The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-15
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from the Cincinnati Conmercisl,l
William Allen was born In Edentoi1,
Chowan county at the head of AibemarIs
Sound, North Carolina, 10 tho year 1907
and 70 now sIxty.seyen years Of age-inore
than one year the junior Of Judge sSEay1e,
OF the Supreme Court. He was by the
death Of both father and mother LEFT an
orphan In his infancy. His parents were
poor. 2.,s. SIS .it. -
Aliens sister, elder by many years than
he, was married to Pleasant Thurman, and
they were living at Lync hburg, Va, where
their only son, Allen G.. Thurman, was
born. They had, I think, three daughters,
but one Of whom is living. Pleasant Thur
man had been originally possessed of
means, but by becoming surety was render
ed poor. He was not man of more than
ordinary intellect or energy, but he was still
"the noblest work Of God-an honest man,
This reputation he bore through life, and
has left behisd him as an Inheritance
to bis children and remembrance to
others. lie lived and died a member and
exhorter of the Methodist Church. To Mrs.
Thurman both her brother and son are more
indebted than to any other person for tn cir
advancement in the world. E5
When the son Allen G.. was but four
years old bis father and mother removed
from Lynchburg, Va, to Chillicothe, ONO,
Where they resided until their death, and
1nere the son lived until his election to the
supreme Bench in 1852. William Allen re-
NAMED at Lynchburg, supporting himself,
working, believe, as sadier's apprentice,
until ne was about sixteen years Of age. He
then collected together his worldly goods,
tied them in handkerchief, and set oft on
foot to seek the home of his sister in Ohio.
After taking up bis residence in Chilico-
the, at which place he has ever since resided.
young Allen was by his sister placed in the
old ChiIlicothe Academy, where he re-
ceived his only real instruction from a
teacher.
Aliens sister, Mrs. Thurman, selected and
supervised bis general reading. In this he
considers that he derived the greatest adj
vantage.
Shortly after his election to the Senate Mr..
Allen married Mrs. Effie Coons, formerly
Macarthur, the beautiful and accomplished
daughter Of General Duncan Macarthur
his early, true, aud only love, she chose
Allen from among host of distinguished
suitors from several States. She Inherited
the old homestead and farm, where Allen,
having added many acres TO the latter, still,
with his daughter (Mrs. Scott, her husband,
and their children and bis grandchildren,
resides. 1t is we'll known that prior to her
first marriage che and Mr.. Allen were de-
voted to each other; and while her father,
Governor Macarthur, was not personally un.
friendly to Mr.. Allen, yet their opposition
in politics and strong positive qualities
caused him to think that their connection
would cause them to antagoDize, and ulti-
mately to produce discord between them,
and he therefore disapproved of their union.
He ever maintained fearless and unfllnch-
ing integrity, and the voice Of calumny itself
never accused him of RIGHTEOUSNESS. In all
these respects his life has been as pure as
that of John G.. Calhoun--far above the repu-
tation of Clay or Webster, or even of Wash
ington himself. Mrs. Allen died shortly
after the birth of their daughter and only
child, Mrs. DR.. Scott. In health and in sick
ness Mr.. Allen was a most devoted and
attectionate husband; and when she died ne
rode on horseback with the corpse from
Washington city to Chilicothe. He has
never thought Of marrying since. and it is
almost certain that if he had not married
her, his only love, he never would have mar
ried at all.
Aliens vocll organization is marvel. His
ability to make himself heard when with
General Cass at Buffalo, in 1S4S, in spite OF
two steamboats, attempting to prevent his
being heard, is true.