The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-12
WILLIAM ALLEN, DECEASED.
The Veteran Democrat Of Ohio and
Eminent Public Man, Dies Sud-
denly at His Home Near
Ghillicothe.
A Short Sketch Of His Early strug.
giles, His Public Life, and
His Latter Days.

, de was In his 74th year. His death WI
/, caused by complication OF diseases inc
dental to advanced age.
William Allen was born in Etonton, \
c., in 1906. lie was a self.made mar
and rose from a humble birth to the pos
tion Of prosperous lawyer, member {
Congress, % seat in the United States Senate
the Executive chair Of the great State G
Ohio, and finally refused the nomination
for President OF the United States, whicl
undoubtedly he could have had, had h
chosen to acceptit.
When he was about four years of az,
his family moved to Lynchburg, Va, anC
young Allen lived there until he was 10
when, with companion, he started on /
long tramp over the mountains for Ohio
At that time the man who became sc
famous In the politics OF this country wa.
a pale, lank boy, who had been hal
educated in the local schools, and who
was principally noticeable for his keep
blue eyes and long tlaxen hair. He had q
brother and halt.sister living in Ohio
and at this time he determined to seek his
fortune in the Buckeye State. His com.
panion on this long and tedious trip, dur.
ing which he carried his entire fortune on
his back, was Kentucky hog droyer. ID
was winter, and the walk over the Blue
Ridge was severe one. The mountains
were covered with snow, and it was with
great difficulty that the path was kept.
Twenty.eight miles they walked the
first day, and spent the night IN
the little town Of Liberty. On the night
OF the second day they reached the foot Of
the dangerous and dreaded Blue Ridge,
and on the morning OF the third com.
menced the ascent. For nine hours they
pushed on, dragging themselves painfully
through snow and drifts and over fallen
trees. Then the strong Kentuckian fell
exhausted by the wayside. Young Allen,
whose indomitable will still kept him on
his blistered and burning feet, made a
great fire Of the dry wood which he was
fortunate enough to find in mountain
nook, fed his companion and himself with
the coarse fare he had provided at the
foot OF the mountain, and then, having
done all he could do, he went to sleep.
The night passed quietly, and next morn
ing the travellers once more set out on
their weary tramp. So they went on
from point to point, encountering no
great danger, but overcoming many difii.
culties by the way.
Arriving at the home Of his sister, in
Chillicothe, he was welcomed by her and
her husband and by their little son, Allen
G. Thurman, now the distinguished Uni.
ted States Senator from Ohio and a promi.
nent Democratic candidate for the Presi.
dency. While he was warmly welcomed,
however, it was evident that his relatives
were business people who wasted no time,
for hardly had our young traveller recov-
cred from hislameness when he was placed
in the Chillicothe Academy, with the un.
derstanding that he was to learn all he
could In as short time as possible. He
remained for two years in the school, and
then, when he had just completed his
eighteenth year, he determined to
study law, and was admitted to the
office Of Judge Scott, then leading men,
ber Of the Western bar. He finished his
reading in the office OF Col. King, son OF
Rufus King, Of New York, and when not
quite 2l,went down to Portsmouth, where
the Supreme Court was in session, and
was admitted TO the bar. He worked
hard, advanced rapidly and soon became
a partner with Col. King. When little
more than 81 years Of age he was recog.
nized as the most promising lawyer Of the
Ohio bar, and before he was %, q murder
case-the most important, intricate and
delicate which had been tried in the State
for years-was intrusted to him. Arrayed
against himwere nearly all the great men
OF the profession, but he won the case,
About this time he had grown so
rapidly in public favor that the
Democrats, or Jackson men, as they
were called, determined to make him
their candidate for Congress. At this time
the district in which he lived was conced.
ed to the Wings by majority OF 1900 to
1000, and Of course the nomination was
rendered to him simply as compliment,
not with any idea that he could be elect.
ed. He accepted, however, with the de.
termination to make close and thorough
personal canvass, and, If possible, to get
the seat Fortune favored him in the out
SET There was division in the ranks Of
the opposition, and after most exciting
contest, in which Allen did some hard
riding in stumping the district, he was
elected by one majority his own vote-in q
total vote OF 10000.
He was re.nominated and at the next
election ran far ahead OF his ticket, but
was defeated. When he called al the
White House to bid farewell to President
jackson, OF whom he was warm friend,
Jackson expressed much sorrow at his de.
feat, and calling to his Secretary asked for
the appointment book. When II was
brought, he turned to Allen and said:
"Mr. Allen, lwant to keep you in pub.
lie life. Run your eye through that book
and see what place you think would suit
you"
Without hesitation the defeated Con.
gresham, setting an example which, un.
fortunately, has not been very extensive.
ly initiated, replied: 81 am very much
obliged TO you, Mr.. President, more oblig.
ed than l can tell you; but cannot now
and l do not think ever will, accept any
office by appointment. II am 10 stay In
public life, it must be in position tc
which the people elect me-"
"You are right, sir" said the President
in his short, blunt way, and he closed the
appointment book. Allen returned tc
Chillicothe, and quietly practiced law foi
nearly two years.
During the exciting Presidential cam
paign which resulted in the election o
Martin Van Buren, over Harrison, Mr.
Allen worked with much energy to secur,
the success OF the Democratic candidate,
for the Legislature, and when the contes
was over he had the satisfaction OF know
ing that his party would have a maiorit,
Of one on joint ballot. He went to Colum
bus on private business, and was unex
pectedly elected United States Senator
In March, 1887, he took his seat, thO
youngest man ever elected to the Unite
States Senate.
1t was while Allen was serving his sec
ond term in the Senate that the memol
able Democratic Convention OF 1S4S wa
held in Baltimore. The delegates wer
nearly equally divided between Cass an
Van Buren,. The principal supporters {
! hath aklaS.aa,. 4 4