TANDY ALLEN
Tandy Allen, one of the best known pioneers of Lucas
county and at one time one of the largest landowners in Cedar
township, Lucas county, is living retired in Russell after
many years of honorable and profitable connection with
agricultural interests of his locality. He was born in
Montgomery county, Kentucky, near Mount Sterling, June 3,
1832, and is a son of Robert and Mary (Allison) Allen, the
former of whom was born in Lowden county, Virginia, February
25, 1797, and the latter October 12 of the same year. Their marriage
occurred October 25, 1818, and they continued to reside in
Virginia for some years.
They afterward moved to Kentucky and thence, in 1837,
came overland with ox teams to Putnam county, Indiana,
settling on a farm in that locality, upon which they continued
to reside for a number of years. The father died at Bainbridge, Indiana,
October 1, 1866, and the mother in the same city, August 30,
1862. Eleven
children were born to their union, as follows: Mrs. Zarilda Fyffe,
whose birth occurred March 13, 1820, the deceased wife of
Thomas Fyffe; Joseph Franklin, who was born February 18, 1822,
and who died September 17, of the same year; Elijah, who was
born September 24, 1823, and who died in April, 1885; Mrs.
Armilda Fyffe, whose birth occurred November 27, 1825, and who
died at Bainbridge, Indiana, March, 1897; Mrs. Loduska
Cassity, who was born April 23, 1828, and who died June 11,
1858; Mrs. Matilda McKee, who was born January 25, 1830, and
who died June 16, 1868; Tandy, of this review; Mrs. Mary
Vannice, who was born September 9, 1834, and who resides in
Russell; Frances, whose birth occurred June 3, 1837, and who
died March 23, 1843; Albert, born October 10, 1839, residing
at Shelbyville, Illinois; and Mrs. Margaret McKee, born
October 5, 1841, a resident of Russell.
Tandy Allen went overland with his parents to Putnam
county, Indiana, in 1837, being at that time five years of
age. He was
reared upon the home farm in Indiana and acquired his
education in the district schools of that state. In September, 1854,
he made the overland journey into Iowa, settling on a farm in
Cedar township, Lucas county, in very early times. At the time of his
arrival pioneer conditions prevailed everywhere, much of the
land being still a primeval wilderness. Indians and wild
game were plentiful and all the hardships and privations of
frontier life were to be met.
These Mr. Allen faced with confidence and courage,
developing his first purchase of one hundred and twenty acres
and adding to it from time to time until he was finally the
largest landowner in Cedar township. He resided upon his property until 1894,
when he moved to Chariton, making his home there until 1898,
when he returned to the farm.
Two years later he built a commodious home in Russell,
having sold all his holdings with the exception of three
hundred and seventy acres of the original tract.
On the 29th of January, 1856, in Hendricks
county, Indiana, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss
Joanna Smith Vannice, a daughter of Peter and Sarah (Smith)
Vannice, natives of Kentucky, the former born July 11, 1801,
and the latter February 12, 1806. They moved to Indiana in 1831 and both
died in that state, the father passing away February 9, 1888,
and the mother February 11 of the same year. In the Vannice
family were eleven children, as follows: Mrs. Luzanne
Hadley, who was born February 7, 1829, and who now resides on
a portion of the old home farm in Hendricks county, Indiana;
William, who was born October 14, 1830, and who died at
Chariton in April, 1894; Samuel, whose birth occurred March
10, 1833, and who resides in Russell; Mrs. Allen, wife of the
subject of this review; Mrs. Jane Trotter, who was born March
1, 1837, and who died June 22, 1898; Mrs. Sarah Ferguson whose
birth occurred December 23, 1839, and who makes her home in
Chicago, Illinois; Milton B., who was born August 6, 1842, and
who died August 22, 1904; James R., who was born May 6, 1845,
and who died November 12, 1851; Henry, who was born July 31,
1850, and who died September 23, 1862; and Mrs. Ellen Hawkins,
born February 12, 1853, residing at Indianapolis, Indiana. The two eldest
children in this family were born in Kentucky and all the
others on the old home farm in Hendricks county, Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen have become the parents of twelve
children. The
eldest, Carrie E., was born December 16, 1856, and grew to
womanhood in Lucas county.
She attended the public schools and later the Missouri
State Normal School at Kirksville, after which she engaged in
teaching, resigning to become county superintendent of schools
of Lucas county. She
held this position from January 1, 1890, to January 1, 1896. She is at present
engaged in teaching in the public schools in Chicago. Eliza Matilda was
born March 31, 1858. On
the 19th of January, 1876, she married Joseph C.
Cassity and died near La Grange, Illinois, January 1, 1897. Sarah Adelaide was
born March 17, 1860, and married March 7, 1882, William J.
Prather, of Cedar township.
Mary Isabel was born October 17, 1861, and on March 11,
1885, married Samuel F. Goltry, of the vicinity of Russell. Louisiana was born
June 21, 1863, and married on March 11, 1885, George H.
Johnson, of Strasburg, Canada.
Charles Edgar was born January 8, 1865. He married on the
29th of August, 1889, Miss Susie L. Morrow, and
they reside in Nebraska.
Fred Hadley was born December 18, 1866, and now resides
in Nebraska. He
married on the 10th of October, 1894, Jessie E.
Elliott. Henry
Smith was born August 10, 1869.
He married on November 1, 1893, Miss Annie E. Boyd, and
they live near Russell.
Gertrude Marion was born March 21, 1871. On the 3d of
August, 1898, she married William Perry Wortman and they make
their home at Malvern, Iowa.
Aylmer J. was born November 24, 1873, and married on
the 2d of October, 1901, Miss Mabel Werts. They reside near
Russell. Tandy
Clay was born October 5, 1876, and married on the 26th
of June, 1901, Miss Nellie B. Gasser. The youngest child
in this family, Dr. Lloyd Raymond, was born September 27,
1878, and married on the 25th of September, 1906,
Miss Katharine Hoffman.
They make their home at Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Mr. Allen voted for Abraham Lincoln and since that time
has been a stanch supporter of the republican party. He is an adherent
of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and is known as a man of
exemplary character, upright and honorable in all the
relations of life. His
name has long been an honored one in this locality, for he has
taken an active part in the development of Lucas county since
pioneer times and has made many substantial contributions to
progress.