Crawford Co., AR - Biographies - John M. Allen

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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
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John M. Allen, farmer, was born in this county in 1845, and is the 
oldest son of William C. and Nancy (Lewes) Allen. The father was born 
in Roane County, Tenn., in June, 1806, and in 1832 immigrated to 
Washington County, Ark., by water, finally coming to Crawford County, 
and settling at Van Buren, when there was but one house in the place. 
In 1842 he married Nancy Lewis, who was born in Clark County, Ark., in 
1821, and is a daughter of Hugh and Nancy Lewis, early settlers of 
Arkansas, and of English and German descent, respectively. Mr. Lewis 
was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1839. His wife died ten years 
previous. William C. Allen moved to Crawford County in [p.1122] 1843, 
and there passed the remainder of his life engaged in farming. To 
himself and wife seven children were born: Celia E. White (of this 
township), John M., James S. (of Van Buren), Sarah J. (of this 
township), David F., Hugh L. and Mary Allen. The last three named are 
deceased. Mr. Allen died in 1881, and his wife in 1874. The 
grandfather, John Allen, was a native of Virginia, served in the War 
of 1812 and died about 1818. His wife, Celia (Oliver) Allen, was born 
in Tennessee, and died about 1810. On account of the unsettled state 
of the country during the war, our subject did not receive much of an 
education, and in 1870 began life for himself by farming, having been 
discharged from the army June 10, 1865. He enlisted in 1864, in 
Company F, under Capt. Joseph Crouch, Bryant's regiment, and was 
paroled by the Federal authorities. In 1870 he married Miss Catherine 
White, who was born in Germany in 1843, and is a daughter of Henry and 
Maria (Buschmann) White, who were born in Germany in 1810 and 1808, 
and died in 1863 and 1862, respectively. Mr. White was a farmer by 
occupation. and upon coming to America proceeded at once to Van Buren 
and located in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen four children have 
been born: Nannie E., William Walter, Caroline L. and James W. Mr. 
Allen is a well-to-do man, and has served about three terms as school 
director. He has seventy-five acres of good land, thirty-five acres of 
which he cultivates. His farm is well improved, and he lives in a 
comfortable frame dwelling. He belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics he is a 
Democrat, and his first presidential vote was case for Seymour, in 
1868.