The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-03

V. Z,
take place on Monday afternoon, Nov. 8.
Col. Allen was the son Of Thomas Allen, re-
spectacle farmer of Clark county KY, where he
was born on April %, 1917. He was reared on
the farm and grew up to vigorous manhood "a
miliar with all its labors and requirements. 1t
was HIS boast in later life that he was in his
youth thoroughly instructed in all the myster-
les of farm life. He received a good English ed
ucation; and, having chosen the law for his pro-
fession, he studied it, and graduated at the
Transylvania Law School, at Lexington, KY, in
1910, at the age of twenty-three years. He re-
manned in Kentucky until 1871, when he emf
grated to Indiana, and settled at Petersburg,
Pike county, where he followed his profession
with success until March, 1874, when he
removed to VIncennes and remained there until
he died. His general manners and upright,
sterling character soon gained him many friends,
and those whom he thus won he "grappled TO
his soul with hooks of steel" forever afterward.
His genuine talents and sound learning secured
him large and profitable practice, which he re-
tanned for many years. He Wing, and in
l949, was elected to the House of Representa-
tlves In the General Assembly of the State. He
was capable and faithful member, devoted to
the interests of his constituents and of the peo-
pie at large. In mis- canvass for the position he
d.
dependent Wing, whom he defeated by a hand
some majority. He did not, however,
like many young men, lose his head by
reason of this successful debut in politics,
but at the close of the session resumed his
law practice, and followed it with success and
satisfaction until again called to the front by
the Republicans in the great contest of 1860.
His county was regarded as strongly Demo
cratic, and when he accepted the nomination of
the party for a seat in the House of Representa-
tives he was held by many to be accepting de-
feat with his eyes wide open. But he was tri-
umphantly elected after spirited contest, in
which he opposed by Israel j.. Peck.
In that great political year honor was showered
upon him. He was chosen delegate by the State
convention to the Chicago national convention,
and in that body distinguished himself through
out as the warm and unfalterng friend of Abra-
ham Lincoln, and after his nomination gave his
time, talents and means freely to secure the rati~
fication of his choice by the people He was
elected elector for his congressional district, and
cast his vote for the great President When
the General Assembly met in january, 1861,
he had become so well known, and his merits so
well established in the public opinion of the
State, that no other man was seriously thought
OF by his party for Speaker, and he was. accord
! ingly nominated and elected. In that position
he was both capable and popular, and held the
reins of authority with an even hand during
Assemblies the State had ever known. At the
| close of his term Speaker, the country
deeply involved in the horrors of the great
| civil war. His heart was all af1ame with love
| for the Union and it's government. He greatly
| desired place in the army, and, at one time,
all supposed he would get 1t, as he was placed
| in such relation to the raising of one of our
regiments as, according to precedent, promised
to make him it's colonel. But the promise in his
case was broken The disappointment was
of the sorest of his life; and it may be
doubted whether he ever forgave it. No public
has ham ara and Narn1 Ito
will most probably rest forever in ignorance of
the causes which withheld so brave and gallant
a man from a position that needed him for its
honor quite as much as he needed it for his. He
was an independent man, of strong convictions,
incapable OF surrrendering what he believed TO
be right or essential to an honorable self-respect
for any position on earth. He was an abiding
friend, aud had the qualities in him that make
an enemy worthy of the respect OF the braVest
and greatest foe.
He was twice married-nrst in October, 1885,
to Miss Mary Lander, daughter of Captain Rich
ard Lander, of Clark county, KY.
She died in March, 1s4S; and in
May, 1856, he married her sister, Miss
Sallie Lander, who survives him. He had q son
by his first wife who graduated at West Point
and is now civil engineer, and alovely dangh-
ter by ms last, who 10 still at home.
Since the war of the rebellion, he took part in
the construction OF the indianapolis Vim
cennes railroad, as contractor, and lost heavily
in the venture His losses swept from him the
Accommodations of his entire life and involved
him far beyond them. His proud spirit wrestled
long and nobly with his misf0rtunes, and only
succumbed to them at last when talent, cOur-
age, conscience and effort all seemed unable to
cope with them. He was truly great and noble
man, whom it would be unjust to Judge
by the last few years of his life. There are
crises in human affairs that no activity and vir
tue can moula to what, the world calls success
In such calamtles the man who urlumphs or
who fails may be equally great IN the eye of
Him "who sees all things at one vIew;" and we
who do not know all that may be essential to
right Judgment can yet say;
"Who noble ends by noble means attains,
-, Or failing, smiles in exile or in chains.
Like good Aurelius let him reign bleed,
Like Socrates, that man is great indeed" .
And such vert thou, dear friend, whom loved
in life. loved alike in prosperity and adversely
loved ever and forever and mourn, even as q
brother, but not without hope that the light of
eternity has already sauted thy abiding peace.
c.