Allen McLane

Allen McLane BIRTH 29 May 1814 Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, USA DEATH 9 Oct 1849 (aged 35) Shasta County, California, USA BURIAL Platte City Cemetery Platte City, Platte County, Missouri, USA PLOT MEMORIAL ID 18205496 · View Source MEMORIAL PHOTOS 2 FLOWERS 1 Annals of Platte County, Missouri, page 119,by W. M. Paxton of Platte City, MO, Hudson Kimberly Publishing Co., Kansas City., MO 1897:

"October 9, 1849: Allen McLane died on his way to California at the age of 31. He was one of the rising young men of Missouri. He was a son of Dr. Allen McLane of Wilmington, Delaware, and Catherine, daughter of John W. Reed, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was a nephew of Hon. Lewis McLane, minister to England. He was born in 1818, and came to Platte in 1842, after extensive travel in Europe.

With E. S. Wilkinson, he started the Eagle, the first paper published in Platte. He married March 25, 1844, Jane Kay, daughter of George. She was born April 3, 1827; died in 1895. He became a warm supporter of Senator Benton. He was appointed register of the State land office at Savannah; but his appointment, for political reasons, was rejected by the State Senate. But President Polk subsequently appointed him registrar of the United States land office in Plattsburg. This position he resigned to emigrate to California. Thos. Burch succeeded him as registrar.

One child survives: 1. Gertrude McLane, b. Dec. 13, 1844; m'd Jan. 3, 1872, Levi Allen Hurst, son of Rev. Thos. Hurst. He was b. Oct. 8, 1840, in Ross County, Ohio; came with his parents to Platte, and settled near Ridgely. He is honored for his intellectual acquirements and religious walk. His wife is beloved for her Christian graces and exemplary deportment. Ch: 1. Jennie Hurst, b. in Oct., 1873. 2. Thos A. Hurst, b. Sept. 22, 1879. 3. Lizzie Hurst, b. Oct. 10, 1882. Mrs. Allen McLane married second to N. E. Wilkinson." 1 May 2015:

I am completing work on a book manuscript dealing with deaths on the Oregon/California/Mormon Trails, 1841-65 and encountered the Find A Grave Memorial #18205496 which you are maintaining.

Allen McLane died of scurvy and was buried in or very near Harvey Valley, California on the Lassen Trail about 20 miles north east of Lassen Peak. Due to the poor condition of the trail it was not possible to carry a body in a wagon more than 100 miles to the nearest "civilization" at Lassen Ranch. Several diarists report seeing his grave beside the trail where he died.

In trail deaths such as this, families often erected a memorial marker or cenotaph in a cemetery at home even though the deceased was still buried in the west. Such stones are fairly common in the east. It is almost certain that the marker in the photo is a cenotaph.

Thought you might be interested.

Richard Rieck Professor Emeritus Dept. of Geography Western Illinois Univ.

Inscription "Died ... Lassen Ranch, Cal.; Where his remains rest" Family Members Parents Photo Allen McLane 1790–1845

Photo Catherine Anne Read McLane 1795–1826

Spouse Jane E Kay Wilkinson 1827–1895 (m. 1844)

Siblings Samuel McLane 1813–1831

Photo George Read McLane 1817–1855

Photo Julia McLane Lockwood 1818–1880

Photo Mary Thompson McLane Ward 1819–1885

Children Photo Anna Gertrude McLane Hurst 1844–1902

Photo Catherine McLane 1846–1852

Photo Jennie McLane 1849–1872

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18205496/allen-mclane