David Allen
A substantial and progressive farmer of Jefferson township, Fayette county, Ohio, is David Allen, who was born in this township sixty-five years ago. He is strictly a self-made man, and by his own hard labor has seen his possessions grow from a paltry ten acres to an extensive farm of three hundred and sixty acres. Not only has he gained material prosperity for himself and family, but he has also been very much interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of his community. For twenty-five years he performed unselfish service as a member of the school board of his township, and in this capacity did everything he could for the benefit of the children of his township. He and his wife have reared a family of six children to lives of usefulness and honor, all of whom are married and are rearing families of their own. A greater thing than this can no man do. and for this reason, if for no other, David Allen should be classed among tire representative men of his township and county.
David Allen, the son of Ethan and Susan (Straley ) Allen, was born in 1849 in the township where he has always lived. His father was a native of West Virginia, a son of .Adam and Nancy Allen. Ethan Allen and wife reared a famiy of fifteen children, Elizabeth. Nancy, Adam, Joseph. Charles, Eliza, Harvey. David, James H.. William, Orville, Arthur, Susan. Alice, and one who died in infancy. Adam Allen was in the War of 1812, and to him and his wife were born five children, Aaron, Adam. William, Elijah and Ethan.
David Allen attended the schools of his home neighborhood and early in life began working for himself. He married at the early age of twenty, and he and his young wife took a horse, cow and one hog, rented a farm and started in to make their fortune. They worked and planned together, and as they prospered they added to their land holdings until they now own about three hundred and sixty acres of line land in Jefferson township. To the original ten acres which they bought was first added forty-three acres, then one hundred and twenty-seven, then fifty-nine, then sixty-four, and finally, seventy-two. As he has enlarged his land holdings he has improved his farm until now he has probably one of the largest farms of the township, and one of the most attractive as well.
Mr. Allen was married in 1869 to Isabel West, the daughter of Edmond and Mary (Edge) West. Edmond West came from Virginia and settled in Jefferson township, where Mrs. Allen was born. Six children have been horn to Mr. and Mrs. Allen, all of whom are married: Edgar, Oscar, Clyde, Ernest, Lena and Mary. Edgar married Bertha Coin and has three children, Mabel, Donald and Marion; Oscar married Mata Patch and has three children, Annahelle, Harold and Florence; Clyde married Jennie Janes; Enest married Edith Baughn and has two children, Lester and Pauline; Lena is the wife of N. W. Lemon and has two daughters, Ruth and Marjorie; Mary became the wife of Chester Janes and has four children, Lucile, Carl, Helen and Janice.
Fraternally, Mir. Allen is a member of the lndependent Order of Odd Fellows, while he and his wife are members of the Daughters of Rebekah. Politically, he is a Republican, and while never taking an active part in politics, he has always shown his hearty support of all measures which he felt would benefit his community in any way. He has always stood for clean living and high thinking and is one of the substantial men of his township.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)