The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-03-13
DEATH OF
CAPT. 3. r. ALLEN
Civil War Veteran and Former Prom
inent Resident of Newport, N H,
Died Here in Daughter Home.

Capt. Benjamin R. Allen, former
representative to the New Hampshire /
legislature from Newport, n. H., long
time singing master, expert cabinet
maker, died at the home of his daugh-
ter, Mrs. c. F. Bingham of Highlawn
avenue, at 519 o'clock this morning
of arterio schlerosis He had been in
failing health some time and death
was not unexpected.
Capt Allen was born in Newport,
n. H., May %, 1888, son of s. J. and
Betsy Carr Chase Allen. He attend
ed the public schools of the town and
learned the shoemaker trade, at
which he was employed in Newport,
Manchester, \. H., and Haverhill,
Mass. Gifted with an exceptional voice
he sang for a half century in the
choir of the Congregational church Of
Newport and for 80 years was leader
of that body of vocalists. He had a
natural bent for carpentry work and
became an expert workman on the
| finest kind of work. Much of the fur
niture in the homes of his children is
the result of his skill.
Mr.. Allen enlisted at Newport in
! April, 1862 in Company K of the 9th
| New Hampshire regiment and before
| HIS reg iCdCAC0 IIG IIOhb was
promoted to orderly sergeant He was
rapidly promoted to second and first
! ieutenancies and finally to be captain,
in each instance the promotions being
made for bravery on the field of bat
tie. When he attained his captaincy
he was put in command of Company
! II of his regiment He was in the
battles of Antietam and the Wilder
ness among other engagements and
was wounded in the right arm on one
occasion. He was in Washington on
his way back to the front from a
furlough on the night President Lin
coin was shot in Ford 5 theatre. He
was mustered out of the service in
Washington in 1865.
A staunch Republican from early
manhood Capt. Allen had served his
native town of Newport in many diff
ferent capacities of an official nature,
having been selectman, auditor, super
visor and road commissioner upon diff
ferent occasions. He also served in the
state legislature from Newport in 1890
and 1891. He was a long time member
of the Fred Smyth post G. A. R., of
Newport. of the congregational church
and of Mt. Vernon lodge of MasOns,
both Of Newport
Capt. Allen was twice married. His
first wife was Miss Mary Fl. Gilmore
of Newport. Sht died in December,
1889. He married for his second wife,
who. survives him, Mrs. Lillian e.
Heard of Vernon. Besides his wife he
leaves four daughters, Mrs. G. F. Bing-
ham. at whose home he died, Mrs. H.
A. Wiley and Mrs. W. II. Corser and
Miss NJ. Blanche Allen of Schenectady,
n. Y, and a son, Fred J. Allen of
Fast Point, Ga. He also leaves four
grandchildren, IT. A. Bingham of Buff
falo, n. Y, Benjamin F. Bingham of
Brattleboro. Carrie May Allen and P.
d. D. Allen of Atlanta, Ga. one great
grandchild, Mary Sylvia Bingham of
Buffalo. \. Y. and a sister, Mrs Julia
A Weber of Brattleboro.
Prayer will be offered in the home
of Mrs. Bingham Saturday morning at
$50 O'Clock by Rev. Roy NJ. Hough
ton and the body will be taken te
Newport, accompanied by Mr.. Hough
, ton. The funeral services will be con
Quoted in the First Congregations
church of Newport and the burial viii
take place in that town.