Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-07-24
Sketch of the Life and Career
WILLIAM ALLEN.

York Times staff, visited the late VIM.
Allen at his home near Chillicothe, a few
weeks before his death, and obtained
from him the facts upon which is based
the following sketch of his career,which
appeared in the Times of recent date /:
THE EARLY LIFE OF WILLIAM ALLEN.
William Allen, was born in North
Carolina in lS06. When a child his
parents-of the middle class of South
eru people-removedt to Lynchburg, Va.
He was left an orphan at an early age
by the death Of both parents. One of
the earliest remembraBces Of Governor
Allen, which he was fond of relating in
after life, was his presence at a recep
tion given to Andrew jackson, in the
summer of 1915, when the hero was
fresh from the field at New Orleans and
the idol Of the country. What made
this reception remarkable was the fact
that Thomas Jefferson, in behalf of the
"mother of States" welcomed the great
soldier to Lyuchburg.
The people began to disperse. ami
the two great men retired to quiet
room in the old Bird Tavern to rest and
refresh themselves after the excitement
and fatigue Of the day. This was an
opportunity which had long been wait
ed for by two little boys-one of them
the son of the landlady, the other a
handsome, tow-headed, blue-eyed ur-
chin, his playfcllow and companion in
mischief. They, too, wanted to see the
men about whom they had heard so
much. and as the door of 'the best
room" was opened TO admit the black
slave who was serving the visitors, JET
ferson saw them peeping in.
"What do you want, my young gen.
tlemeng' he asked in a kindly tone, and
the white-haired hoy modestly, yet
boldly, replied: "We wanted to see
Mr.. Jefferson and General jackson. il
you please, sir"
"Oh, if that's all, replied Jefferson
laughing, ''you had better come in
And without further invitation the two
children walked into the room occupied
by the statesman and the soldier. He
of the blue eyes and tow head, being
much the brightest of the young intru
ders, was petted most, questioned most
and had soon informed the gentleman
that he was nine years old, was born
in Edenton, n. c., and had lived in
Lynchburg four or five years. "And
what is your name, my brave little
Democrat2" at length asked jackson
and the boy, with much unconscious
pride in his tone, replied, "My name is
William Allen, sir"
In the winter of 1916, young Allen, &
pale, lank boy of fifteen who had beer
half educated in the local schools o.
Lynchburg, started on foot in company
with a Kentucky drover to join the
Thurmans at Chillicothe, Ohio. 1t was
a tollsome journey acrosss the snow
capped and almost painless mountains
of Virginia to the Ohio valley, bu
young Allen persevered, with that in
domitable energy which has always
been his great characteristic, and made
the journey on foot, with chance lifts
from kindly wagoners. He arrived a
Chillicothe and was warmly received BY
his sister and her husband, and thei
seven-year old son, Allen G. Thurman
His relatives, a narrative before u
says, were business people, for hardly
had the young traveller recovered fion
his lameness when he was placed il
the Chillicothe Academy, with the un
derstanding thai he was to learn all b.
could in as short time as possible
iIe remained for two years in tn
-..hool, and then, when he had jus
completed his eighteenth year, he de
termined to study law" 1t is famil
lar story in Ohio, the sacrifices and la
bors OF Mrs. Thurman to secure an ed
ucation for her brother and son. Sh
was a woman of marked character ant
high intelligence.
| Young Allen studied law with Co
King, a son of Rufus King of Ne,
York, and a lawyer Of great brilliancy
Admitted to practice he became King
partner
Col. King was one of the readies
and most brilliant jurists then practi
icing in the State, but he was lazy al
most beyond belief, relied entirely upol
native wit for success, and could not b
| prevailed upon to study his briefs. S
it became Aliens duty to work up AM
prepare for trial all the cases wit
| which the firm was intrusted. Thi
exercise was just what be needed. H
rapidly acquired a very thorougI
knowledge of what may be called th
tricks of his trade, and soon took
prominent place at the bal. In thos
Edays people from all the country roun,
fiocked to the court house. 1t wa
their only amusement, and so the prac
ticing lawyer who knew what he wa
about and could talk well, rapidly gain
ed wide reputation. Indeed, Allie
advanced so rapidly that he was a
times unable to give attention to all th
business which came to him. Whe
little more than twenty-four years Q
age he was recognized as the mos
!. promising lawyer at the Ohio bar, an
before he was twenty-five, a murde
case-Ine most Important, intricate an
: delicate which had been tried in th
State for years-was intrusted to him
Arrayed against him were nearly al
the great men of the profession. .Th
day of trial came; there was the mos
intense excitement among the people
the court room was packed almost t
sufocation. Everybody anticipate
Aliens defeat, but everybody was dis
appointed. The young man was equa
to the occasion. He met every poin
advanced by the counsel for the prose
cution; fought them step by step upo
their own ground, and concluded his dc
fense by an argument so brilliant an
winning, vet withal SO logical an,
sound, that the jury, after brief delib
Grafton, gave him the case and acquit
ted his client,