The Andrew J. Allen family seemed not to be one of the earlier families in old Civil Dist. #17 of Madison Co., but by 1877 there was one land owning family in or near the Mason Wells Community, quite near the William T. Watlington properties to the east, on more hilly ground. This was Andrew J. Allen with his wife Mary A. Russell and two children, Leona Estelle (b. 1870) and Lee E. (b. 1873). By 1900 their daughter and son had both married; Lee E. and wife Ludie lived nearby with a daughter Ruth (age 3). And sharing the Allen home was Hubert Lee Watlington (b. 1869) and their daughter Leona Estelle (Leonie) and children. Hubert had grown up within a mile of the Allen farm and very likely had shared a school room with the Allen children for several years.
The Allen place was known to be good farm land but the well water had various flavors of minerals. Dr. J. D. Mason was already advertising it as being of medicinal value, inviting guests to come to drink and bathe in the mineral waters. Local people believed the various tastes and odors were a problem, but the good doctor planned to take advantage of the natural curiosity of people. From his hotel and other projects there the place became known as ``Mason Wells.'' The nearby Indian Mounds and good spring water near the mounds already attracted visitors and the campground at the ``Big Springs'' near the largest mound was attracting good crowds for camp meetings each summer and fall. In fact, the constant fast flowing spring water with the nearby forested river bottom had probably brought the ancient Indian ``Mound Builders'' to this site centuries previously. Now the ``bad water'' from man-made wells were attracting visitors also.
Hubert and Leona continued to depend on the good earth and farmed the land until the oldest son Cecil was able to carry on for them. By 1923 they were living in nearby Jackson where Hubert was working in the Mobile and Ohio Railroad repair shops. Later Hubert and the family went to West Texas, apparently for a change of climate which could be beneficial for Leona who had contracted tuberculosis. They ended up in El Paso, Texas, where they stayed several years, for it was there that Leona died in 1929 and their son Jack A. (b. 1897) died in 1933.
Leona had one known brother, Lee E., who appropriately enough had learned to dig wells and made this his life's work. According to family sources, they later had a daughter Lorene, and a son Tom.
There were other Allen families in old Civil District #1, in the town of Pinson, but a relationship with Andrew J. and Mary A. Russell has not been established. One Daniel Allen (b. 1853) and wife Elmira with sons John and Oscar are possibly related (1880 Census, Dist. #1, Madison Co.). More research is also needed to discover the parents of Andrew J. and Mary Russell Allen. Thru the Hubert Watlington family there are many descendents scattered among several counties in West Tennessee and other states.