Biography of John Farrell Allen, Independence Co, AR

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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. 
Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
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page 633 

Dr. John Farrell Allen, a retired physician of great prominence, now
residing in Batesville, was born in New Madrid County, Mo., March 29, 1824. He
is a son of Samuel W. and Cecelia (LeSieur) Allen, his father a native of
Alexandria, Va., and his mother a native of Missouri. The maternal grandfather
was a French Canadian, whose ancestors came originally from France to Canada,
and from there he moved to the State of Missouri, about the beginning of the
eighteenth century, residing in that State until the time of his death. The
paternal grandfather, Salathiel, was a Virginian by birth, and a sea captain
who was lost at sea from his own vessel, together with a cousin, John Farrell,
for whom our subject was named. Samuel W. Allen, the father of Dr. John F.,
died in 1863, followed by the mother in 1868. They were among the earlư
settlers of Southeast Missouri, and were married in 1823, having but one child,
a son. An incident worth noting is that for four generations only one son has
been born to each family. The Doctor was reared in New Madrid County, and
received his degree of A. B. in Perry County, at a Roman Catholic college. At
the age of twenty years he began the study of medicine, spending two years
under a private instructor, Dr. John Kirkwood. [p.633] He then entered the
University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, Penn., and graduated in the spring
of 1847. From there he came to Batesville, where he remained but a short time,
when he moved to New Orleans. He stopped here only a few months, however, and
in 1848 returned to Batesville and began to practice his profession, making
this place his permanent home. The Doctor's skill soon received a widespread
reputation, as he was earnest in his profession, and made it his study and
business. His practice was at one time probably the largest in Northern
Arkansas, but within the last few years he has retired from the practice of his
profession. He has accumulated considerable real estate, and owns several good
farms, which are cared for by tenants. The Doctor has the credit of having
given the Arkansas College, located at Batesville, its name, and is a trustee
of that excellent institution of learning. He is one of the pioneer physicians
who could append M. D. to his name, and became one of the most popular in
Independence County, and the number of his friends are many. Dr. Allen was
married, April 25, 1849, to Miss Mary E. Agnew, of Pennsylvania, a daughter of
Dr. James Agnew, of Pittsburg, who graduated from the University of
Pennsylvania in 1800, twenty-four years before the subject of this sketch was
born. She is a sister of Chief Justice Agnew, of Pennsylvania. The Agnew family
are lineal descendants of the Howells, Mrs. Allen's grandfather, Richard
Howell, being governor of New Jersey for many consecutive years, and she is
also a first cousin of the wife of the Confederate leader, Jeff. Davis. Mrs.
Davis is a Howell. Dr. and Mrs. Allen are the parents of four daughters and one
son, only two of whom now survive the mother. Those yet living are Sarah (Mrs.
Theodora Maxfield). Samuel W. and Mary. The latter and the Doctor are members
of the Presbyterian Church, and he takes great interest in religious matters,
as in educational affairs also, at Arkansas College, and has done a great deal
for the advancement of school interests in Independence County. He has been
identified with Batesville for forty-three years, as one of its leading
spirits, and has the reputation of a skillful physician, and, as far as he
himself is concerned, has never been upon a bed of sickness, though now in his
sixty-sixth year. Active and earnest in all he undertakes, he says, jocularly,
he could never find time to be sick. At heart, however, he attributes to God
all his blessings, good health being one of the many.