IAGenWeb - Scott County
MISSISSIPPI RIVER FOLK BACKGROUND
CAPTAIN WILLIAM ALLEN Capt. Wm Allen, one of the earliest settlers of LeClaire, and one of the best known rapids pilots of days gone by, when piloting required nerves and skill to avoid the rocks of the rapids, is on a visit to his home here. The Captain has been for two years past in the mountains of Colorado and at the various famous hot springs of that region endeavoring to regain health for himself and his daughter Mrs. Jeanette Frower. The Captain says all his efforts in the mountains and at the several hot springs were useless. Some three months ago he came to Southwestern Missouri to visit a brother, when he commenced improving in health and has continued to improve ever since, so that now he enjoys better health than for many years previous. The early settlers of this part of Scott county have good reason to remember Capt. Wm. Allen with gratitude and pleasure; and no man living has more fervent wishes from his old neighbors and acquaintances for health and happiness wherever he may sojourn.
Source: The Davenport Gazette, Davenport, Ia., 02 Feb 1876, p. 1.
TOWN AND COUNRTY
Captain William Allen, one of our oldest and best known early settlers, has put in his appearance on our streets after an absence of some 3 years at Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Source: Unknown, LeClaire, Ia., 02 Jun 1880.
LeClaire
Captain Wm. Allen, formerly a resident of this place, died at Hot Springs, Ark., on the 30th ultimo, aged seventy-three years. Mr. Allen was a native of Kentucky and came here in 1836, bringing with him the first stock of goods ever sold in the town. Besides being engaged in mercantile pursuits, many years of his life were spent in steam boating, in the capacity of pilot and master.
Source: Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Ia., 17 Nov 1885, p. 6.