Allen, John & Susan (Darrington)

ALLEN, DARRINGTON, CLARK, WILMORE, LOVELL, JOICE, COOK

Posted By: Darla Doyle (email)
Date: 12/11/2005 at 18:20:08

Susan Darrington, born 1844 in Roxton Parish, Bedfordshire, England, the daughter of James Darrington (b 1808) and Eliza Lovell (b 1811). The Darrington and Lovell line traceable back to the early 1700's in Bedfordshire. As a child Susan became a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church. She was the granddaughter of Samuel Lovell (b 1778) and Mary Wilmore of Wilden in Bedfordshire. Samuel was a Maltster on High Street in Bedford, England. Samuel's parents were Henry Lovell who died in 1801 and Anne Joice who died in 1807 and were buried in Wilden, Bedfordshire. Henry was the first of his line to become a "freeholder" or to own his land.

Henry's parents were Samuel Lovell who died in 1780 and Mary who died in 1778 and were buried in Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, England. Susan's paternal grandparents were John (1755-1835) and Mary Cook ( - 1847) Darrington, of Chauston, Bedfordshire, England. John's parents were John Darrington who was born in 1734 and Elizabeth Clark who died in 1796. I believe John Darrington who was born in 1734 to be the son of Edward and Elizabeth Darrington of Little Staughton, Bedfordshire, England. John Allen's parents were agricultural laborers and in the mid-1800's census reports it states that John's father William was born ca 1796 in the parish of Kimbolton, Huntingdonshire, England and his mother Anne Sutton was born ca 1801 in Elington, Huntingdonshire. John was born 1848 in Graffham, Huntingdonshire, England and became a member of the Episcopal Church of England as a youth. Several of John Allen's brothers came to the U.S. also and settled in the La Crosse, KS area where they are still represented by many descendants.

Susan Darrington and John Allen were married in 1865 and in 1874 along with their first 3 children came to the U.S., the trip over the Atlantic taking 3 weeks. They lived first with Susan's brother Joseph Darrington, then built a log cabin close by. They later moved into Hesper.

Susan and John were blessed with 11 children during their marriage. Anna, Jennie, Tom, Fred, Albert, Amy, Margaret, Esther, Nerissa, Bessie and a child who died in infancy. Little is know of that child.

Anna (1866-1955) married Gilbert Tabor (b. ca. 1857) in 1889. Their children were: Gretchen, Mildred and Milo. Anna and Gilbert are buried in Inglewood, CA. Jennie (1869-1970) married David Welch (1866-1939) in 1893. They were the parents of Eva, Myron and Evelyn. Jennie and David are buried in Hesper Public Cemetery. Tom (1871-1967) married Emma Ford (1884-1976) in 1906. They were the parents of Bernice, Esther, Irvin, Lester, Vernon and Doris. Tom and Emma are buried in the Hesper Public Cemetery. Fred (1894-1948) never married. He is buried in the Hesper Public Cemetery. Albert (1876-1953) married Agnis Gagen (1876-1951) in 1902. They were the parents of Viola, Theresa, Stanley, Audrey, and Hillary. Albert and Agnis are buried in the Calvary cemetery in Calendonia, MN. Amy (1879-1959) married Oscar Reed (1869-1937) in 1901. They were the parents of Loren, Grace and Alta. Amy and Oscar are buried in the Oakwood Cemetery, Austin, MN. Margaret (1882-1934) married Hugo Noecker (1875-1958) in 1902. They were the parents of Norbert, Charlotte, Milo, Genevieve and Ruth. Margaret and Hugo are buried in the Hesper Public Cemetery. Esther (1884-1971) married Fred Johnson (1877-1864) in 1900. Their children were; Kenneth, Lucretia and Winnifred. Esther and Fred are buried in Boulder, CO. Nerissa (1887-1889) and Bessie (1889-1889) both are buried in the Hesper Public Cemetery.

After the Allen's moved into Hesper, John became the janitor for the Hesper school. John lost his left eye in an accident on the Elmer Folstad farm southwest of Hesper, which explains the profile shot in the picture. Susan died in 1909 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, MN after complications of gallbladder operation. John then moved in with his daughter, Jennie near Mabel, MN. He died there in 1928. John and Susan are both buried in the Hesper Public Cemetery. Hundreds of their descendants owe their heritage to this fine couple.

Winneshiek County, Iowa
Biographies - 1996