Wilmington journal., 1874-01-23
Froui the Cincinnati CONNER
william Allen, Governor eS Oh io

William Allen was born in EdeDtOn,
Chowan county. at the head of the Al
bcmarle Sound, North Carolina. i'll the
year 1907, and is LOW sixty-aoven years
Of agc-moro than one year the Junior
of Judge SHayue, of the Supreme
Court He was by the death Of both
fathcr and mother left an orphan IN
his infancy. His parents were poor.
Aliens cister, elder by many years
than he, was married to Pleasant Thur
man, and they were living at Lynch
burg. Va, where their only son, Alien
G. Thurman. was born. They had, ]
think, three daughters, but one Of
whom is living. Pleasant Thurman
had cen originally possessed of means,
but b. becoming surety was rendered
poor. He was not man Of more than
ordinary intellect or energy, but he
was still "thc noblest work Of God-an
honest man." This reputation he bore
through life. and has lett behind him
as an Inheritance to his children and a
remembrance to others. He lived and
died a member and exhorter of the
Methodist Church. To Mrs. Thurman
both her brother and son are more i'll
ucbted than to any other person for
their advancement in the world.
When Allen G. Thurman was but
four years old his father and mother
removed from Lyrchburg, Va, to
Chillicothe, Ohio, where they resided
until their death, and where the son
lived until his election to the Supreme
Bench in 1852. William Allen remain
ed at Lynchburg, supporting himself,
working, I believe, as sadler's appren-
tioe, until he was about sixteen years
of age. He then collected together his
worldly goods, tied them in handker-
chief, and set out on foot to seek the
home of his sister in Ohio.
After taking up his residence in
Chillieothe, at which place he has ever
since resided, young Allen was by his
sister placed in the old Chillicothe
Acade any, where he received his only
real instruction from a teacher.
Aliens sister, Mrs. Thurman, selec-
ted and supervised his general It aiding.
In this he considers that he derived
the greatest advantage.
Shortly after his election to the Sen
ate Mr.. Allen married Mrs. Effie Coons,
formerly Macarthur, the beautiful and
accomplished daughter of Gen. Duncan
McArthur-his early, true, and only
love. She chose Allen from among a
host of distinguished suitors from sew
eral States. She inherited the old
homestead and farm, where Allen, hay
ing added many acres to the latter,
still. with his daughter, Mrs Scott, her
husband, and their children and his
grand children, resides. Tt is well
known that prior to her first marriage
she and MI. Allen were devoted to
each other and while her father, Gov
ernor Macarthur, was not personally
unfriendly to Mr.. Allen, yet their op-
position in politics and strong positive
qualities caused him to think that their
connection would cause them to antag-
onize, and ultimately to produce dis
eord between them, and he therefore
disapproved of their union.
He ever maintained fearless and un-
tiinehing integrity, and the voice of
calumny itself never accused him of
RIGHTEOUSNESS. mall these respects his
life has been as pure as that of John G..
Calhoun-far above the reputation of
Clay or Webster, or even of Washing
ton himself. Mrs. Allen died shortly
after the birth of their daughter and
only child, Mrs. Scott. In health and
in sickness Mr.. Allen WAS a most deyo-
ted and affectionate husband and
when she died he rode oa horseback
with the corpse from Washington City
to ChillicOthe. He has never thought
of marrying since, and it is almost
certain that if he had not married her.
his only love, he mover would have
married at all.
Aliens vocal organization is a mar
vel. His ability to make himself heard
when with General Cass at Buffalo, in
lS4S, inspite of two steamboats, attempt
ing to prevent his being heard, is
true.