White-Cleburne County ArArchives Biographies.....Allen, Ben 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 8, 2009, 1:59 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

BEN ALLEN.
    Ben Allen, sheriff of White county and a resident of Searcy, is ever found
prompt and faithful in the discharge of his official duties and his record is
one which reflects credit and honor upon himself and has proven highly
satisfactory to his constituents. A native son of Arkansas, he was born in
Cleburne county, September 23, 1872, his parents being Thomas and Missouri
(Butler) Allen. The Allen family has been represented in this state from pioneer
times. The grandfather, Eli Allen, was a native of Virginia, born in 1804 and
followed farming in that state ere his removal to Arkansas in 1818. He first
made his way to New Orleans, thence up the Mississippi and White rivers to Des
Arc, from which point he traveled to Heber Springs, becoming one of the earliest
settlers in that district. He fished, hunted and trapped and carried the furs to
Arkansas Post, trading among the Indians. He had seen hundreds of buffaloes in
droves on the western plains and he passed through all of the experiences and
hardships of pioneer life. In the early days he was a squatter but afterward
entered land from the government and engaged in farming and on his land he
reared his family. He departed this life at the age of eighty-five years. His
son, Thomas Allen, was born in what was then old Van Buren county and is now
Cleburne county, in 1823, and his life record covered the intervening years to
1888, when his death occurred. His wife was born in Missouri and died in 1919 at
the age of sixty-five years. Thomas Allen was educated in the old-time
subscription school, the schoolhouse being a log structure with split log
benches and puncheon floor. Reared amid pioneer surroundings he became familiar
with all of the conditions of life on the frontier and bore his share in the
work of early development and progress. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the
Confederate army, joining the Tenth Arkansas Infantry, with which he served the
greater part of the time, going to Mississippi under Captain Miller. He
participated in the battle of Shiloh and served throughout the period of the
Civil war. With his return from military life he again settled in Van Buren
county, where he followed the occupation of farming. homesteading land in that
locality. The tract which he secured was covered with timber and he had to clear
most of this. At one time he owned a thousand acres of land, for which he paid
only a dollar per acre. In the early days most of his trading was done at
Batesville, at Des Arc and at Little Rock. He crossed the ice on the Arkansas
river at Little Rock in order to get to market. There was much wild game to be
had in this section of the country in those days and the hunter had no
difficulty in securing meat for the table. During the Civil war Mr. Allen lost
everything that he had accumulated and when he returned home his stock consisted
only of an old mule. With undaunted courage he took up the task of regaining his
lost possessions and for many years engaged in general farming and stock
raising. At a later day he removed to Texas, where he purchased land and his
last years were spent in the Lone Star state. He always gave his political
allegiance to the democratic party and both he and his wife were consistent
members of the Missionary Baptist church. In their family were nine children.
six of whom are living: J. G.. a practicing physician, residing at Commerce,
Texas; Ben, of this review; John, living in Hunt county, Texas, where he follows
farming; Theopholis, a photographer, also living in Hunt county, Texas: Vester,
a government mail clerk, living at Waco, Texas; and Dora, the wife of Joe
Tedford of Pueblo, Colorado. One daughter. Effie, died at the age of
twenty-three years and two children died in infancy.

    Ben Allen was educated in the common schools of Heber Springs and remained
in Cleburne county through the period of his boyhood and youth. He afterward
taught for a few terms in the rural districts of Cleburne county and then took
up the occupation of farming. He bought and cleared land, securing a part of his
father's old homestead and devoted his attention to the task of developing the
fields and producing substantial crops. In 1893 he came to White county and
entered the employ of the Millen Lumber Company at St. Louis, Missouri,
occupying the position of general manager for eight years. He next purchased one
hundred and sixty acres of land near Beebe and while engaged in farming there he
served as constable and as deputy sheriff for a period of eight years. He was
afterward elected justice of the peace at Beebe and occupied that position for
four years, while in 1920 he was elected to the office of sheriff, entering upon
the duties of the position on the 1st of January, following, and is serving in
an acceptable manner. He still owns his farm of one hundred and twelve acres,
from which he is deriving a good rental.

    Mr. Allen was married to Miss Jennie Thompson, who was born in White county,
Arkansas, a daughter of Wes Thompson, a farmer and stock dealer. They have
become parents of six children: Opal, who is the wife of Albert Bevill, a farmer
of White county; Homer, farming in the same county; Nellie, the wife of Elbert
Walls, a barber of Cabot, Arkansas; Elvis, Velda and Oatley, all at home. Mrs.
Allen is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Allen belongs to the Masonic
lodge at Beehe and is also identified with the Woodmen of the World. His
political endorsement is given to the democratic party and he keeps well
informed on the vital questions and issues of the day. In all matters of
citizenship he stands with those men who are seeking to promote progress and
uphold high civic standards.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


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