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A Man Of Wealth
Not all Southern planters fared poorly in the aftermath of the Civil War. Some actually made it through the pitfalls of Reconstruction quite well. For example, Banister Allen entered the war era with 58 slaves and 1,725 acres of land. After the war, his property probably deflated in value like everyone else's, but by 1870, he had overcome the loss, and produced crops worth $47,211, much higher profits than any of his neighbors achieved. When he died in 1876, Allen left at least $5,300 in cash, as well as a considerable amount of land, and personal property worth $1,607. According to Lesley Drucker, who investigated his life, Allen bequeathed most of his land to his wife, Ann Elizabeth. Although the Allens didn't live in an elaborate mansion, they were still considered among the most well-to-do people in their community. Banister Allen's obituary described the planter as "one of the county's oldest citizens" and a person "regarded as one of the few rich men in Abbeville County."
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