Isaac J. Allen
The Richland County bar of 1894 with few exceptions have no knowledge of Isaac J. Allen, who possibly was its most highly cultured member at any period of its history. Doctor Allen, he was always spoken of and addressed as Doctor Allen. A graduate in the liberal arts and sciences; a graduate of the school of medicine, and a doctor-of-laws -- an LL.D. He was indeed a fine classical scholar, yet largely self-made. When a youth and young man he worked his way through college, taking his degree, Bachelor of Arts, from Kenyon College. I am not able to say when the spirit of Esculapsus took its departure, and the soul of Coke or Blackstone possessed him, but possibly as early as the first years in the eighteen-forties. When he first opened his office for the practice of the law in Mansfield he was associated with Henry B. Curtis, Mt. Vernon; Mr. Curtis the non-resident and Dr. Allen the resident member of the firm. That partnership continued several years, and later W.J. Richart, Esq., who is now a citizen of Mansfield, though for a number of years past not in practice, was associated with Dr. Allen under the firm name of Allen & Richart. Their office was in a one-story frame building located on the west side of the Park and on the south side of what was then known as the Bowland block; between the office and the banking room of the Farmers Branch of the State Bank was the alley only. Doctor Allen was below the average of men in height and weight, but had a compact, closely-knit physical body, with large eyes, high forehead, delicately made, so to speak, but always from the time I first knew him he wore a full beard, thick, black, silky, and the growth gave him the appearance of more vigor, than he otherwise would have impressed one. He attained a fine practice and clientage, but he was essentially a book worm, a scholar, a teacher. The professor's chair was more to his liking than the contests at the bar. His learning was solid, substantial and by no means pedantic. When he made preparation, and he never spoke without preparation, his efforts were attractive, able and brilliant. Of all the early men of the bar of Richland, Dr. Allen was the only one (whom I now recall) who was in the eyes and minds of young collegians, and so he was a demand at Gambier, at Delaware, at Hudson, at Oberlin, as an orator for the literary societies of these several institutions at commencement time. While the writer hereof was at Delaware as a student, he proposed Dr. Allen and had the Zelagatheun Society to select him as the orator, and the Doctor responded in a most masterly address. He was a Whig in politics and was the candidate of his party for Lieutenant Governor at one time, and it was during that campaign that a knowledge of the man and his methods and masterly capabilities obtained a larger and wider sphere, and Dr. Allen became a citizen of Hamilton County. President for a time of the Farmers College, that college at which Murat Halstead graduated, and of which Bishop Walden was an alumnus; the Doctor also was superintendent of the schools of the city of Cincinnati, and both positions he filled easily and well. Later on he represented the Republic abroad as the consul of the United States in Oriental countries. He, I think, is still living, but is now an old man, and if I am not mistaken, resides in the state of New Jersey. While a resident of Mansfield his home was where now H.P. Davis, Esq. resides on Mulberry Street, but the house built was years ago removed and re-erected, and can be seen on Diamond Street South, next adjoining the factory of Rummell & Gurney. Homes speak but little of any man, but the home of Dr. Allen was in its day tasty and attractive and gave some evidence of what manner of man he was. In some respects Dr. Allen was an unique character. There are many old men still alive in the county who knew him well and greatly admired him.
From Richland Shield & Banner: 29 September 1894, Vol. LXXVII, No. 20