The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-06-30
HON. WILLIAM ALLEN.
The Democratic Standard-Bearer
i'm Ohio.

This gentleman, the present Governor
of Ohio, was renominated by the Demo-
cratic convention of that State. Mr.. Al
len was born in Edenton, North Carroll
ma. in 1907. Having the misfortune to
lose his parents at an early age, the
ties of home associations were thus sever
ed, and he removed to Lynchburg,
where he learned the business of a sad
dler and harness maker. At the age of
sixteen years he started for the West, at
tracted by glowing reports from that re-
gion, and walked the long road from
Lynchburg, Virginia, to Chillicothe,
Ohio. Here the sister of Mr.. Allen re-
sided, Mrs. Thurman, the mother of Sen
ator Thurman, and by this sister young
Allen was sent to the Chillicothe Acade-
nv. and this was the real commencement
of his education, as up to that time he
had only caught up such snatches of learn
ing as fell in his way. At the proper
age, Mr.. Allen entered the Office of Hon.
Edward King. in Chiilicothe, as law
student. At the early age of 26 Mr.. AL
len attracted the notice of the politicians
of his section of Ohio, and was nominated
by the Democrats as their candidate for
Congress in the Chillicothe district. The
district was Wing, by decided majority,
and Mr.. Aliens opponent was Governor
Duncan Macarthur, an able and popular
man, who was induced to decline a re-
election for the place he occupied and
take the field against the young champi-
on of the Democracy. In this contest
Mr.. Allen met in debate, not only Mr..
Macarthur. but William Sumpter Muir
hxa&o Efor aTI
dience. After a memorable struggle
Mr.. Allen was declared elected by one
vote, and took his seat in the Twenty
third Congress, In this body he soon
became a prominent member, and took
part In the debates upon all leading ques-
lions. He was accepted as one of the
most forcible speakers in the house.
At the end of Mr.. Aliens Congressional
term. choice for United States SEN
ator was to be made in Ohio, and his
| friends and admirers at once named him
for the post. The Democrats carried the
Legislature by one majority, and Mr.. Al
len was nominated and elected over Hon.
Thomas Ewing, who was then in the SEN
ate. Thus in two instances was Mr.. Al
len advanced on the political road by one
majority. The newly elected Senator
reached Washington on the Sd of March,
1887. and on the 4th, which was the
inauguration day of Martin Van Buren,,
he took his seat in the Senate. Before
the end of his first term, Senator Allen
was re-elected-this time by decided
maiority-and served until the 4th OF
March. 1849, two full terms. After his
retirement from public life, in 1849, Mr..
Allen removed TO the valley of the Sci
otto. and became one of the largest and
most successful farmers in the State. In
1879. when the Democrats of Ohio
wanted a man to carry the State against
: nonular leader of the Republican par
tvs thew called Mr.. Allen from his home
and nut him atthe head of their columns.
he made an active canvass and wa
4 elected by nearly one thousand majority
being the only candidate on that tlcke
| who escaped defeat. On the 18th o
January, 1874, he was inaugurated, ant
his address on that occasion received com
mendation from leading papers iron
both parties. The New York Tribune
said tsit was model document, devotet
to the necessity for reducing taxes an.
. enforcing the most rigid economy IN 81
matters Of State expenditure"