JAMES H. ALLEN. Among the prosperous citizens of Carroll township, perhaps none have had more varied or thrilling experiences of life than this gentleman. His grandfather, David Allen, was an early settler of Forward township, Allegheny Co., Penn., where he carried on farming and stock raising, also operating a distillery. He married Mary Warne, who bore him children as follows: John, Dorcas, Joseph, James, David, Eliza, Frances, Mary and Bela. The father of this family died about the year 1823. He was a leading member of the Presbyterian Church at Round Hill, and in politics he was a Democrat. David P. Allen, father of subject, was born in 1805, in Forward township, Allegheny Co., Penn., and learned the trade of tanner. He married Miss Mary Whorley, and, with the exception of short intervals, their lives were passed in Forward township, Allegheny county. He owned twenty- one acres of coal land, and followed farming during his later years. On October 30, 1889, he died, aged eighty-four years six months, leaving the following children: James H., Joseph W. (living in Kansas), Ann Eliza (deceased), Dorcas (Mrs. McConnell, living in Majors, Buffalo Co., Neb.), Bradford (residing near Denver, Colo.), Albert G. (a resident of Pittsburgh, Penn.), Florence (Mrs. McTeeter, of Braddock, Penn.), and Mrs. Mary J. Fleming, of Fayette City, Penn. The mother is yet living on the old homestead in Allegheny county, Penn., aged eighty-three years. In politics the father was a Whig and Republican. James H. Allen was born November 23, 1832, in Wheeling, W. Va., and was brought with his parents to Allegheny county, Penn., when an infant. At the age of twenty years he took a course of engineering at Brownsville, Penn., and passed four years learning the machinist's business. After completing his studies he became a steamboat engineer, and for thirty-five years sailed the western waters the Ohio and Mississippi going as far north as St. Paul, and as far south as New Orleans. During the Civil war he was engaged in transporting troops and provisions, and was held as a prisoner for some time on the Cumberland river. He was on a boat that sank in the Ohio river, near Battingrape Island. After the war he returned home, and February 28, 1867, he was married to Miss M. A. Thompson, daughter of Wilson Thompson, of Monongahela. The children born to them were as follows: Bertha (deceased), Wilson T., Albert and Harry. Wilson Thompson was a native of Maryland, whence, when a young man, he came to Monongahela, and learned the trade of glass blowing, which he followed some time. He was married to Margaret, daughter of Elias Watkins, of Monongahela, and the children born to them were: Martha A. and William (deceased in infancy). The father died in 1872, the mother in 1840, and both are buried in Monongahela. He was a leading member of the M. E. Church, and was deeply interested in educational affairs. Mr. and Mrs. James H. Allen have a beautiful home in Bellwood, near Monongahela, where they have resided some fifteen years. They are members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Allen is one of the leading citizens of his locality, a typical self-made man, one whose integrity is unquestioned. In his political affiliations he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party.

Text taken from page 1214 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/ .

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