Taylor County, Iowa: Benjamin Allen family

Family Group Sheet data from: Pat Combs O'Dell: genpat@netins.net

husband	Benjamin Allen
birthdate and birthplace	11 Aug 1810 Maine
death date, place	12 Oct 1858 Polk Twp, Taylor Co, Iowa - Will
burial	Shearer Cem, Buchanan Twp, Page County, Iowa
1st marriage	02 Dec 1832 Cuyahoga Co, Oh
father	Aaron Allen - will
mother	Martha Prince
	census records:

wife	Permelia [Pamela] Williams
birthdate and place	09 Apr 1814 East Haddam, Conn
deathdate and place	21 Oct 1883 Polk Twp, Taylor Co, Ia - obituary 1, obituary 2; estate; land
2nd marriage	07 Nov 1865 Taylor Co, Ia: John Taylor
burial	Shearer Cem, Buchanan Twp, Page Co, Ia tombstone
father	Eli Williams
mother	Pamela Fuller

CHILDREN

#1 Eli Williams	born	c1833 Cuyahoga Co, Oh
	married	Elizabeth
	died
	buried

#2 [Phidia] F. Pamela	born	c1835 Michigan
	married	David Wiley
	died	c1873 accident- see mother's obituary
	buried

#3 Mary Almira	born	13 Jan 1838 Marshall Co, Ill
	married	27 Dec 1857 Taylor Co, Ia: Edwin Mapes
	married	01 Apr 1859 Taylor Co, Ia: Samuel Gant
	died	05 Feb 1895 Polk Twp, Taylor Co, Ia
	buried	Siam Cem, Polk Twp, Taylor Co, Ia

#4 Asenath Elnora	born	03 Jun 1840 Marshall Co, Ill
	married	13 May 1858 Taylor Co, Ia: Ethen Irvin Oxley
	died	28 Dec 1921 Polk Twp, Taylor Co, Ia
	buried	Shearer Cem, Buchanan Twp, Page Co, Ia

#5 Orlando	born	1842 Marshall Co, Ill
	married	04 Jul 1860/1 Andrew Co, Mo: Nancy Rhoades - divorced
	married	12 Apr 1879 Mrs Martha A. Knapp - divorced
	died	10 Mar 1895 Bigelow, Marshall Co, Ks
	buried

#6 Lorenzo	born
	married
	died	24 Feb 1864 Helena, Phillips Co, Ark - Civil War pension record
	buried

#7 Winfield Scott	born	23 Apr 1846 Marshall Co, Ill
	married	17 Sep 1868 Andrew Co, Mo: Lydia Margaret Rhoades
	died	31 Dec 1920 Bigelow, Marshall Co, Ks
	buried	Antioch Cem, Bigelow, Marshall Co, Ks

#Benjamin	born	1850 Marshall Co, Ill
	married
	died
	buried

#9 Olive Marie	born	24 Mar 1852 Marshall Co, Ill
	married	10 Jan 1867 Taylor Co, Ia: Eli Ridgley
	died	26 Oct 1912 Gage Co, Ne
	buried

NOTES:

[Obituary 1] Pamela Williams Allen obituary:

On Sunday Oct 21st [1883], Mrs Allen, living about one half mile south of Buchanan [Siam, Iowa], quietly passed away from among the living. Her death was the final result of injuries received as has been narrated heretofore. From the time she was hurt her sufferings were terrible until death came to the rescue of her soul. Mrs Allen was known and esteemed by all for untiring faithfulness in relieving the afflicted and bereaved, and never was work so urgent or time so precious but she could go (if called upon) to relieve the sick.

Having always as much as possible led an exemplary christian life, she will be missed by us all on account of her many merits. She was the mother of ten children, four of whom have passed over the cold river of death before her, five of them being at her bedside at death, viz: Orlando Allen from Kansas, Winfield Allen from Rosendale, Mo, and Mrs Gant, Mrs Olive Ridgley and Mrs E.I. Oxley all of this county. She also had one son in California who was not present. She had 51 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Twenty-one of her grandchildren and three great-grandchildren accompanied by their parents and a large concourse of friends followed her to the grave. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. E.B. Heaton at the Buchanan [Siam] church. Her remains were intered in the Shearer Cemetery.

Strange to say Mrs Allen was the fifth member of the family who met their death by accident. About ten years ago she had a daughter killed, Mrs E.I. Oxley (another daughter) having lost three children by accident. The first was a little girl thrown from a load of hay; the next a little boy kicked on the head by a horse and receiving such severe injuries as soon resulted in death. The last was a young man about twenty years of age who drowned in the Nodaway River three years ago. Such frequent recurrences of fatality have not visited many families.

The bereaved have the sympathy of the entire community. May God so keep them that when the dark angel of death shall come they may exclaim in the language of the prophet Samuel "Nither to the Lord hath helped us." Or in the language of Job, "I know that my Redeemer liveth and He will stand with me in the latter days upon this earth for though after my skin worms destroy this mortal body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold and not another." T.A.Z.L.

Taylor County Republican, Bedford, Iowa,

[Obituary 2] Died, Mrs Pamelia Allen, on Sunday, the 21st ult., at her residence near Buchanan [Siam], in the seventieth year of her age. The deceased was born at Hartford, Connecticut, on the 9th of April 1814, but had lived in this county for many years. She was a widow, and the mother of ten children, six of whom survive her, one of them, being Mrs Ephraim Oxley, of Polk township. Mrs Allen was a devoted Christian, and for a long period had been a consistent member of the Christian church. Her death was calm, and peaceful and her dying words were, "I am ready to go." The funeral took place on Tuesday, at the Shearer cemetery, the services being conducted by Rev E.B. Heaton, of New Market. The attendance was very large. The Taylor County Republican, Bedford, Iowa, Nov 1, 1883

Pamela Allen's tombstone reads: A true wife, a kind mother, and a faithful christian

CENSUS RECORDS

1840 Marshall Co, Lafayette Precinct, Illinois

Benjamin Allen

1 male 20/30

1 female 20/30

1 male 5/10

3 females /5


1850 Marshall Co, Illinois, 08 Oct
Benjamen Allen	40	m	farmer	Maine
Permelia	36	f	housekeeper	Conn
Eli	17	m	farmer	Ohio
F.	14	f		Mich
Almyra	12	f		Ill
Eleanora	10	f		Ill
Orlando	08	m		Ill
Lorenzo	05	m		Ill
Winfield	03	m		Ill
Benjamin	10/12	m		Ill


1860 Taylor County, Polk twp, Iowa - Jun 27, #311 PO Siam
Permelia Allen	46	f	farming	$2800/200	Conn
Lorenzo	15	m			Ill
Windfield	13	m			Ill
Oliva	08	f			Ill

next door #312
Eli Allen	28	m	farmer	$1200/200	Ohio
Elizabeth	27	f			Ill
Flora	02	f			Iowa
Curtis	01	m			Iowa
Orlando Allen	18	m	farmer		Ill

next door #313
Samuel Gant	29	m	farmer	$100/100	England
Almyra	23	f	housekeeper		Ill
Caroline Mapes	02	f			Iowa

1870 Taylor County, Polk Twp, Iowa - 14 Jul; PO Siam
Eli Ridgley	23	m	farmer	Ohio
Olive M. Ridgley	18	f	housekeeper	Ill
Almeta Ridgley	6/12	f	born Jan	Iowa
Permelia Taylor	56	f	housekeeper	Conn
Winfield Allen	24	m	farmer	Ill
Adda M. Allen	17	f	housekeeper	Mo
Mary Viola Allen	01	f		Iowa


1880 Taylor County, Polk Twp, Iowa - 05 Jul
Pamelia Allen, white, female, born Conn - living with Samuel Dresher family and no other info given

Will of Benjamin Allen

Benjamin Allen's will is the first will in Will Book A in Taylor County, Iowa. It says that he leaves everything to his beloved wife Pamela. Will written Sep 14, 1858.

Taylor County, Iowa Marriage Record, Book 1 page 190

Certificate of marriage: To the county court of Taylor county. This certifies that on the 7th day of November A.D. 1865 at the house of Eli Allen in Said county according to Law and authority I duly joined in marriage John Taylor and Parmelia Allen. Given under my hand and the 7th day of November A.D. 1865, L.D. Hatfield, J.P.

CIVIL WAR PENSION APPLICATION

[Document 1-Sep 15, 1864]

State of Iowa

County of Taylor SS

On this 15th day of September A.D. 1864, personally appeared before the undersigned Clerk of the district Court in and for the county and state aforesaid, Pamela Allen a resident of said Taylor county Iowa aged fifty years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the Act of Congress approved July 14th, 1862; that she is the widow of Benjamin Allen, and mother of Lorenzo Allen who was a private in Company F. commanded by james Brooks now by L.B. Marsh in the twenty ninth regiment of Iowa Infantry volunteers, in the war of 1861, who died in the hospital of said regiment in Helena in the state of Arkansas in or about the 23rd of February A.D. 1863 of camp diarrhea a disease contracted while in the said service and in the line of his duty as such soldiers. She further declares that her said son upon who she was entirely dependent for support, having left surviving him no father, wife child or children, she makes this declaration for a pension under the above mentioned act, and refers to the evidence filed herewith and that in the proper department, to establish her claim, she further says that her said son was the only one living with her that she received his wages and the provides o fhis labor and that he furnished her with the necessaries of life and that she was dependent upon him for a support. She also declares that she has not in anyway, been engaged in or aided or abetted the rebellion in the United States that she is not in the receipt of a pension under the 2nd section of the vet above mentioned or under any other act nor has she again married since the deth of her son the said Lorenzo Allen.And she hereby constitutes and appoints S.J. hall of Bedford Taylor county, Iowa state her attorney to prosecute this claim and to receive a certificate herefor. My Post Office address is Bedford, T aylor county, Iowa.

[signed] Pamela Allen

Also personally appeared J.M. Hatfield and Phebe Hatfield residents of Taylor county and Iowa state persons whom I certify to be respectalbe and entitled to credit and who being by me duly sworn say that they were present and saw Pamela Allen sign her name to the foregoing declaration and proven of Attorney and they further swear that they have every reson to believe from the appearance of the applicant and their acquaintance with her and her said son Lorenzo Allen, that she is the person who she represents herself to be, and that they have no interest in the persecution of this claim.

[signed] J.M. Hatfield

[signed] Phebe Hatfield

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15th day of September A.D. 1864 by Pamela Allen, J.M. Hatfield, and Phebe Hatfield. And I hereby certify that I have no direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim and that declarant and [affranst] are credible persons. And the said Pamela Allen acknowledged the execution of the foregoing power of Attorney to be her voluntary act and deed. Witness my hand and official seal. Done in Taylor county, Iowa day & year last above written.

E.T. Smith, Clerk of Dist Court

[Document 2 Dec 9, 1864]

Department of the Interior

Pension Office

Dec 9, 1864

Sir:

You are respectfully requested to furnish official evidence of the enrollment muster service, duty and cause of death of Lorenzo Allen who was a Private in Co F 29 Regiment of Iowa Vols reported died Feby 23, 1863.

Please attach this Circular to your report and return the same to this office.

No. 66105

Respectfully &c

Joseph H. Barrett

Commissioner

Adjt. Gen'l USA

[Document 3 Jan 5, 1865] ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, D.C. January 5th, 1865

Sir;

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your office of application for Pension No. 66105, and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this office.

It appears from the Rolls on file in this Office, that Lorenzo Allen was enrolled on the 18th day of Dec., 1862, at Bedford, Iowa in Co F 29th Regiment of Iowa Volunteers, to serve three years, or during the war, and mustered into service as a Private on the 24th day of Dec 1862, at St Louis, Mo., in Co F 29th Regiment of Iowa Volunteers, to serve three years or during the war. On the Muster Roll of Co F of that Regiment for the months of January and Feb 1863, he is reported Died at Helena, Arkansas Feby 24, 1863. Cause of death not stated.

I am, Sir, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant

Sam Breck

Assistant Adjutant General

The Commissioner of Pensions

Washington, D.C.

[Document 4 handwritten letter from Pamelia Allen][filed Mar 4, 1878]

Dear Sir,

I take my pen in answer to your letter Lorenzo Allen was never married

Benjamin Allen the father of Lorenzo Allen died Oct 12, 1858 taken from the Bible

as to my giving an account of my living correctly I can not do it I have had a good many in changes that time at the time I made application for a pension all I had was a cow I have labored for my substance until I have lost my health and old age is creeping on I am sixty four in April but I trust in the God of heaven who I serve that he will provide for me he always has

I have letters that Lorenzo Allen wrote to me when he was in the army when they took him they took my help from me and I had 2 young children to provide for it was cruel but I had to bear it

my children are all gone from me now I am alone if you think it right to give me a pension it is all right and if you think it not best that is right.

Pamelia Allen

Taylor County, Iowa: estate of Pamela Allen. Probate Book 2 page 441 Box #1

List of heirs:

Eli W. Allen, 48

Mary A. Gant 44

Mrs E.I. Oxley 42

Orlando Allen 40

Winfield Allen 38

Olive M. Ridgley 28

Original Notice: In the Circuit Court of Iowa, in and for Taylor county, April term, 1884

Mary Gant and Samuel Gant, Plaintiffs,

Eli W. Allen and Elizabeth Allen, his wife, Orlando Allen and ---- Allen, wife of Orlando Allen, Winfield S. Allen and Margaret Allen, his wife, Acenath E. Oxley and E.I. Oxley, her husband, Olive M. Ridgely and Eli Ridgley, her husband, son and daughters of Pamelia Allen, deceased, David Wiley, husband of Pamelia P. Wiley, a deceased daughter of said Pamelia Allen, deceased, and the unknown children and heirs at law of said Pamelia P. Wiley, deceased, and grandchildren of said Pamelia Allen, deceased,

Defendants:

To said defendants:

You are hereby notified that on or before the first day of April A.D. 1884, there will be on file in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Taylor county, Iowa, the petition of the plaintiffs aforesaid, claiming to be the absolute owners of the undivided one-seventh (1-7) of the following described land, to-wit: The southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section No. seventeen (17) in Township No. sixty-seven (67) north range No. thirty-five (35) west of the 4th P.M., containing forty acres, more or less as per the government survey, and alleging that said defendants are the owners of the remaining six-sevenths (6-7) of said above described land. That said parties, plaintiffs and defendants acquired their interest in said land by inheritance from Pamelia Allen, deceased, and asking that partition thereof be made between said parties plaintiffs and defendants.

You are also notified that unless you appear thereto and defend, before noon of the second day of the term of said Circuit Court of Taylor county, to be held on the 21st day of April, 1884, a default will be entered against you and judgment rendered thereon.

G.D. Haddock,

Attorney for plaintiff

Will of Aaron Allen - Lake County, Ohio

I, Aaron Allen of the county of Lake in the State of Ohio do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say

First; It is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid.

Second; I give and bequeath to my wife Ruth all the articles of property which she brought me and which belonged to her previous to our marriage, also my cow & copper kettle all the wood that shall become due to me or my estate this spring from Rufus Mapes of Mayfield. I also direct my executors to loan three hundred dollars of the money of my estate upon good security upon landed property & to pay the interest thereof semi-annually or oftener if used shall require to my wife Ruth during her natural life provided she shall continue my widow.

Third; I do give and bequeath to the American Board of Commission for Foreigh Missions in trust to be appropriated by the said Board to the cause of foreign Missions in such manner as said Board in the expense of their discretion shall think proper, fifty dollars.

Fourth; I do give and bequeath to the first Presbyterian Society in Willoughby fifty dollars to be applied to a parsonage or in any other way the church shall think best.

Fifth; I do declare this to be my intention in word to my son Benjamin; that as he has already received more than his share out of my property he is to receive nothing more out of my estate after my decease and the amount charged to him upon my book of amounts, I authorize my executors to discharge and requit my son therefor on upon condition that my son release any account or claim he may have against my estate

Sixth; I do give and bequeath all the rest residue of my estate to my children except Benjamin to be divided among them share and share alike

And lastly; I hereby consititute and appoint Luther P. Bates to be the executors of this my last will and testament revoking and annulling all former wills by me made and ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh day of April A.D. 1850?1840?

Signed, published and declared by the above named Aaron Allen as and for his last will & testament in presence of us who it his request have signed as witnesses to the same.

B. Brainard

William Fowler

[signature] Aaron Allen