted by Mr. Henry? Allen & his wife. Harry Walter Allen was NOT adopted by Sherdian and Nellie Calhoun he moved to live with them when he was about 16 years old. Before that he was adopted by Henry Allen when he was around 6 or seven and this couple named him Henry Allen & his spouse had a son at the time of adoption, his name was Clifford Leroy Allen, they wound up having 10 Children. Harry's birth name was Harry Walter Darnell born to James Martin 'Jim" Darnell & Bertha M. Wilcox Darnell they had 9 other children. All orphanage records were burned in a fire, he was left on the steps of the Hannibal Orphanage called Home for the Friendless, His adopted mother after about a year took him back to the home, came and got him at Christmas, of the same year and took him back again and left. The Calhoun's had a son named Eldridge about Harry's but they never adopted Harry. He married Ival Lucille Carter, daughter of James Milton and Nora Ellen Carmack Carter. Harry and Ival had 12 children, my mother Doris Allen Herington was the 3rd oldest of the twelve. 2 died young, not making it to 2 years. I believe, they had 3 boys and 9 girls. Leonard, Darlene, Doris, Rosemary (Pode), Walter, Minnie Bell, Clifford, Leona, Juanita, Robert Lee, Sandra Sue, and Alice Louise. All are dead except Doris, Rosemary and Juanita. Harry died at the age of 43.
he had issues with his heart over many years, & eventually heart related conditions is how he died. Harry was born a Darnell, adopted only once by the Allen's, he was NEVER adopted by the Calhoun's, but did live with them from just before 16 years old
Contributor: Pamela Hirst (51021299)