Henry Allen was a white male coal miner and a boarder of Muhlenberg county, Kentucky. Allen was married to Mary Daniel, and had one male child by her named Aubry Nicholas Allen, who died at the age of 2 in 1911. Allen was also an indicted active member of the “Possum Hunters Gang,” which was a gang of regulators who were found guilty of “confederating together for the purpose of intimidating other persons.”
On November 12, 1914, while under indictment Allen was called from his home by a group of men. Nothing was heard from him during the night and his body was found early the next morning. A passerby on a road close to Allen’s boarder home found Allen’s body hanging from a tree with hands tied behind his back. It’s thought that either the “Possum Hunters Gang” or a rival gang, “The Nightriders,” committed the crime, but neither were ever found guilty.
Location of the Lynching
Location of Lynching
Census Records & Newspaper Articles
References
- “Governor Willing to Act,” Hopkinsville Kentuckian, November 19, 1914. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress.
- “Murder and Arson in Muhlenberg County,” The Bee, November 16, 1914. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress.
- “Grand Jury Gets After the ‘Possum Hunters’,” The Hartford Herald, May 20, 1914. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress.
- “Possum Hunter Is Strung Up,” The Hartford Republican, November 20, 1914. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress.
- “Possum Hunters To Be Tried,” The Hartford Republican, January 15, 1915. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress.
- “Killed by Nightriders,” The Hickman Courier, January 21, 1915. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress.
- “Governor and County Judge Offer Rewards,” The Record, November 26, 1914. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress.
Citation
Smith, Cameron. “Henry Allen.” Documented Biographies. Documenting Racial Violence in Kentucky. December 3, 2021. http://drvk.createuky.net/biographies/henry-allen/