Anson E. Allen

ALLEN, ORKIN, VAN RENNSELAAR, GILBERT, KNIGHT

Posted By: Temporary CC (email)
Date: 7/14/2008 at 10:07:06

ANSON E. ALLEN, of Viola Township, is the possessor of one among the best farms in the township. As an agriculturist and raiser of hogs and cattle, Mr. Allen occupies the front rank. He began his way in life without means, but by hard labor, economy, and good management he has acquired a good competence. He was born in Ticonderoga, New York, October 5, 1838, and is the fourth in a family of eight children, five boys and three girls. The father, La Fayette Allen, was born in East Middlebury, Vermont, in 1806. He was a farmer and merchant by occupation, and was a son of Ebenezer Allen, who was a distant relative of Ethan Allen. The mother of A. E. Allen was Betsey Orkin, daughter of James and Nancy Orkin, who was born in New Hampshire in 1810. James Orkin was born in England, and was brought to America at the age of seven years; be was a soldier in the war of 1812. The mother of La Fayette Allen, father of our subject, was a Van Rennselaar, of Hollandish descent. La Fayette Allen removed with his family and settled in Rutland County, Vermont, where he passed the remainder of his days. At the death of his father A. E. Allen was but eleven years old; he was sent to the common school, and later attended a select school at Brandon, Vermont. He resided with his mother until he had attained his eighteenth year, when he drifted west to Jones County, Iowa. In 1862 Mr. Allen enlisted in Company K, Twenty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, going into camp; his company was assigned to the western army, where he did faithful service, and was discharged in 1863, after which he returned to Jones County, Iowa. He then engaged in farming, buying and shipping stock to the eastern markets on the large scale, and continued in this business for a period of fifteen years, in which he was successful, although he commenced on a small capital. In 1882 Mr. Allen removed from Jones County, Iowa, to Audubon County, purchasing seven eighty acre tracts of land; he afterward bought other tracts until he owned 880 acres, a part of which he sold, leaving one section, 640 acres. This farm is most admirably situated, being on one of the branches of the Nishnabotna River and the most of the land is in a fine state of cultivation. The farm is well stocked with cattle and hogs for the protection of which Mr. Allen has provided a number of sheds; the large water supply needed is furnished by a windmill, with several tanks, all being arranged with an eye to convenience. Mr. Allen has a large substantial residence, situated upon an elevated plain, commanding a fine view of the surrounding country. He has been twice married first in 1804 to Mary Gilbert, who was born in 1844, and died in 1873, leaving three boys Charles, a farmer; Frank, of the firm of Allen & Crane, editors of the Audubon County Advocate, and Horace, now living with his grandmother in Vermont. Mr. Allen's second wife was Catherine Knight, who died in Jones County, Iowa, in 1879, leaving one little daughter Emma Kate. In political matters Mr. Allen is rather conservative, voting as a rule the Republican ticket. He and his two sons served in the late civil war. His grandfather, Ebenezer Allen, served in the war of 1812.