Bedford Times-Republican (Bedford, Iowa)
Thursday December 16, 1915 [p. 1]
JOHN ALLEN CLOSES HALF CENTURY HERE
Death Claims Pioneer With a Picturesque Career—Was a Miner in California
WAS NATIVE OF SCOTLAND
John Allen, a resident of Taylor county for fifty years, died at his home Monday, two days after his seventy-ninth birthday anniversary. Funeral services were held at the First Methodist Episcopal church at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. J. W. Goodsell, the pastor.
John Allen was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, December 11, 1836.
Mr. Allen was one of a family of eleven children, who, with their parents, came to this country in about 1847. The father and two older brothers came first and as soon as they were satisfied that conditions were favorable for a home for the family, John came on alone at the age of twelve. A little later the mother and the rest of the children came over. They settled first in Allegany County, Maryland. Four years later they moved to Preston County, Virginia. Here the boy John received his early training and his schooling. He attended the night schools and worked in the mines during the day. In 1857 he left home and went to Knox County, Ill., where he engaged in mining for three years. In 1860 he went to California and mined in the gold fields of the Pacific slope. While engaged in mining he became acquainted with a man by the name of Andrew Roy, who later became a great mining expert, and is the author of many works on this subject. For many years he has been a state-mining inspector of Pennsylvania. Mr. Allen and Mr. Roy were companions for many years and have always been the warmest of friends. They have kept up an uninterrupted exchange of letters all these years.
After four years he returned to Knox County, Illinois, where he was united in marriage at Abingdon, Ill., to Melvina [Malvina] Stewart, Oct. 23, 1860, who was a native of New York. In 1865 they moved to Taylor County. They lived first on a farm in Jackson Township, but about 20 years ago they moved to Bedford. While on the farm he helped to organize a Methodist church in what was then known as the Hindman schoolhouse. Later this became the Forest Grove church. He and Mrs Allen were charter members of this class. Later, when they moved to Bedford, they transferred their membership to this church, of which organization he has been a faithful and honored member to the end. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity. The religious faculty was early developed in his life. He was confirmed a member of the Established Church in Scotland and enjoyed the advantages of a good old-fashioned Christian home.
His wife, Melvina [Malvina] Stewart Allen, died June 18, 1901. One daughter, Anna May, passed away March 14, 1874. The surviving members of the family are two sons and one daughter: W. [illiam] F. [rancis] Allen of Bedford, Iowa, M.[ilton] H. Allen of Oakland, Cal., and Mrs. W. [illiam] H. Gooding [Cora] of Bedford, Iowa; two grandchildren, Audrey and Tura Allen; also two sisters and one brother: Mrs. Elizabeth Nelson of Springfield, Ill., Mrs. Anna Porter of Straitsville, Ohio, and James Allen of Unionville, Pa.
Thursday December 16, 1915 [p. 1]
JOHN ALLEN CLOSES HALF CENTURY HERE
Death Claims Pioneer With a Picturesque Career—Was a Miner in California
WAS NATIVE OF SCOTLAND
John Allen, a resident of Taylor county for fifty years, died at his home Monday, two days after his seventy-ninth birthday anniversary. Funeral services were held at the First Methodist Episcopal church at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. J. W. Goodsell, the pastor.
John Allen was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, December 11, 1836.
Mr. Allen was one of a family of eleven children, who, with their parents, came to this country in about 1847. The father and two older brothers came first and as soon as they were satisfied that conditions were favorable for a home for the family, John came on alone at the age of twelve. A little later the mother and the rest of the children came over. They settled first in Allegany County, Maryland. Four years later they moved to Preston County, Virginia. Here the boy John received his early training and his schooling. He attended the night schools and worked in the mines during the day. In 1857 he left home and went to Knox County, Ill., where he engaged in mining for three years. In 1860 he went to California and mined in the gold fields of the Pacific slope. While engaged in mining he became acquainted with a man by the name of Andrew Roy, who later became a great mining expert, and is the author of many works on this subject. For many years he has been a state-mining inspector of Pennsylvania. Mr. Allen and Mr. Roy were companions for many years and have always been the warmest of friends. They have kept up an uninterrupted exchange of letters all these years.
After four years he returned to Knox County, Illinois, where he was united in marriage at Abingdon, Ill., to Melvina [Malvina] Stewart, Oct. 23, 1860, who was a native of New York. In 1865 they moved to Taylor County. They lived first on a farm in Jackson Township, but about 20 years ago they moved to Bedford. While on the farm he helped to organize a Methodist church in what was then known as the Hindman schoolhouse. Later this became the Forest Grove church. He and Mrs Allen were charter members of this class. Later, when they moved to Bedford, they transferred their membership to this church, of which organization he has been a faithful and honored member to the end. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity. The religious faculty was early developed in his life. He was confirmed a member of the Established Church in Scotland and enjoyed the advantages of a good old-fashioned Christian home.
His wife, Melvina [Malvina] Stewart Allen, died June 18, 1901. One daughter, Anna May, passed away March 14, 1874. The surviving members of the family are two sons and one daughter: W. [illiam] F. [rancis] Allen of Bedford, Iowa, M.[ilton] H. Allen of Oakland, Cal., and Mrs. W. [illiam] H. Gooding [Cora] of Bedford, Iowa; two grandchildren, Audrey and Tura Allen; also two sisters and one brother: Mrs. Elizabeth Nelson of Springfield, Ill., Mrs. Anna Porter of Straitsville, Ohio, and James Allen of Unionville, Pa.
Bedford Times-Republican (Bedford, Iowa)
Thursday December 16, 1915 [p. 1]
JOHN ALLEN CLOSES HALF CENTURY HERE
Death Claims Pioneer With a Picturesque Career—Was a Miner in California
WAS NATIVE OF SCOTLAND
John Allen, a resident of Taylor county for fifty years, died at his home Monday, two days after his seventy-ninth birthday anniversary. Funeral services were held at the First Methodist Episcopal church at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. J. W. Goodsell, the pastor.
John Allen was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, December 11, 1836.
Mr. Allen was one of a family of eleven children, who, with their parents, came to this country in about 1847. The father and two older brothers came first and as soon as they were satisfied that conditions were favorable for a home for the family, John came on alone at the age of twelve. A little later the mother and the rest of the children came over. They settled first in Allegany County, Maryland. Four years later they moved to Preston County, Virginia. Here the boy John received his early training and his schooling. He attended the night schools and worked in the mines during the day. In 1857 he left home and went to Knox County, Ill., where he engaged in mining for three years. In 1860 he went to California and mined in the gold fields of the Pacific slope. While engaged in mining he became acquainted with a man by the name of Andrew Roy, who later became a great mining expert, and is the author of many works on this subject. For many years he has been a state-mining inspector of Pennsylvania. Mr. Allen and Mr. Roy were companions for many years and have always been the warmest of friends. They have kept up an uninterrupted exchange of letters all these years.
After four years he returned to Knox County, Illinois, where he was united in marriage at Abingdon, Ill., to Melvina [Malvina] Stewart, Oct. 23, 1860, who was a native of New York. In 1865 they moved to Taylor County. They lived first on a farm in Jackson Township, but about 20 years ago they moved to Bedford. While on the farm he helped to organize a Methodist church in what was then known as the Hindman schoolhouse. Later this became the Forest Grove church. He and Mrs Allen were charter members of this class. Later, when they moved to Bedford, they transferred their membership to this church, of which organization he has been a faithful and honored member to the end. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity. The religious faculty was early developed in his life. He was confirmed a member of the Established Church in Scotland and enjoyed the advantages of a good old-fashioned Christian home.
His wife, Melvina [Malvina] Stewart Allen, died June 18, 1901. One daughter, Anna May, passed away March 14, 1874. The surviving members of the family are two sons and one daughter: W. [illiam] F. [rancis] Allen of Bedford, Iowa, M.[ilton] H. Allen of Oakland, Cal., and Mrs. W. [illiam] H. Gooding [Cora] of Bedford, Iowa; two grandchildren, Audrey and Tura Allen; also two sisters and one brother: Mrs. Elizabeth Nelson of Springfield, Ill., Mrs. Anna Porter of Straitsville, Ohio, and James Allen of Unionville, Pa.
Thursday December 16, 1915 [p. 1]
JOHN ALLEN CLOSES HALF CENTURY HERE
Death Claims Pioneer With a Picturesque Career—Was a Miner in California
WAS NATIVE OF SCOTLAND
John Allen, a resident of Taylor county for fifty years, died at his home Monday, two days after his seventy-ninth birthday anniversary. Funeral services were held at the First Methodist Episcopal church at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. J. W. Goodsell, the pastor.
John Allen was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, December 11, 1836.
Mr. Allen was one of a family of eleven children, who, with their parents, came to this country in about 1847. The father and two older brothers came first and as soon as they were satisfied that conditions were favorable for a home for the family, John came on alone at the age of twelve. A little later the mother and the rest of the children came over. They settled first in Allegany County, Maryland. Four years later they moved to Preston County, Virginia. Here the boy John received his early training and his schooling. He attended the night schools and worked in the mines during the day. In 1857 he left home and went to Knox County, Ill., where he engaged in mining for three years. In 1860 he went to California and mined in the gold fields of the Pacific slope. While engaged in mining he became acquainted with a man by the name of Andrew Roy, who later became a great mining expert, and is the author of many works on this subject. For many years he has been a state-mining inspector of Pennsylvania. Mr. Allen and Mr. Roy were companions for many years and have always been the warmest of friends. They have kept up an uninterrupted exchange of letters all these years.
After four years he returned to Knox County, Illinois, where he was united in marriage at Abingdon, Ill., to Melvina [Malvina] Stewart, Oct. 23, 1860, who was a native of New York. In 1865 they moved to Taylor County. They lived first on a farm in Jackson Township, but about 20 years ago they moved to Bedford. While on the farm he helped to organize a Methodist church in what was then known as the Hindman schoolhouse. Later this became the Forest Grove church. He and Mrs Allen were charter members of this class. Later, when they moved to Bedford, they transferred their membership to this church, of which organization he has been a faithful and honored member to the end. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity. The religious faculty was early developed in his life. He was confirmed a member of the Established Church in Scotland and enjoyed the advantages of a good old-fashioned Christian home.
His wife, Melvina [Malvina] Stewart Allen, died June 18, 1901. One daughter, Anna May, passed away March 14, 1874. The surviving members of the family are two sons and one daughter: W. [illiam] F. [rancis] Allen of Bedford, Iowa, M.[ilton] H. Allen of Oakland, Cal., and Mrs. W. [illiam] H. Gooding [Cora] of Bedford, Iowa; two grandchildren, Audrey and Tura Allen; also two sisters and one brother: Mrs. Elizabeth Nelson of Springfield, Ill., Mrs. Anna Porter of Straitsville, Ohio, and James Allen of Unionville, Pa.
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