Litchfield enquirer., 1860-03-15
Sketches of the Early Lights of the Litchfield Bar.
 No. ".
 JOHN ALLEN.

NEW MILFORD, April 2, 1855.
 Dear Sir: John Allen was born in Great Bar rington, Mass sometime, I believe, in 1762, of respectable parents, though not distinguished in society, as remember to have heard him say, that he was the son of joiner. There were but two children of the family, son and daughter, both much distinguished in life for many good qualities, and especially for dignity of manner and department, but the trimming and amiable accomplishments all fell to the lot of the female' gaining her many admirers and among others an husband worthy of her in that excellent man.
 Elizur Goodrich of New Haven. Their father died during the minority of both the children
 Mir. Allen, having an excellent common school education, though not classic education became teacher, and being impelled by spirit of ad- venture, somewhat romantic as he was thought in those days, went suddenly, and without the knowledge of his friends, and while yet minor, to Germantown near Philadelphia, where he ob- tained place as instructor of the younger class es of an academic establishment of some note at the time. How long he remained in the above mentioned establishment do not know, but soon after leaving that place, and believe almost inn
 mediatey, he came to this place, and taught a school for some six months, and from here went immediately into Mfr. Reeves law school, and after the accustomed period of study was admit ted to the bar, and immediately settled in prac- tice in Litchfeld, where he spent his life. He confined himself almost entirely to the practice of Itchfeld County, though occasionally when called, in consequence of the eminence to which he soon attained in the profession, he practiced in other counties, in some cases of importance and especially in the Federal Circuit Court, in which, for Q few years after the formation of the present Constitution of the United States some considerable business was done, vastly more than has been done since your memory. Mr. Allen, however, never went abroad in quest of business, thinking that the very great share of Attorney business which he acquired in being always found in his office, equal, at least in point of profit to what counsellor business he might obtain by at tending Courts in other counties, considering that all the counsellor business flowing from the attorney business which he did, he was sure to be engaged in. From the time entered the law school in the fall of 1793, occupied room in his office, and had free access to his ample libra ry and boarded at the same house with him
 During all that time, and all the remaining years of his prosperous practice, which indeed lasted fill tho annaronf comm ncoment of h;s ran;d da
 cline, soon followed by death, he was engaged in almost every case of any importance in the su- perior and County Court. He was certainly, a very successful and powerful advocate, equally with the Jury as with the Court. a thoroughly read lawyer equal in point of legal science to any one at our bar, during the fore part of the time am speaking of, except Tapping Reeve, who had no rival, and in the latter part of the period James Gould, of whom need say nothing as you knew him in his meridian light. Mr. Allen always made diligent and faithful preparation of all cases committed to his care, and made him. self fully acquainted with every point of law and every accessible point of evidence which could arise in the case, and was therefore usually suc- cessful when the case deserved success.
 If knew that you ever saw Mir. Allen, would omit any attempt to describe his personal appear ance for am sure, any one who ever saw his CO., lossal form and imposing visage, would never need to have him described in order to recall his appearance. He was six feet four or five inches high, very erect and with an attitude and walk, well calculated to set, off his full stature, and though quite lean, weighed full 23O pounds and if he had your coat of flesh will not try to guess how much he would weigh. His countenance was strongly marked and truly formidable, his eyes and eye brows dark, his hair dark, what lit. tie he had for he was quite bald, far back even before middle age, and indeed his whole appear. ance was calculated to inspire dread, rather than affection. His manners and conversation were however, such as to inspire confidence and re. spect though little calculated to invite familiari ty, except with his intimates, of whom he had a few, and those, knowing the generous and hearty friendship of which he was capable, were usually. much attached to him and ready to overlook all his harsh sallies, imputing them to the rough humor which his mother gave him." Hisfeelinps were not refined, but ardent, generous and hearty His friendships were strong, and his ayersions equally so-and as used to say of him, speak ing to others, his feelings were all of the grea sort" He neither enjoyed nor suffered an, thing from many of those little incidents whicl so often affect, either pleasingly or painfully minds of a more refined texture. As he had n, taste for such things, nor as it would seem, an, faculty of perceiving, so he knew no languag appropriate to their description, but in respect s
 those things and principles which he though worthy of his regard, heIacked no power of Ian guage to make himself fully and forcibly under stood. For neutral ground, either in morals O politics, he had no taste, and but little less thal absolute abhorrence. As . specimen of his feel ings and language, better than can describe, will give you the laconic answer to an enquiry O him, why he took the Awora the leading demo cratic paper in the County, then under the puid ' ance of that arch democrat, Duane he replied <
 was because he scanted to hnoso ,chat a.eu ,oer, aboM i,a tte infernal regions. After giving thii specimen need make no further attempt to giv,
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