Mark D. Allen

As printed in 1889

ARK D. ALLEN, a leading farmer of Wilvee, of Guthrie County, Iowa; Theodore, born rl \V\ ton Township, residing on section 30, was

March 22, 1843, served as a soldier in the late war li 11' born Sept. 29, 1839, and is a son of May.

for three years in Company G, 35th Iowa Infantry,

Lyman Allen, who was born in the town and is now a resident of Minnesota; Wesley, born of Platon, N. Y., on the 17th day of September,

June 16, 1844, is living in Marengo, Iowa; Sarah

1808. His father was Asaph Allen, who served in

F., born Aug. 28, 1846, is the wife of George Hamthe War of 1812, and died soon after that contest.

mell, of Iowa County; and the youngest, Mrs. liar-

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

in the State of Vermont. His opportunities for edu-

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

Brown, and in 1832 removed to Groton, Tompice during the whole term of his enlistment, nor kins Co., N. Y., where he engaged in the manufac-did he spend a day in the hospital during that long ure of wagons and carriages. For nineteen years period. He took part in every campaign in which he continued a resident of that place, when, in li is regiment participated, with the exception of the

1851, he removed to Rochester, N. Y., and in May,

Red River expedition, during which time he served

1853, emigrated with his family to Iowa City, where on detached duty.

his eldest daughter, Luella, had previously re-

After his return from the scene of conflict Mr.

moved, there engaging in teaching. In Iowa City

Raynor was united in marriage with Miss Lorana

May. Allen again worked at the carpenter trade.

A. Brown, their union being celebrated March 8,

His wife died on the 30th day of July, 1855, and

1866. The lady is a native of Ohio, and a daugh-

Dec. 31, 1856, he was again married, to Mrs. Ilepsy ter of Nathaniel Brown. Iler brother, Frederick

W. Baldwin, who survives her husband. He con-

Brown, was an early settler of Atalissa, but retinued to engage in carpentering, thus earning in moved from there to Ringgold County. Mr. Rayan honorable manner the means of supporting his nor lias made farming and stock-raising his occufamily.

pation through life, and in later years has engaged

About this time the excitement caused by the to some extent in buying and shipping stock. For slavery question was intense, and war was threatmany years he made his home on a farm in Cedar ened by the South. Its mutterings, heard first in

County, after which he removed to Durant, where the distance, grew louder as it approached nearer, lie resided for four years, and in March, 1883, stand finally, on the 12th day of April, 1861, Ft.

tied in Wilton. He is still the owner of the farm

Sumter was fired upon by the rebels, and the war in Cedar County, and another in Iowa County. In so long predicted began. May. Allen, in common

I his political sentiments lie is a Republican. His with all true lovers of the country, felt this insult i u to the old flag, and, realizing the Nation’s peril, would gladly have joined the first company of heroes that sprang to the Nation’s rescue, but beingfifty-three years of age, was debarred from entering the military service. Nevertheless the voice and influence of this noble patriot were ever active in support of the Government in its efforts to crush the Rebellion in its infancy. But an opportunity was at hand which permitted those men who had passed the age of forty-five years to enter into service. In 1862 the 37th Iowa Infantry, the famous Graybeard Regiment, was organized. Mr. Allen took an active and important part in securing volunteers, and on the election of officers at Muscatine was chosen Major, a position which he filled in an able manner during the three years of service. While the principal object of this regiment was to do garrison duty, and thus enable the 3’Oimg men to march to the front, the service it performed was often extremely hazardous and proved of immense value to the Government. It entered upon its first duty at St. Louis, acting as guard of the military prison until the latter part of May, 1863, when it served about two months in guarding a portion of the Pacific Railroad. Next the regiment was ordered to Alton, Ill., where it acted as guard to some Confederate prisoners until January, 1864, and then performed a similar duty at Rock Island, after which it was stationed for about three months at Memphis, Tenn., whence it was ordered to Indianapolis. In that city the regiment was divided, May. Allen being ordered to Gallipolis, Ohio, with two companies, where he remained in command of the post until May, 1865, at which time he was ordered to join the regiment at Cincinnati with his detachment, and from there proceeded to Davenport, where he was mustered out May 24, 1865.

After the close of the war May. Allen settled with his family near Chicago, Cook Co., Ill., but in the spring of 1868 returned to Iowa, locating in Muscatine County, making his home with his son, Mark D. Allen, on section 30, Wilton Township, with whom he resided until his death, Feb. 28, 1888. He was a patriotic, worthy and estimable citizen, a man who possessed the confidence and respect of all. He was outspoken in his sentiments of right and wrong, and ever forward in promoting the best interests of the community in which he lived. In his political sentiments he was a Republican, and an earnest and able champion of the principles of the great National party. Though at his death May. Allen had passed the age of four score years his mind was still active, and he was sincerely mourned by many warm friends. He was the father of five children, all born of his first marriage, and three of that number are yet living: William T., the eldest, served in the 4th Iowa Cavalry during the Civil War, and is now living in El Paso, Tex.

Mark D., the second in order of birth, and the subject of this sketch, was born Sept. 29, 1839, and in company with his parents removed to Iowa City in May, 1853. He also was one of the defenders of his country, enlisting in Company D, ist Iowa Infantry, in the month of April, 1861, only a few days after the firing upon of Ft. Sum ter. With the regiment he served in Missouri during his first term of enlistment of three months, after which he spent the remaining years of the Re hellion in doing duty in the Southwest. He was united in marriage with Miss Viola Baldwin, a daughter of his father’s second wife, who now re sides with them. Mrs. Allen was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., where her father died when she was but eight years of age, and in 1856 she removed with her mother to Iowa City. The union of this worthy couple has been blessed with a family of four children — Amelia, John T., Adeline W. and Luella M.

The next child of May. Allen is Ella May, wife of H. N. Crane, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. The members of the family now deceased are Mrs. Luella Allen Morris and Mrs. Theresa J. Saunders.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Muscatine County, Iowa (1889). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.