Allen M. West

As printed in 1915

ALLEN M. WEST.

The great state of Ohio has been honored by the careers of Its professional men, Its Industrial managers, its commercial magnates and especially by its farmers and stockmen. In every section are to be found men born to leadership, men who have dominated because of their superior intelligence, natural endowment and force of character. It Is always profitable to present the salient facts In the lives of such men, seek out their ancestral origin, weigh their motives and examine their achievements. These reflections are suggested by the career of Allen M. West, farmer, stockman and public-spirited man of affairs, of Cuba, Clinton county. Ohio. No citizen in this part of Clinton county has achieved a more honorable position or occupied a more conspicuous place in public affairs than Allen M. West. He owns and operates a large farm of three hundred acres near Cuba and Is perhaps the largest individual live stock dealer in Clinton county, but he has always taken a commendable Interest in public affairs, especially In educational development and to him. *perhaps more than to any other man. Is due the splendid school system which now prevails at Cuba. He is related collaterally to the great Benjamin West, the artist who gained lasting fame, not only (pr himself and the West family, but for his native land.

Allen SI. West was born on October 1. lNffi), in Washington township, near Cuba, and Is the son of Allen L. and Martha J. fSIaxfleld) West, the former of whom was a native of Clark township, Clinton county, and the latter of whom was a native of Clermont county and the daughter of James SInxfield. The paternal grnndjwirents were James and Klizabeth West.

About the year 171*t John W. West, who had married Sarah Pearson, came from England and settled in I'ltts county. Pennsylvania, where they reared a family of seven children: Joseph. Mary. William. Sarah. Samuel. Hachel and Benjamin. Benjamin, the youngest child In this family, was an artist, whose work came to be well-known on two continents. Joseph, the eldest child In the family, married Jane Owen, the daughter of John Owen. To them were born nine children: Isaac, Facy, Owen. John, Sarah. Joseph, Hannah. Oeorge and Benjamin. About 1 75i Owen West, the third child of this family, was born. He married Klizabeth.Martin and moved to Virginia from Pennsylvania and later from Virginia to Clinton county. Ohio. Owen and Klizabeth i Martin West had thirteen children: Nancy. Jane. William. Mary. Susan, Owen. Thomas, James. Plyton, Klizabeth. Emily. Rebecca and John. Of this family, James, the eighth child, whose wife was Elizabeth West, was the father of Allen I.. West ami the grandfather of Allen SI. The great-grandfather. Owen West and his wife. Klizabeth (Martin) West, came to Ohio from Virginia and located In the valley of the east fork of the Little Miami river, where they purchased nineteen hundred acres of government land all In Clinton county and nearly all in Clark township, where he and his wife died. James West was a farmer, who remained on the old estate and added to his inheritance until he owned one thousand acres of the original nineteen hundred. He and his wife died on the old home estate. For nine years he was a Justice of the peace in Clinton county.

Allen I.. West was educated in the common schools of Clark township and when a young man began farming in the township of his birth. About ist*" he moved to Washington township, where he farmer the remainder of his life, owning, at the time of his death, three hundred acres of laud in that township. He was an extensive stock breeder. To Allen I., and Martha J. <Slaxticld> West were born nine children, of whom Allen SI., the subject of this sketch, was the seventh. The other children were Silss B.. Susannah. Klizabeth. James. (Jeorge. Jennie, Slartha II. and Slary J. The parents were members of the.Methodist church and Allen I.. West was a trustee In the church for many years. He was a brother of Col. Owen West, farmer, manufacturer. Inventor and soldier, of Clark township, and a distinguished citizen of this county.

Born and reared in Washington township near Cuba. Allen SI. West was educated

In the schools of Cuba, Ohio. When a young man, he began farming in Washington township. After farming here for fifteen years or until September, 1003, he moved to Cubn, where he has since lived. Mr. West owns two farms near Cuba, comprising three hundred acres, and overseas them personally. For the last fifteen years he has dealt In hay, grain and live stock and Is probably the most extensive individual stock buyer In the whole county.

On December 25. 1880, Allen M. West was married to Rhoda S. Biggs, the daughter of George and Ituth (Wright) Biggs. She was born on June 4, 1865. George Biggs, the son of William II. and Rhoda Biggs, was born lu Washington township, December 23, 1824, and reared on a farm. After 1847 he was engaged in lumbering and, at this time, built the first steam suw-mlll in Washington township, at Cuba. lie was married in January, 1849. to Ruth Wright, the daughter of Daniel and Teresa Wright, and they had seven children, three of whom died early in life. At the time of his death. Mr. Biggs owned a farm of one hundred and five acres in Clinton county.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. and Mrs. West and family are members of the Christian church. Mr. West is a Democrat and for sixteen years he has been a member of the school board. He Is possessed with a natural Interest In education and deserves much credit for the high standard of the schools in this community.. Mr. West was township clerk for twelve years.

Alfred S. Penqulte is a thrifty farmer of Washington township. Clinton county, and a man not only of strong character but of pleasing personality and who is exceedingly popular with the people of this township.

Horn on February 8. 1807. in Marion township. Clinton county. Ohio. Alfred S. Penquite Is the son of Alexander and Susannah (Vandoren) Penqulte. The father was born in Clarksville in Warren county and the mother also was born near Clarksvllle. She was the daughter of William and Athtlna Vandoren.

The paternal grandfather of Alfred 8.. William Penqulte, was a sea captain along the Atlantic coast and was lost at sea. His children were William, John. Alexander. Nancy and Elizabeth.

Alexander Penqulte received a good education In the schools of Warren county and farmer In that county until about 1*05. when he moved to Clinton county and located In Washington township. He remained in that township only one year, however, when he moved to Marion township in Clinton county. There he spent the remainder of his life on a farm of one hundred acres which he owned. Alexander and Susannah Penqulte had four children, of whom Alfred S.. the subject of this sketch, was the youngest. The three elder children were: Ixmlsa, who married J. II. Pennington; Amanda, who became the wife of J. K. Mitchell: and Lucian. who married Lizzie Hallstead. The father's family were members of the Free-will Baptist church. He was a Republican In politics.

Educated In the common schools of Marlon township. Alfred S. Penqulte began farming In that township. In 1!>2 he moved to Washington township, where he rented the farm which he purchased in 1W7. and which consists of one hundred acres. He Is a general farmer and stock raiser, but his standing as a citizen consists not so much in his success ns a farmer as in his natural powers of leadership, his wide information and his cordial relations with his neighbors.

In \Sf.r2 Alfred S. Penqulte was married to Jennie M. Mitchell, the daughter of ( It. and Mary (Clevenger) Mitchell. Mr. and Mrs. Penqulte have no children. Mr. Penqulte

As printed in History of Clinton County, Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.