William Allen

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, 1902
Transcribed by Diane Minor!

On both sides of the family William H. Allen farmer and brick-maker of Medina Township is descended from great-grandparents who courageously espoused the cause of Liberty during the Revolutionary War. He was born in Thompson, Connecticut, June 23, 1831 and is a grandson of Simeon Allen and a son of Hollis Allen the latter of whom was born in Connecticut May 9, 1805 and died February 2, 1887. The mother of Mr. Allen formerly Catherine G. Searles daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Arnold) Searles of Massachusetts was born in Connecticut September 5, 1810 and died in 1896. Hollis Allen, his wife and four children removed from Connecticut to Bureau County, Illinois in 1837 and identified themselves with the then thinly settled agricultural region. In 1846 their fortunes were shifted to Peoria County and two years later to Medina Township where for two years the elder Allen operated a brick-yard on Section 17. For a few years after his death his sons emulating their father’s example continued to carry on the affairs of the manufactory. Of the children born to Hollis Allen and his wife the following accompanied their parents on the journey from Connecticut: Alfred R., deceased; William H; Hannah E., who married George Devault and is deceased and Martin V. B., who is also deceased. In Bureau County, Illinois were born Catherine Lucinda who married William Truesdale and lives in Peoria and Priscilla Searles who is deceased. Simeon Hiram who lives near Villisca, Iowa and Oscar who is deceased were born in Peoria County.

In Bureau and Peoria Counties, William H. Allen was reared to an appreciation of his best capabilities and not only learned to be a model farmer but acquired as well a minute knowledge of the brick-making business. At Lacon, October 30, 1858, he married Sarah E. Nuttall who was born in Yorkshire, England, March 18, 1836 and is a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Whitam) Nuttall natives of England. Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Allen, Varina T., born August 9, 1859 is a graduate of the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Peoria and married Austin Shaw; Walter H., born November 22, 1860 graduated from the Veterinary College of Chicago and the Barnes Medical College of St. Louis and is now practicing medicine at Neponset, Bureau County, Illinois; Cora was born April 17, 1862 and is the wife of B.C. Dunlap; Oscar was born November 20, 1867 is a graduate of the Keokuk Medical College and is practicing his profession at Dunlap; and Albert, born June 19, 1872, graduated from the Barnes Medical College of Saint Louis and is engaged in practice in Oklahoma. In Medina Township Mr. Allen is successful as a farmer and brick-manufacturer and he is prominently identified with the most intelligent growth of his locality. Politically a Democrat, he had held the office of Collector and Assessor of Medina Township.

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