The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-02
"nAND BILL" ALLEN FUND.
Answer to n Corrcspondent-AS Sketch q
Tho ON Minus Cnrecr.

Answer to Corrcspondent-AS Sketch of
The OLD Mans Career.
To he Editor ofhe hteii0,acsr.
sII:-l sec by to-day's papers that
"Land Bill" Allen is dead, and desire TO
inquire First, What was Mr.. Aliens
given name? Second, Do you still hold
tho fund raised for him lately? S.
Martins ECTy. Ohio, December |.
The answer TO tho first question will
be. found III the following sketch OF Mr..
ALIENS career In response 10 the Sec
ond inquiry tho lSrELLrdEScEH will say
that the $50 III It's possession has been
sent TO Columbus TO aid In the erection
OF monument Observation-Disclosures
grave. 1t has been sent as cOntribu-
ton from tho Ohio Valley aud Wheel
ing workingmcn. Though too late 10
do him good in this world II will do its
share toward fitting memorial,
Following is Columbus dispatch in
the Toledo Blade:
George Wheaton Allen was the chris
tian name OF "Land l,ill' Allen. and
Connecticut was tho state oil his birth.
A common school education and the
tailor trade fitted him for the part he
was to assume in after life. From the
rougnish opithct Of stitch louise" flung
ut him by playmates, he grew up 10
hate the tailor trade. Shortly alter
wards he entered journalism, and con-
trollcd tho Rhode Islander. Marrying
Lcla Weaver, lie came out TO Ohio and
ere long took charge OF the Ohio STATE
Journal, us managing editor. Subse.
Quently he filled n similar position upon
tho Cincinnati Ga:cttc. All OF this tlmo
he had in his mind tho homestead idea,
that he had been considering since he
was twenty years OF age. His Utopian
hopo was 10 got up u colony and 20
West, but more mature consideration
convinced him that something better
yet could be devised, and soon the land
bill III its rude form was born.
He had acquired some money and
quite fortune had been left him, SO
he turned all his attention toward the
realization OF his plans. Sixty thousand
dollars were freely spent in gaining nd
vocatcs to his theories and ut last, i'll
1868, the great "land bill" passed
through congress. by this measure
any man, inclined 10 20 west secured 100
acres OF land by agreeing to live upon it.
Allen went west selling notions and
upon his wagon was the painted sign,
which attracted universal attention:
LAND BILL ALIENS wAGOS."
"LAND FOR EVERYBODY
"GIvE Us SOIL THAT WE MAY THRIVE"
Allen soon returned without taking q
claim, and settled upon his farm, near
here. Sickness and the death OF his
family soon ate large hole in his re-
manning fortunes, and at last he saw his
possessions taken away from him to pay
taxes. With the iniirmities OF age fast
descending, he found himself alone in
the world and not one cent with which
to provide the ucccssaries OF life.
Such was his condition when he was
placed in the Franklin county intirmary,
the early part OF October. That act was
heraldcd over the country. Subscrip-
tons were started in the East and West,
but sad to note, the moncy-and large
sum has already been obtained-is yet
in tho hands OF the solicitors and the
poor old man died without apprcciating
the efforts OF his friends. One little,
old-fashioncd watch was all that re-
manned in his possession, outside OF a
few worthless papers.
Superintendent Filler will hold the
remains until Wednesday to give the
friends an opportunity to bury him be-
side his wife in the quiet cemetery OF
Westerville. Subscriptions amounting
to $50 have been announced in Ohio,
and the Wheeling INTELLIGEScEn sent
word :!la. SEQ more was in their pos
session. A monument is now talked OF
to honor the name OF one OF the great
es: beneiactors that ever lived in
America.
\ meeting Of the citizens has been
called for tonight to take action and
give assistance to the burial OF the re-
mains.
Ar last, 1 can cat good square