Daily globe., 1882-04-13
Sketch Of the Late rnom AZ Allen

Sketch of the Late Thomas Allen.
The Hon. Thomas Allen, Democratic mem
Der of Congress from the second st. Louis,
Missouri, district, died in the city of Wash
ington, April s, as the GLOBE has already an
nounced. He was born in Pittsfeld, Berk-
shire county, Massachusetts, August go, 1918,
and was consequently In the Goth year of his
age. He was son of the Hon. Jonathan
Allen, prominent citizen Of Massachusetts,,
and grandson of the Rev. Thomas Allen,
pastor of the Congregational church, in Pitts
field, who rendered himself famous for
his bravery and daring feats at the battle of
Bennington in the Revolutionary war. He
graduated at Union college, in 1882.
Reverse of fortune having overtaken his
father, he gave his son Thomas $25, saying
that was all he could do for him, and hence
forth he must rely upon himself. Young
Thomas went 10 New York and commenced
the study OF the law, gaining
some income by editing literary magazine.
In 1886 he supported Martin Van Buren for
president, and soon after went to Washington,
where he started newspaper called the
"Madisonian," and was soon after elected
public printer. The "Madisonian'' made>it its
mark as paper of distinguished and con-
spicuous ability.
firing Of newspaper life in Washington, after
a change of administration, he went to st.
Louis in 1842 and commenced the practice of
law. Soon after he married Miss Ann G.
Russell, a lady of fortune. For the following
forty years, and up to the time Of bis death,
he remained a citizen of ST. Louis; and be-
came one OF it's most honored, conspicuous
and influential citizens. He developed re.
markable talent for business affairs, and was
very successful in business.
He became connected with various railroad
enterprises, notably the Iron Mountain rail
road, of which he became president, and met
with remarkable success in all. He was one
of the original and earnest advocates of the
Pacific railroads.
His paternal gift of twenty-five dollars,
wheu he started out to seek his fortune, had
expanded into colossal fortune of over three
million dollars at the time of his death.
His love for his native town of Pittsfeld
never abated. He possessed himself of his
old home, the ancestral possession of his
idtuCI duu anu tuClC CiCCtCuS dc
summer residence, massive and spacious
mansion, where for many summers he sought
repose from business cares. He caused to be
erected in Pittsfield q building styled the
Athensum at a cost of $4,000, which he
conveyed, as gift, to the town, to be used
for public library and other purposes. he
also bestowed large sums on other local en-
terprIses In his native town.
Last summer he visited Europe for his
health, but he arrived at home very much
exhausted and prostrated, having had very
rough and stormy passage. But he rallied
sufficiently to repair to Washington In De-
cember last to take his seat in Congress, to
which he had been elected in the year OF 1880.
As it proved, he only went to the National
capital, the scene of his early newspaper
triumph, to die. His disease was cancer of
the bladder, which caused him great suffering.
According to his request, his remains were
taken to Pittsfeld for burial. A special car
was provided, and committee of both houses
of congress, as an escort, accompanied his
remains to his native town. The funeral took
place at Pittsfeld, April IL, in the First Con-
gregational church, of which his grandfather
had been pastor, and his remains were inferred
in the family plat in the cemetery.
Among his last expressions was a desire
that he might have lived longer to have
done something more for Missouri.
Thus has passed to bis repose a
useful and honored citizen, deeply mourned
by the citizens of his native town, and uni
versally lamented by the people of his adopted
city and state.
Mr.. Allen was Democrat by inheritance
and conviction. He was not fierce partisan,
but true patriot. Though the resident of a
border state, he was an intense and faithful
Union man during the war of the rebellion, re-
gardless of the peril in which his property in
terssts were placed by the great disturbance
He contributed largely of his means, both in
st. Louis and Pittsftld for the support of the
Union cause, giving at one time in the latter
place 81 800 for the equipment of military
organization, called in his honor the Allen
Guards.
His career was one of success, usefulness,
honor and distinction, which might well
satisfy human ambition, and his name and
fame will long be cherished with sincere re-
sDnpt and admiration