Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 420

MARK D. ALLEN, a leading farmer of Wilton Township, residing on section 30, was born Sept. 29, 1839, and is a son of Maj. Lyman Allen, who was born in the town of Eaton, N. Y., on the 17th day of September, 1808. His father was Asaph Allen, who served in the War of 1812, and died soon after that contest. Losing his father when but a lad, Lyman Allen was reared in the family of a relative, who resided in the State of Vermont. His opportunities for education were such as the schools of that State afforded. Being apprenticed at an early age to the trade of a carpenter he became a skillful workman, and followed the occupation of carpentering and building for many years. He was united in marriage with Sarah Brown, a daughter of Thomas Brown, and in 1832 removed to Groton, Thompkins Co., N. Y., and in May, 1853, emigrated with his family to Iowa City, where his eldest daughter, Luella, had previously removed, there engaging in teaching. In Iowa City Maj. Allen again worked at the carpenter trade. His wife died on the 30th of July, 1855, and Dec. 31, 1856, he was again married, to Mrs. Hepsy W. Baldwin, who survives her husband. He continued to engage in carpentering, thus earning in honorable manner the means of supporting his family.

About this time the excitement caused by the slavery question was intense and the war was threatened by the South. Its mutterings, heard first in the distance, grew louder as it approached nearer, and finally, on the 12th day of April, 1861, Ft. Sumter was fired upon by the rebels, and the war so long predicted, began. Maj. Allen, in common with all true lovers of the country, felt this insult to the old flag, and, realizing the Nation's peril, would gladly have joined the first company of heroes that sprang to the Nation's rescue, but being fifty-three years of age, was debarred from entering the military service. Neverthless the voice and influence of this noble patriot were ever active in support of the Government in its efforts to crush the Rebellion in its infancy. But an opportunity was at hand which permitted those men who had passed the age of fifty-five to enter into service. In 1862 the 37th Iowa Infantry, the famous Greybeard Regiment, was organized. Mr. Allen took an active and important part in securing volunteers, and on the elections of officers at Muscatine was chosen Major, a position which he filled in an able manner during the three years of service. While the principal object of this regiment was to do garrison duty, and thus enable the young men to march to the front, the service it performed was often hazardous and proved of immense value to the Government. It entered upon its first duty at St. Louis, acting as guard of the military prison until the latter part of May, 1863, when it served about two months in guarding a portion of the Pacific Railroad. Next the regiment was ordered to Alton, Ill., where it acted as guard to some Confederate prisoners until January, 1864, and then performed a similar duty at Rock Island, after which it was stationed for about three months at Memphis, Tenn., whence it was ordered to Indianapolis. In that city the regiment was divided, Maj. Allen being ordered to Gallipolis, Ohio, with two companies, where he remained in command of the post until May, 1865, at which time he was ordered to join the regiment at Cincinnati with his detachment, and from there proceeded to Davenport, where he was mustered out May 24, 1865.

After the close of the war Maj. Allen settled with his family near Chicago, Cook Co., Ill., but in the spring of 1866, returned to Iowa, locating in Muscatine County, making his home with his son, Mark D. Allen, on section 30, Wilton Township, with whom he resided until his death, Feb.28, 1888. He was a patriotic, worthy and estimable citizen, a man who possessed the confidence and respect of all. He was outspoken in his sentiments of right and wrong, and ever forward in promoting the best interests of the community in which he lived. In his political sentiments he was a Republican, and an earnest and able champion of the principles of the great National party. Though at his death Maj. Allen had passed the age of four score years his mind was still active, and he was sincerely mourned by many warm friends. He was the father of five children, all born of his first marriage, and three of that number are yet living : William T, the eldest, served in the 4th Iowa Cavalry during the Civil War, and is now living in El Paso, Texas.

Mark D., the second in order of birth, and the subject of this sketch, was born Sept. 29, 1839, and in company with his parents removed to Iowa City in May 1853. He also was one of the defenders of the country, enlisting in Company D, 1st Iowa Infantry, in the month of April, 1861, only a few days after the firing upon Ft. Sumter. With the regiment he served in Missouri during his first term of enlistment of three months, after which he spent the remaining years of the Rebellion in doing duty in the Soutwest. He was united in marriage with Miss Viola Baldwin, a daughter of his father's second wife, who now resides with them. Mrs. Allen was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., where her father died when she was but eight years of age, and in 1856 she removed with her mother to Iowa City. The union of this worthy couple has been blessed with a family of four children--Amelia, John T., Adeline W. and Luella M.

The next child of Maj. Allen is Ella May, wife of H. N.Crane, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa. The members of the family now deceased are Mrs. Luella Allen Morris and Mrs. Theresa J. Saunders.


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