The Allen Families of Fayette County, Ohio

Was a native of Pennsylvania, but ran away from home at the age of sixteen, and enlisted in the revolutionary war, where he remained till its close, when he went to Kentucky and engaged in running the Upper and Lower Blue Lick Salt Works. He was passionately fond of hunting, and found a paradise in this state, where game abounded. He was married, it is thought, while in Kentucky, to Miss Kyger. The couple came to near Springfield, Clarke County, Ohio, which at that time consisted of a few scattering cabins. During the war of 1812, he started to Fort Wa-ne to join the American army. However, the war had closed before he arrived at his destination. He next came to this county with, his family, and "squatted" on the site of AUentown, now the junction of the D. & S. E. and C. M. & C. railroads. He retained his hunting propensities, killed much game, and provided denison for the family table and buckskin for the wearing apparel of the young men. Allen afterward removed to the immediate vicinity of the hamlet of AUentown, in which he resided till his death, which occurred in 1,851, at the age of ninety-four years. He was a patriotic citizen, and often predicted the war of the rebellion. He had eight children, four of whom survive: Elijah, William, and Ethan, who reside near the old home, and Adam, who resides in Madison County.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOEL A. ALLEN.

One of the pioneer farmers of this county is Joel A. Allen, whose career of seventy-five years has all been spent within the limits of Fayette county. He is now living in retirement after a strenuous life of activity which covered considerably more than half a century. His well directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of his interests and his sound judgment have brought to him a very satisfactory competence for his declining years. He served with distinction during the dark days of the Civil

War and was probably at the front longer than any man who enlisted from Fayette county. Too much honor can not be accorded the men who faced every danger and death itself upon the battlefields of the Civil War and bore suffering and made sacrifices for their country’s sake.

Joel A. Allen, the son of Adam and Rosanna (Hidy) Allen, was born August 7, 1839, in the township where he has lived most of his life, having spent nineteen years in Greene and Clinton counties, Ohio. His father was also born in this same township and was a prominent farmer and land owner. Adam Allen lived all of his life in this county with the exception of a few years when he lived in Madison and Clinton counties, this state. His declining years were spent with his son, Joel. Thirteen children were born to Adam and Rosanna (Hidy) Allen: Mrs. Sarah J. Bryant, John, Mrs. Catherine Morris, Joel A., William, George, deceased, Elijah, Samuel, Etta, Mrs. Rossetta, deceased, Lucy Straley, Adam and one who died in infancy. Of these children the following are now deceased: Sarah J., Catherine, William, Etta and George.

Joel A. Allen was reared under the primitive pioneer conditions which prevailed during his boyhood days and attended the rude log school house with its greased-paper windows and slab seats, and there learned the rudiments of reading, writing and arithmetic. At the opening of the Civil War he enlisted in Company K, Forty-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served for more than four years. The company was under the command of Colonel S. A. Gilbert and Colonel Moore and participated in engagements in West Virginia, Kentucky and 'Tennessee. Mr. Allen had the honor of having served for a longer time in the Civil War than any other man from his county. After the close of the war Mr. Allen returned to Jeffersonville, Ohio, and worked on a farm in the immediate neighborhood. After his marriage he began renting land in Greene county, this state, and later located in Clinton county for a short time. He then returned to Fayette county and bought fifty acres of excellent land adjoining the village of Jeffersonville, where he is now living. He also is the owner of several town lots in Jeffersonville.

Mr. Allen was married to Mary C. Janes, the daughter of William and Mary (Mock) Janes, early pioneers of the county, and to this union have been born two children, Isophine and Ralph. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have also reared a boy, Howard Haynes, who is the son of George and Lucy (Horney) Haynes, who are both deceased, the father being buried in Chicago, Illinois, and the mother in Hidy cemetery, at Jeffersonville, Ohio.

Politically, Mr. Allen is a Republican and has always been actively interested in political matters. He has held various township offices, among them being that of township trustee and school director. Mr. Allen and his family are all loyal and consistent members of the Friends church, of Clinton county, and take an active interest in all the work of that denomination.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM WAGNER ALLEN.

The Allen family have been a noted one for many generations. It is not definitely known who was the founder of the family, but some members of the family who have investigated the genealogy of the Aliens believe that it was Alan, Earl of Brittany, who came to England with William, the Conqueror, in 1066. The name itself has undergone many variations in spelling although it is now limited to three or four forms, Allen, Allan, Alan and Alleyne. The French spell it Allain, the Scotch use the form Alan or Allan, while the commonest form in England and America is Allen. It is not possible to follow the various families of Aliens in America in this brief sketch, but it is interesting to note that Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame, was one of the most illustrious to bear the name.

The first Allen to locate in Fayette county was Adam Allen, who was born in 1754. He was one of the earliest settlers in this county and died here in 1851 at the advanced age of ninety-seven, his wife, Nancy, passing away in 1854. How many children were born to Adam and Nancy Allen is not known, but one son, Adam, became the father of William Wagner Allen, with

whom this narrative deals. Adam Allen, Jr., married Rosannah Hidy, a daughter of one of the earliest pioneers of Fayette county. It seems that Adam Allen, Jr., was born in this county in the year 1812, but it may have been earlier.

William Wagner Allen, the late pioneer of this county, was the son of Adam and Rosannah (Hidy) Allen. He was born in Jefferson township, Fayette county, Ohio, August 19, 1842, and died at his home in Milledgeville, Ohio, March 24, 1895. He received the limited education which the country schools of his day afforded and remained at home until the opening of the Civil War. He then was so anxious to serve his country that he ran away from home to enlist. He enlisted September 6, 1861, in Company K, Fortyfourth Regiment Ohio VoUmteer Infantry, and was mustered in as a corporal. Previous to this enlistment he has served three months as a member of the Twenty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His time in the Fortyfourth Regiment was up in January, 1864, and as soon as he was mustered out of this regiment he re-enlisted in the Eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, serving in the cavalry service for a year and three months after the close of the war. While in the cavalry he was captured near Huttonsville, X'virginia. and placed in Libby prison at Richmond, Virginia. He remained there about two months and while being transferred to Andersonville prison made his escape. He wandered about in the mountains of eastern Tennessee for forty-one days before coming in touch with the Union forces at Knoxville. His record as a soldier was a brilliant one and he was signally honored by having the Grand Army post at Milledgeville named in his honor.

At the close of his service in the army he returned to his home in Fayette county. Shortly afterwards he went into the livery business at Cedarville, Ohio, and lived there for several years. He traveled for a few years, after which he settled on his farm in Jasper township. Later he moved with his family to the county seat and engaged in the contracting business, building many of the best roads in the county. His last years were spent in Milledgeville, near which was located his fine farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres.

Mr. Allen was married January 3, 1878, to Rachel Anna Rankin, the daughter of Smith and Parthenia (Wood) Rankin. His widow is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen were born four children. Forest May, Fred Herman, Mary Elizabeth and Harry Rankin. Forest May received a good education in the common and high schools and then entered a school of dramatic art at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which she later graduated. She is now living with her mother in Milledgeville. Fred H. married Jennie Hunt, deceased, and

Google has one daughter, Jane. Mary E. became the wife of Fred Jones and has three children, Marian, Ellen and Susan. Harry R. married Eva Carr and has one daughter, Martha.

Mr. Allen was always interested in political matters and as a Republican was one of the leaders of his party in this county. He served as supervisor of Jasper township and for many years was on the school board of his township. He was a public spirited man and interested in all measures pertaining to the general welfare of his community. Fraternally, he was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and had attained to the commandery degrees. Personally, he was a man of essentially domestic tastes and was never happier than when surrounded by his family. Xo place on earth had for him so much fascination, or afforded him more comfort, than his own family and home circle. He was a true and loyal citizen and upright in all of his business relations. Benevolent in spirit, seeking to aid the needy in whatever way he could, he was a man universally beloved by everyone who knew him.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

A substantial and progressive farmer of Jefferson township. Fayette county, Ohio, is David Allen, who was born in this township sixty-five years ago. He is strictly a self-made man, and by his own hard labor has seen his possessions grow from a paltry ten acres to an extensive farm of three hundred and sixty acres. Not only has he gained material prosperity for himself and family, but he has also been very much interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of his community. For twenty-five years he performed unselfish service as a member of the school board of his township, and in this capacity did everything he could for the benefit of the children of his township. He and his wife have reared a family of six children to lives of usefulness and honor, all of whom are married and are rearing families of their own. A greater thing than this can no man do, and for this reason, if for no other, David Allen should be classed among the representative men of his township and county.

David Allen, the son of Ethan and Susan (Straley) Allen, was born in 1849 ' the township where he has always lived. His father was a native of West Virginia, a son of Adam and Nancy Allen. Ethan Allen and wife reared a family of fifteen children, Elizabeth, Nancy. Adam, Joseph. Charles. Iliza, Harvey, David, James H.. William, Orville, Arthur, Susan, Alice, and one who died in infancy. Adam Allen was in the 'ar of 1812, and to him and his wife were born five children, Aaron, Adam, William, Elijah and Ethan.

David Allen attended the schools of his home neighborhocKl and early in life began working for himself. He married at the early age of twenty, and he and his young wife took a horse, cow and one hog, rented a farm and started in to make their fortune. They worked and planned together, and as they prospered they added to their land holdings until they now own about three hundred and sixty acres of fine land in Jefferson township. To the original ten acres which they bought was first added forty-three acres, then one hundred and twenty-seven, then fifty-nine, then sixtyforr, and finally, seventy-two. As he has enlarged his land holdings he has improved his farm until now he has probably one of the largest farms of the township, and one of the most attractive as well.

Mr. Allen was married in 1869 to Isabel West, the daughter of Edmond and Mary (Edge) West. Edmond West came from Virginia and settled in Jefferson township, where Mrs. Allen was born. Six children have been

Google bom to Mr. and Mrs. Allen, all of whom are married: Edgar, Oscar, Clyde. Ernest. Lena and Mary. Edgar married Bertha Coin and has three children. Mabel. Donald and Marion; Oscar married Mata Patch and has three children. Annabelle, Harold and Morence: Clyde married Jennie Janes; Ernest married Edith Banghn and has two children, Lester and Pauline; Lena is the wife of N. W. Lemon and has two daughters, Ruth and Marjorie: Mary became the wife of Chester Janes and has four children. Lucile, Carl. Helen and Janice.

Fraternally. Mr. Allen is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while he and his wife are members of the Daughters of Rebekah. Politically, he is a Republican, and while never taking an active part in politics, he has always shown his hearty support of all measures which he felt would benefit his community in any way. He has always stood for clean living and high thinking and is one of the substantial men of his township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

One of the younger farmers of Fayette county who is making a name for himself as a successful miller of the soil is Ralph Allen, of Concord township. Starting out as a renter eleven years ago, he now rents his father’s farm of two hundred and fourteen acres. He has already gained a comfortable position in life, which is proof that it is possible for the average man to do likewise. The chief difficulty with most men is the lack of definite plans or the lack of energy to carry out their plans after they are once made.

Ralph Allen, the son of Tames H. and Ellen (Rankin) Allen, was born May 7, 1881, in Milledgeville, Ohio. His father was born in West Lancaster. Ohio, the son of Ethan, a native of Vermont, and a soldier of the War of 1812. J. H. Allen and wife were the parents of four children:

Glenn, who married Emma Wilson; Ralph, with whom this narrative deals; Flora, single; Mabel, who married Arthur McCoy.

Ralph Allen attended the schools at Octa, Wabash and Buckeye in Fayette county and received a good common school education. This has been supplemented with wide reading since he left the school room, so that he is now well informed on all the main questions before the American people today. He began farming for himself immediately after his marriage and takes a commendable pride in keeping everything about the farm in good repair and has thus gained the reputation of being a careful and conscientious farmer. He raises all of the crops usually grown in this section of the state and gives a due share of his attention to the breeding of live stock.

Mr. Allen was married on New Year’s day, 1903, to Mary Myrtle Stafford, the daughter of Charles and Mary (Johnson) Stafford. To this union has been born one son, Charles H., November 13, 1904. Fraternally, Mr. Allen is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the encampment as well. He is a genial, affable and pleasant man to meet and is well deserving of the high esteem in which he is universally held by his friends and acquaintances.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EPHRAIM L. ALLEN.

The Allen family first came to Fayette county, Ohio, nearly a century ago, and have been identified with the history of Jasper township during all of these years. Ephraim L. Allen has spent the half century of his life within the limits of this township and consequently is well known by the residents of his township. His life has always been conducted along such lines as to merit the high esteem in which he is universally held, and he is conceded by every one to be one of the progressive and representative citizens of the township.

Ephraim L. Allen, son of Elijah and Mahala (Harper) Allen, was born September 11, 1860, on the farm where he is now living. His father, who was the son of Elijah and Sorilia (Hinkle) Allen, was born in Jefferson township, near Lancaster, this county, in 1827. Elijah Allen, Sr., came from Pendleton county, Virginia, and was one of the early pioneers of Fayette county, Ohio. Elijah Allen, Jr., and wife were the parents of twelve children, James, Mrs. Adelia Sanderson, Mrs. Selvelia Wilt, Mrs. Christina K. Street, Ephraim L., Emma, Ella, William S., Carrie and Maywood P. Of these children, Emma and Ella are dead.

The education of Ephraim L. Allen was received in the Milledgeville and Octa schools, finishing at the latter. He remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age and then began working out by the month. After his marriage he rented land of his father and subsequently purchased sixty-nine acres where he is now living. He has always engaged in general farming, dividing his attention between the raising of grains and live stock in such a manner as to make his farm yield the best results. He has a good country home, excellent barns and outbuildings and everything which the successful farmer needs to farm to the best advantage.

Mr. Allen was married in 1893 to Frances Servis, the daughter of Phillip and Martha (Harrison) Servis. Phillip Servis was the son of Charles Servis, a native of New Jersey and an early settler in Fayette county. Phillip Servis and wife reared a family of nine children, Phillip, Ollie, Mrs. Elizabeth Lambert, Mrs. Martha Watts, James, Phoebe, Mrs. Frances Allen. Jacob and Charles. Four of these children are deceased, Philip, Ollie, James and Phoebe. Mr. Allen and his wife have a family of seven children, five of whom are living, Oscar, Melvin, Grace, Fditli and Harry. Grace married Arthur Houser and has one daughter, Helen Lucile. The second and the last children Ixrn to Mr. and Mrs. Allen, Katie and Charles, are both deceased.

Politically, Mr. Allen is identified with the Republican party and has always taken an active part in local politics. He has served as road supervisor and school director, filling both positions with credit to himself and satisfaction to the citizens of the township. Mr. Allen is a whole-souled man, interested in everything which might benefit the general welfare of his community, and is a strong supporter of all worthy moral, educational and civic enterprises.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

The late George Allen, the son of William and Sarah (Hidy) Allen, was one of eight children born to his parents, the others being Irvin, Samuel, Adam, William, Aaron, Joel and Elizabeth J.

George Allen was reared to manhood in his home county and received a good common school education. He remained with his parents until his marriage and then located in Jefferson township, in Fayette county. He bought a small farm and gradually added to it until at the tim'of his death he owned two hundred and fifty acres of land on the Jamestown pike about two miles from Jeffersonville. He was a progressive farmer and took an active interest in the welfare of his community. In addition to farming he operated a tile mill for about ten years in his township. He served in the Civil War as a member of Company G, One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and upon the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic became a member of the post at Washington C. H.

Mr. Allen was married December 1, 1868, to Mary S. Williams, the daughter of Jesse and Margaret (Bodkin) Williams. Her father was born in Harrison county, West Virginia, and when a young man came to Ohio and located in Fayette county. Seven children were born to Jesse Williams and wife, Jeremiah, Henry M., Mary S., Thomas, John, Esther and Fannie. Jesse Williams was the son of Thomas and Esther (Young) Williams, natives and life-long residents of West Virginia. Thomas Williams and wife reared a family of five children, Elizabeth, Prudence, John, Eli and Jesse.

Mr. Allen and wife reared a family of seven children, Lily, Adah, Ford, Raymond G., Roy, Clarence O. and Delia. Lily is the wife of Adam Jacks and has three children, Luella, Claude and Marie. Adah is the wife of

Arthur Hidy and has three children, Florence, Francis and Earl. Ford H. married Jennie Edge. Raymond G. married Belle Perslinger and has two children, Mildred and George. Roy married Edith Connor, and Delia became the wife of James Rea.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRANK M. ALLEN.

The success of any man is not the measure of material wealth that he. may be able through his genius to accumulate, but by the actual good he may perform for himself and for others. It has been wisely stated that “he who causes two blades of grass to grow where one grew before is a benefactor to mankind. The man who is loyal to his family, to his community and to his country always makes a model citizen. Some men are gifted in one way and others in another, but the man who can adapt himself to his environments and do well his part in life’s conflict, best serves the purpose for which he was created. Such a man is Frank M. Allen, supervising editor of the historical portion of this volume. Hence the following, notice concerning

Mr. Allen, the present county superintendent of schools in Fayette county, whose career as a teacher, a soldier, a county official and most exemplary American citizen, will be briefly referred to.

Frank M. Allen was born June 30, 1846, in Jefferson township, Fayette county, Ohio, the son of Armstrong and Jane (McHenry) Allen, natives of Ohio and Kentucky, respectively. Armstrong Allen was born in Madison county, Ohio, December 25, 1808, and was reared to manhood in his native county. His wife, Jane McHenry, was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 1809, the daughter of John McHenry, a native of Scotland, who came to this country in young manhood and became the American ancestor of this McHenry family. John and Mary McHenry were the parents of five children, Elizabeth, Isaac, Green, John and Jane. The last named became the wife of Armstrong Allen. Her brothers, Green and John, were soldiers in the War of 1812.

Armstrong and Jane (McHenry) Allen were blessed with children as follows: Elizabeth, Rachel, John C., Mary, William, David, Isaac and Frank M. John C. Allen, of this family, was captain of Company Iv, Forty-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War. I11 this same regiment also loyally served three other sons of Armstrong Allen and wife, viz: William, Isaac and David, while the youngest child, Frank M. Allen, who was too young to enlist at the beginning of the war, managed to enter the army in February, 1864, and served as an efficient soldier until his final muster out on August 6, 1865, having participated, under Gen. Phil Sheridan, in Virginia during the last year of that memorable conflict. Thus it will be seen that all of Armstrong Allen’s five sons were soldiers from their native state — a splendid record of loyalty indeed. The father, Armstrong Allen, died February 19, 1847, when Frank M. was less than one year of age. The good mother survived until August 12, 1895.

Frank M. Allen attended the common schools of Jefferson township, then went to the graded schools of Jeffersonville, after which he entered the Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, from which he subsequently graduated. He then began teaching in the district schools of Fayette county, continuing many years with marked success. He was promoted as an instructor to the principalship of the Bloomingburg schools. In 1879 he was elected principal of the high school at Washington C. H. The last named position he left for the purpose of taking the superintendency of the city schools of Miincie, Indiana, where he gave universal satisfaction, and resigned to accept a more lucrative position as superintendent of the North Denver schools, in Colorado.

His latest school teaching was at Jefferson, Ohio, where he taught a few years before being elected clerk of Fayette county.

Rich with the experience of years in the school rooms of this and other states, it is no wonder that he was elected, under the new school law of Ohio, in July, 1914, as county superintendent of schools. In this he is proving the same methodical, painstaking educator that has characterized him so long as an instructor.

Politically, Mr. Allen has long been identified with the Republican party and, because of his ability, he has been honored on numerous occasions and was elected to the office of county clerk, beginning in 1887 and serving faithfully and well for three terms. He has also served as a member of the Washington C. H. school board and as county examiner. For many years he was on the county board of equalization, and was appointed by Governor Cox as a trustee of the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors' Orphans' Home at Xenia, which position he still holds. He is also a member of the board of examiners of the state, being appointed by the supreme court. T11 this role he serves as chairman of the committee on general learning. He has served as f commander of Hays Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Washington C. j

PL and is much interested in this post. He has served as senior vice-corn tender of the state. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, having joined this fraternity in 1876, at Bloomingburg, Ohio. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias order at Washington C. H. He is a

member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as are the members of his house- * hold.

Unlike the man who has had fortunes showered upon him from his south, what he possesses in way of prosperity has come by the industry and toil so well known to every citizen of Fayette county. Among his holdings may be mentioned his two-hundred-acre farm on Mallow pike, three and a, half miles to the west of Washington C. H. To this he gives personal super- I vision, and delights in seeing it produce its annual crops and also in making improvements from year to year as needed. The family home in Washington C. H. is situated on East Temple street, where genial hospitality is duly ’ appreciated by a legion of friends.

Of Mr. Allen's domestic life it may be stated that he married Sarah, daughter of Harvey and Mary (Prooms) Sanderson, on June 18, 1868. Mrs. j. Allen was born near Milledgeville, Ohio, in Jasper township, this county.; Her father was born in the same township, a son of Harvey and Ruth (Fig- 1 gins) Sanderson. Harvey Sanderson, Jr., one of four in his parents’ family, was a prosperous farmer in Jefferson township; was a zealous church worker; was active in political work and one of the best known citizens here in his day and generation.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank M. Allen are the parents of three children, Aurelius (Rell G. Claude and Ralph.

Aurelius Allen, the eldest son, graduated from the high school at Washington C. H., after which he entered the Cincinnati Law School, from which he graduated in 1896. He has been in active practice at the county seat for a number of years. He served as deputy clerk in the Fayette county court; was mayor of the city three terms and is now probate judge of Fayette county. He is ranking major in the Ohio National Guard.

Claude, the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Allen, graduated from the local high school, and entered the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, from which she graduated. She is now the wife of Guy B. Saxton and their daughter, Jane Saxton, is attending the Ohio Wesleyan College, at Delaware, Ohio.

Ralph, the third and youngest of the family of Frank M. Allen and wife, is deceased.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.