The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-05-23
DEATH OF HENRY W. ALLEN.

ders to-day the melancholy death Of Bnga-
der General Henry Watkins Allen, late
Governor Of the State OF Louisiana. The
sad event occurred at tn, City Of Mexico
IN the Goth dag of April last. The imme-
date cause was typhoid fever, superindnced
doubtless by the severe wounds which he
received in the service Of his country, and
which had never entirely healed. No oc-
currence that we can imagine would have
caused such feeling OF profound grief and
sadness as now pervades the people of
Louisiana in all classes OF society. The
hero, who defended the rights of his State
and native section on many a bloody bat
tle-feld, the protector Of the homes and
Gre-sides of the people Of Louisiana, the
provider for the necessities OF the widow
and the orphan, has died in foreign land,
far away from those he loved and protected,
and from those who are shedding tears to-
day over his untimely end. From the hills
and the valleys, from river TO river, and
from the sea shore to the farthest limit OF
the State, there goes up vail Of sorrow,
and our people will not be comforted be-
cause their benefactor is no more,
Henry Watkins Allen was born in
Prince Edward County, Virginia, Of a fam
lily Of great responsibility in that, one OF
the most refined and enlightened, sections
of the State. The house in which he was
born is still standing, within two miles Of
the little town of Farmville. and about the
same distance from the High Bridge
across the Appomattox river, all of which
places have recently been rendered classic
as the scenes of the retreat and capture oil
Lees noble army of Northern Virginia.
About mile farther is "Longwood," in
the suburbs Of Farmvillp, many years ago
!
the residence OF Judge Peter Johnston, an
eminent jurist and member of the famed
Legislature Of 1893, which passed the Res
olutions; where was born about the year
1903 his illustrious son General Joseph
Eggleston Johnston, commander OF the
Western Army of the Confederate States
Of America. Both these places are now
owned by members Of the Venable family
near collateral relations Of our departed
friend A few miles beyond Longwood, in
an humble cottage, was born Sterling
Price, the Missouri hero, who shared with
his illustrious countryman, the son of his
old friend, CALLING exile in far country
rather than admit that the cause for which
he fought was unjust, inhuman and rebel
| lious. Ia the same neig hborhood was born
7. Watkins Lyon, Governor Of Maryland,
and cousin Of Henry Watkins Allen. And
in the same County George NJ. Bib, dis
tinguished in the Cabinet and the Legisla.
| tive halls Of the country, first saw the light.
{n the same County also is situated Hamp-
den Sidney College venerable seat OF
Learning, and the Union Theological Semi,
nary, an able nursery of piety, within the
| pale Of the Presbyterian Church.
Henry Aliens father was DR.. James
Allsa, highly respected physician and
planter of Prince Edward County, and his
mother was Miss Watkins, a daughter OF
one of the best families of that neighbor
hood, distinguished for talents and for
many private virtues. Through her our
friend was related to the Venab1e family
which has given Senator and a Repre-
sentative to the Councils of the nation.
more than one ornament to the literary
world, and many an estimable gentleman
land lady to the walks Of private life. He
was also related to the Ligons, the Will
sons. the Mortons and others among the
most respectable families in the State.
Many years ago when The new States
were first opened up in the West, it was
fashionable for the most enterprising among
the Firginians to emigrate to the West
for the purpose Of providing for their fami
lies. DR.. Allen. who had large family.
for whom he was anxious to provide, left
Virginia in the year 1891 aud emigrated to
Missouri, which was then supposed to pre-
sent peculiar Inducements to emigrants
with limited means. lie settled in Ray.
a rich agricultural County, on the North
side of the Missouri, about two hundred
and fifty miles from st. Louis. Here he
raised his family, and here he died in the
year lo4a. But few of the members of his
family now survive. We can recall only a
daughter, married to Hon. Ephraim B.
Ewing, (son of Rev. Finis Ewing, the
founder of the Sect of Cumberland Pres.
byterians, y who held successfully the
offices Of Secretary of State, Attorney
General, and Judge Of The Supreme Court
of Missouri Here Henry spent his early
boyhood and enjoyed such educational nd
vantages as the imperfect back-woods
schools afforded until he was prepared for
college. He was then sent to Marion Col
lege, at Palmyra, in the County of Marion.
near the Mississippi river in the North
Eastern part the State The particular
reason why this institution was selected
Was because its President was an oil
friend of his father, Rev. Hyam P. Good
rich, D. d., who had been professor in
the Union Theological Seminary in Prince
Edward, and who had been forced to give
| up his pN,fessorship on the division Of