Allen, Family History

ALLEN, DARRINGTON, TABOR, WELCH, FORDE, GAGEN, REED, NOECKER JOHNSON

Posted By: Darla Doyle (email)
Date: 12/11/2005 at 17:40:48

John Allen and Susan Darrinton were married in England in 1865. They came to America in 1874 with their 3 children: Anna, age 7; Susan Jane (Jennie)age 5; and John Thomas, age 3. They landed in New York City and traveled by train to Winneshiek Co. to settle in a small log house on the Joseph Darrington farm in Highland Twp. John paid for the family's passage to America by working for Joseph, who was his wife Susan's brother. John helped build the large brick house on the Darrington farm. This house remains in use as a residence today. The Allen's fourth child, Fred, was born in 1874, soon after they arrived in Winneshiek Co. The family remained on the Darrington farm for a few years and the children attended the nearby country school. Anna, the eldest daughter, later taught in that school.

Four more children were born: Albert, in 1876, Amy, 1879; Grace, 1882; and Esther, 1884. The family moved to the village of Hesper, where John was employed as janitor in the public school. The children were educated in the Hesper school. John and Susan were the parents of 11 children, 3 of whom died in infancy. Susan died in 1909 at the age of 67 and John died in 1928 at the age of 88. Both are buried in Hesper Public Cemetery.

Anna married Gilbert Tabor; they lived in Hesper and later in California. Jennie married David Welch; they farmed near Mabel, MN. J.T. (Tom) married Emma Forde; they farmed in Highland Twp. Fred lived in Hesper and worked as a laborer. Albert married Agnes Gagen; they farmed near Caledonia, MN. Amy married Oscar Reed; they lived in Austin, MN. Grace married Hugo Noecker; they farmed in Hesper Twp. Esther married Fred Johnson; they lived in Boulder, CO.

John Thomas (Tom)Allen started working out for neighbors in the Hesper area when he was 12 years old to help earn a living for his family. Later he worked on his own and acquired a home on a small acreage just west of Hesper. In 1906 Tom married Emma Forde of Fillmore Co., MN and later that year their first child, Bernice, was born. In a few years Tom started farming on a rented farm in Highland Twp. In 1912 the family purchased a nearby farm, which is the present Allen Farm. Five more children were born; Esther in 1909; Irvin, 1913; Lester, 1915; Vernon, 1918; and Doris, 1921. The Allen children all attended the nearby Grindeland school. Bernice helped Tom with chores and field work until the sons were old enough to help. For several years Tom and his sons worked rented land on neighboring farms. Tom and Emma retired from farming in 1949 when their son, Vernon, purchased the farm. In about 1952 they moved to Hesper, where they spent their last years. Tom died in 1967 at the age of 96 and Emma died in 1976 at the age of 92. Both are buried in the Hesper Lutheran Cemetery.

Bernice married Arnold Henningsgaard and they farmed in Highland and Hesper Twps. Esther married Olaf Henningsgaard; they farmed in Winneshiek Co. They went to California in 1942 and lived in Inglewood and Hemet. Olaf worked in the aircraft industry and was one of a team of 3 who set up the electrical system on the mock-up for the Apollo 11 spacecraft. Irvin married Irma Randall; they farmed in Highland Twp. and then moved to Mabel, MN. Lester married Lillian Nugaard; they farmed on the home place and later divorced. Lester lives in Pleasant Twp. Vernon married Ruth Hagen; they farmed in Highland Twp. Doris married Melvin Newgard; they farmed in Newburg Twp. Fillmore Co., MN and later moved to Mabel.