Biography - Edgar Allen
EDGAR ALLEN. He of whom we write is a member of a family who just
previous to the war settled in this state. His father was a large landowner
and a man who was highly respected in the community. Our subject resides on
section 26, of Ridge Township, Shelby County, where he owns one hundred and
twenty-five acres of land in a good state of cultivation. His parents were
George and Nancy (Carlisle) Allen, natives respectively of Maryland and
Ohio, having met and married in the latter State. Our subject was born April
18, 1854, and is now in the meridian of life.
In 1863, our subject's parents came to Shelby County, and purchased two
hundred and twenty acres of land which was at that time but little improved.
They paid for this $18 per acre. The father however, returned to Ohio, and
there in the winter of 1863, February 24, his died, leaving a family of
eight children to mourn his decease. They are Sarah A., William H., Annetta,
Angeline, Thomas, Theodore. Edgar and Alice. Sarah married Anderson Hunter.
Annetta became the wife of Milton Hunter and died in Shelby County. Angeline
was married to George N. Arnold, and Alice became the wife of M. E. Moore.
In the spring of 1864, the mother with her family of children returned to
this State and settled on the land purchased by the husband and father. She
is still living having attained more than the three-score years and ten
usually allotted to mankind.
Our subject remained on the farm until he arrived at manhood. He was there
engaged in the usual duties of a farmer lad, which duties were relieved by
the enjoyments and amusements common to country life. He received his
education in the district schools in this vicinity, and is thus prepared for
the practical hand-to-hand combat with daily life.
In February, 1885, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to a lady whose maiden
name was Miss Allie Brandt, a daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Rugh) Brandt,
who still reside in Fairfield County, Ohio. Four children graced and
beautified this union, three of whom are living. Bessie, Maude and Theodore
are bright, intelligent children, who promise to more than fulfill their
fond parents' expectations and hope for them. Politically, our subject
affiliiates witn the Democratic party and under his party he has for some
time held the position of Tax Collector. Socially he is a member of the
Modern Woodmen of America.
Extracted 16 Feb 2019 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, page 597.
EDGAR ALLEN, who is numbered among the influential agriculturists of
Shelby County, owns and operates a fine farm on section 26, Ridge Township.
He is a native of Ohio, born in Fairfield County, April 18, 1854. His
parents, George and Nancy (Carlisle) Allen, were natives of Maryland and
Ohio respectively, and were married in the Buckeye State, where they owned a
farm. In 1863 the father came to Illinois, and in Shelby County he purchased
two hundred and twenty acres of land but little improved, paying for it $18
per acre. He returned to Ohio, where he died in the winter of 1863-64,
leaving eight children to mourn his untimely death.
The following is the record of the brothers and sisters of our subject:
Sarah A., who became the wife of Anderson Hunter; William H.; Anetta, who
married Milton Hunter and died in Shelby County; Angeline, who was united in
marriage with George N. Arnold, and also passed away in Shelby County;
Thomas, Theodore, Edgar, and Alice, the wife of M. E. Moore. In the spring
of 1864, the widowed mother, accompanied by her children, came to Illinois
and located on the land which had been purchased by her late husband. She
still survives at the age of seventy-five years, and her declining years
have been made happy by the love of her children and the affection of her
large circle of friends.
Mr. Allen passed a comparatively uneventful youth marked by no incidents of
note. He aided his mother as much as possible in his childhood and
alternated study at the neighboring distinct school with work on the home
farm, where he received a practical training in agricultural affairs. When
ready to establish a home of his own he was united in marriage, in February,
1884, with Miss Allie Brandt, the daughter of Adam Brandt, who still resides
in Fairfield County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Allen mourn the loss of one child,
and have three surviving members of their family — Bessie, Maud and
Theodore. Politically Mr. Allen is a stanch supporter of Democratic
principles and has served in various minor offices, among them that of Tax
Collector. Socially he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. His
industry has been rewarded with success, and he is now the owner of one
hundred and twenty-five acres of fertile land, embellished with good
improvements and bearing a first-class set of farm buildings.
Extracted 17 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 682-683.
