Allen, William

ALLEN, MILLER, WEST, WAIT

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 3/25/2020 at 14:40:44

WILLIAM ALLEN, retired farmer and merchant at Kalona, was born in Grayson County, Va., Aug. 2, 1821. He is the son of Robert and Anna (Miller) Allen. When nine years of age he removed with his pares to Jackson County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and later was a school teacher, and was also employed as a merchant’s clerk. He was married, April 17, 1844, to T.A. Elizabeth West, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of John and Elizabeth West. Mr. and Mrs. Allen were the parents of five children, two sons and three daughters, as follows: Marcus, married to Miss Hannah King, resides in Ottumwa, and is a machinist by trade; Mary J. is married to William Izar, of Denver, Col.; Sarah A. died at the age of two years; James W. is married and lives in the State of Oregon, and is a machinist, contractor and builder; Eudocia died when one year old. Mrs. Allen died Aug. 30, 1854, and Mr. Allen married again, April 5, 1855, in Scioto County, Ohio, his second wife being Miss Perlina S Wait. She was the daughter of B.F. and Mary (Smith) Wait, and was born in Scioto County, Ohio. They were the parents of five children, two boys and three girls: William, who died aged thirteen years; Benjamin F., now a physician in Kalona; M Grace, Emma E and Cora F., living at home. The mother of this family died June 23, 1881, regretted by a large circle of friends.

Mr. Allen came to Washington County, Iowa, in April, 1856, and made his home in Lime Creek Township. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits for two years at Dayton, and afterward in farming. He was elected Representative in 1868, was County Commissioner six consecutive years, and has held minor offices in his township. He moved to Kalona in 1886. He still owns his farm in Lime Creek Township. The home farm comprises 162 acres, but the family owns additional land, making in all 300 acres. They attend worship at the Methodist Church, but Mr. Allen is independent in his views. Politically, his is a Republican. He is a man of original ideas, courteous, upright, and highly respected.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of William Allen, page 336.