The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-08-29
ABNER ALLEN DEAD.
An Old Time Resident succumbs
to Creeping Paralysis.

Abner Allen died at his home at
Union Mills about midnight Sunday,
August rs, 1901 of creeping paralysis
aged so years, 8 months and 9 days,
The death while not unlocked for by
the immediate relatives and the
friends of the family nevertheless
came with audiences that was
shock to all. The old gentleman had
been feeling much better.than usual
on the Sabbeth. Mr.. and Mrs. Chas.
Huber of this city had driven to the
Allen home and took dinner there.
Mr.. Allen was wheeled to the table
and partook quite heartily of the
meal. He uttered some complaints
over an unusual pain in the side but
little was thought of ii. as the sufferer
was 80 much brighter than common.
He has been suffering for along time
with the sort of paralysis that was
rapidly rendering him helpless and
there seemed to be no helpifor him.
Doctor Hunter of this city sattended
the patient last week and found him
in about the same condition, that he
had been for weeks. Death came to
his relief suddenly. There was little
if any suffering and the. end came
quietly.
Abner Allen, was a prominent resi-
dent of Union township, and pioneer
of 1854. He was a native ofIBethle-
hem, Litchfield, Co., Conn, his birth
taking place Feb. Is, 1919, .and was
son of James and Clarissa Way
Allen, who were alsolnatives of that
state, as were their ancestors as far
back as known. Abner wasIthe eld
est of six sons, only three of whom
grew to manhood, and are yet living:
flames resides on the old homestead,
and George p, near his native place.
The subject of our sketch was reared
to farm life, and managed during the
winter months of his early life.to gain
a more than ordinary education, and
at the age of seventeen commenced
teaching, which he followed for three
sessions. At the age of twenty-one
years, he turned his faceIwestward,
stopping first at Cleveland, Ohio, but
removing soon after to Stark,county,
where he engaged in general mer-
chandising, and continued the bust
ness for five years.
In 1916 Mr.. Allen returned to Con-
necticut, and was united inimarriage
with Hannah Hayes,a native of Itch
field county. He established himself
at Bethlehem and remainedluntil the
death of his wife, which occurred in
184S. The following year Mr.. Allen
went to California by way of the
Isthmus of Panama, following mining
for two years, andireturned via the
Nicaragua route, the trip proving a
successful one financially. In the fall
of 1851, he married Betsy Ann Hayes,
a sister of his first wife. In 1854 they
came to Iowa, locating.at Oskaloosa,
and he began merchandising, as
ISOLATED with a Mr.. Perkins, under
the firm name of Perkins & Allen.
This association continued one year,
when Mr.. Allen retired from the firm,
running the queensware business
alone until 1858, when he entered in
to partnership under the firm name
of Cooper & Allen, and operated a
tannery for two years. In 1.-THE year
1860 he traded his.cityiproperty for
farm near Oskaloosa,E upon which he
opened coal mine, and operated the
same until 1865, During that year he
leased the mine, returned to his ma
tive state, and followed farming for
six years. Returning again to Oska-
loosa, on account of his wife's health,
and finding it did not improve in this
latitude, as he expected, he removed
to Colorado, and resided at Canon
City for five years, engaged in the
harness business, During all this
migration he still retained the OWL
ership of his property in this.county,
returning annually to look after his
interests, and in 1877 returned to Ma
haska county, settling at his late
residence, where he had given his en-
tire attention to farming and stock
raising.
Mr.. and Mrs. Allen were the par
ents of three children: Minnie O. is
a widow of Charles B. Botsford, to
whom she was married in Colorado,
and resides in Connecticut, her ma
tive state; James H. and George G.
reside at home. In his political re-
lations Mr.. Allen was a sound money
democrat. Himself and wife were
members of the Episcopal. church.
Mr.. Allen owned over 500 acres of
land in the county. His possessions
are in an excellent state of cultiva-
ton, with good and substantial i'm
provements. In 1884 he purchased a
pair of Polled-Angus cattle, and now
has a herd of over one hundred head
of high grade cattle of that breed. He
started in life with 81, 700 in cash,
given him by his father, but spent it
all before he learned how to handle
money skillfully. The experience
gained was, however, of great value,
and he profited by it. He found that
the royal road to wealth, of which he
| possesses a fair share. was one of in