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John Henry Allen

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John Henry Allen Veteran

Birth
Rochester, Monroe County, New York, USA
Death
12 Mar 1926 (aged 80)
Chico, Butte County, California, USA
Burial
Chico, Butte County, California, USA Add to Map
Plot
21 GAR Lot 151
Memorial ID
View Source
Company I, 2nd California Cavalry-Civil War

"JOHN HENRY ALLEN - An energetic pioneer, renowned for his prowess as a hunter and unostentatiously enjoying the distinction of a direct kinship, through ancestors of several generations back, with the intrepid Ethan Allen, the famous soldier of the Revolution, John Henry Allen has devoted much of his life to the good and happiness of others, with the natural result that he merits and has the esteem and good will of a very large circle of friends. He was born near Genesee Falls, Monroe County, NY, on September 2, 1845. His father was David Allen, the noted New York shot and peace-maker, who married there Sarah Woolery, who was born in Ontario, and in 1846 they located in Bellevue, Eaton County, MI, and thereafter, in 1853, came to Rockford, IL, and in 1855 to LeRoy, Mower County, MN. In 1859, the plucky couple crossed the plains safely with ox teams, and settled in Butte County, where Mr. Allen engaged first in mining, and then in the cattle business. Both Mr. and Mrs. Allen died at Chico.

"The third youngest of seven sons and four daughters, John Henry was educated in the public schools of Minnesota, while he also roamed the fields and woods, and as a boy learned to be a good shot. In 1859, with his parents, he came to California, where he went to work in a mine, commencing on Butte Creek. There, in 1864, he discovered a claim, with his brother Reuben, which they worked out. He continued at mining until, moved by a restless nature and by inborn patriotic impulses, the tumult of the great Civil War called him to the front. In January, 1865, he enlisted as a volunteer, being then less than twenty years of age, and on April 14 following, the night on which President Lincoln was assassinated, he had an adventure that might well have tried the mettle of one much older in years. His best friend, Lieutenant Livergood, was killed by a man of the company, and Mr. Allen followed the murderer - followed him like a hound - and got him and brought him in. The culprit eventually was made to pay the death penalty by the military authorities. Later, while a member of Company I, Second California Cavalry, doing service in Nevada, he had perilous adventures with the Indians, the campaign against the Redskins extending through seventeen months. He there participated in several battles and skirmishes, and at Fish Creek no less than five arrows were shot into his horse. In June, 1866, he was mustered out of service.

"Returning home, Mr. Allen remained with his parents until they died. With them he drove cattle to Sonoma County; but finding the feed short at Bennett, where they were located, they sold out. Coming back to Chico in 1869, he bought an interest with his brother in the blacksmith business at Eighth Street, between Main and Broadway; and there the firm of Allen Brothers held forth for seven years. Selling out to his brother, he then started a shop of his own on Ninth Street, which he maintained for two years, or until he accepted an appointment to the police force; but after fourteen months of experience as a policeman, he bought a shop on Main Street, between Fifth and Sixth Streets, and again engaged in the general blacksmith business. In time, he purchased the property at the corner of Fifth and Wall Streets, and built his present shop, in which he has worked and transacted business for twenty years or more, meanwhile living in the residence adjoining. During this time, however, he spent two years in Vallejo as blacksmith in the navy yard. As the result of his steady prosperity, Mr. Allen has built several residences which he rents to others.

"At Chico, Mr. Allen was married to Nellie Barnes, a native of Missouri, and the daughter of David Barnes, a New Yorker who served as a volunteer in the Civil War; and who moved to Missouri, later came to California, and settled at Chico, where he was active as a painter. Two children blessed this marriage. Fred is a musician in San Francisco; and in that city the daughter, Ina, now Mrs. Erlenback, also resides. In politics, Mr. Allen is a true-blue Republican. He belongs to Halleck Post, No. 19, G.A.R." History of Butte County, CA 1918 by George C. Mansfield, pgs 870-71.
~~~
John Henry Allen, aged 61, born New York, occupation blacksmith, joined the Major General Henry W. Halleck Post No. 19, GAR, of Chico. He died on March 12, 1926. Source: "Chico's Grand Army of the Republic", transcribed Descriptive Book of Halleck Post 19, by Paradise Genealogical Society, published in the Goldmine, Volume 32:2 – Fall 1999.
~~~
See the completed biography on John Henry Allen, by Jimmy Alderson, entitled "John Henry Allen: Tradesman, Union Soldier, and California Pioneer" as part of a California State University, Chico Archival History project, fall semester, 2013, under the direction of Professor Mike Magliari. Electronic version and hard print copies are available at Meriam Library, CSU, Chico and Chico Cemetery Association.
Company I, 2nd California Cavalry-Civil War

"JOHN HENRY ALLEN - An energetic pioneer, renowned for his prowess as a hunter and unostentatiously enjoying the distinction of a direct kinship, through ancestors of several generations back, with the intrepid Ethan Allen, the famous soldier of the Revolution, John Henry Allen has devoted much of his life to the good and happiness of others, with the natural result that he merits and has the esteem and good will of a very large circle of friends. He was born near Genesee Falls, Monroe County, NY, on September 2, 1845. His father was David Allen, the noted New York shot and peace-maker, who married there Sarah Woolery, who was born in Ontario, and in 1846 they located in Bellevue, Eaton County, MI, and thereafter, in 1853, came to Rockford, IL, and in 1855 to LeRoy, Mower County, MN. In 1859, the plucky couple crossed the plains safely with ox teams, and settled in Butte County, where Mr. Allen engaged first in mining, and then in the cattle business. Both Mr. and Mrs. Allen died at Chico.

"The third youngest of seven sons and four daughters, John Henry was educated in the public schools of Minnesota, while he also roamed the fields and woods, and as a boy learned to be a good shot. In 1859, with his parents, he came to California, where he went to work in a mine, commencing on Butte Creek. There, in 1864, he discovered a claim, with his brother Reuben, which they worked out. He continued at mining until, moved by a restless nature and by inborn patriotic impulses, the tumult of the great Civil War called him to the front. In January, 1865, he enlisted as a volunteer, being then less than twenty years of age, and on April 14 following, the night on which President Lincoln was assassinated, he had an adventure that might well have tried the mettle of one much older in years. His best friend, Lieutenant Livergood, was killed by a man of the company, and Mr. Allen followed the murderer - followed him like a hound - and got him and brought him in. The culprit eventually was made to pay the death penalty by the military authorities. Later, while a member of Company I, Second California Cavalry, doing service in Nevada, he had perilous adventures with the Indians, the campaign against the Redskins extending through seventeen months. He there participated in several battles and skirmishes, and at Fish Creek no less than five arrows were shot into his horse. In June, 1866, he was mustered out of service.

"Returning home, Mr. Allen remained with his parents until they died. With them he drove cattle to Sonoma County; but finding the feed short at Bennett, where they were located, they sold out. Coming back to Chico in 1869, he bought an interest with his brother in the blacksmith business at Eighth Street, between Main and Broadway; and there the firm of Allen Brothers held forth for seven years. Selling out to his brother, he then started a shop of his own on Ninth Street, which he maintained for two years, or until he accepted an appointment to the police force; but after fourteen months of experience as a policeman, he bought a shop on Main Street, between Fifth and Sixth Streets, and again engaged in the general blacksmith business. In time, he purchased the property at the corner of Fifth and Wall Streets, and built his present shop, in which he has worked and transacted business for twenty years or more, meanwhile living in the residence adjoining. During this time, however, he spent two years in Vallejo as blacksmith in the navy yard. As the result of his steady prosperity, Mr. Allen has built several residences which he rents to others.

"At Chico, Mr. Allen was married to Nellie Barnes, a native of Missouri, and the daughter of David Barnes, a New Yorker who served as a volunteer in the Civil War; and who moved to Missouri, later came to California, and settled at Chico, where he was active as a painter. Two children blessed this marriage. Fred is a musician in San Francisco; and in that city the daughter, Ina, now Mrs. Erlenback, also resides. In politics, Mr. Allen is a true-blue Republican. He belongs to Halleck Post, No. 19, G.A.R." History of Butte County, CA 1918 by George C. Mansfield, pgs 870-71.
~~~
John Henry Allen, aged 61, born New York, occupation blacksmith, joined the Major General Henry W. Halleck Post No. 19, GAR, of Chico. He died on March 12, 1926. Source: "Chico's Grand Army of the Republic", transcribed Descriptive Book of Halleck Post 19, by Paradise Genealogical Society, published in the Goldmine, Volume 32:2 – Fall 1999.
~~~
See the completed biography on John Henry Allen, by Jimmy Alderson, entitled "John Henry Allen: Tradesman, Union Soldier, and California Pioneer" as part of a California State University, Chico Archival History project, fall semester, 2013, under the direction of Professor Mike Magliari. Electronic version and hard print copies are available at Meriam Library, CSU, Chico and Chico Cemetery Association.


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  • Maintained by: Adriana
  • Originally Created by: JMC
  • Added: Dec 14, 2007
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23402301/john_henry-allen: accessed ), memorial page for John Henry Allen (2 Sep 1845–12 Mar 1926), Find a Grave Memorial ID 23402301, citing Chico Cemetery, Chico, Butte County, California, USA; Maintained by Adriana (contributor 47328225).