In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of Fayette County, Ohio : her people, industries and institutions (1914)
RALPH ALLEN.
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 History of Fayette County, Ohio : her people, industries and institutions (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
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