Allen Leonidas Venable (1849–1901)

Allen Leonidas Venable, the first son of Martha A. B. Justice and John Moorman Venable Jr., was born on March 19, 1849. As a teenager, Allen remained at home on the Venable farm near the Justice homestead while his father was active in the Civil War. During those years, and after his father’s return, he worked the land and supported his mother through difficult times until her early death in 1867.

On December 10, 1872, Allen married Mary Elizabeth “Molly” Lyle (1853–1940). They built their life together on 200 acres of his father’s land, raising five children:

• Eula Mae Venable (1873–1948)

• Mattie J. Venable (1876–1926) (In Justice Cemetery )

• Elmer Jerrell Venable (1880–1950)

• Herman Columbus Venable (1885–1953)

• Alma Ruth Venable (1893–1894) (In Justice Cemetery )

Their youngest child, Alma Ruth, died before her second birthday. She was laid to rest in the Justice Cemetery. “Happy infant early blest, rest in peaceful slumber, rest!” reads her tombstone.

Allen continued farming until his sudden death on October 3, 1901, at his home near the Mulberry River. He was 52 years old. He was buried in the Justice Cemetery beside little Alma Ruth.

Molly Venable outlived her husband by nearly four decades. She had six grandsons and two granddaughters born to Eula Mae Sims, Hernan C and Elmer Venable. Molly remained in the family home and lived to the age of 87. In 1926 Molly’s daughter and companion Mattie J. Venable died and was buried in the Justice Cemetery.

Molly Venable passed away January 5th, 1940 and was buried beside her husband and daughters. Her marker simply reads: “Gone to a better world”.