| Notes |
- John Steel ALLEN was born on 13 Nov 1824 in Shenango Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, to Joseph Z. and Nancy (Steel) Allen, the third of eight children. Joseph was deeded 119 acres of land in Mercer County, PA in 1837 and became one of the areas early farmers. John and his seven siblings were raised on this farm.
On September 10, 1845, John was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Pennsylvania Militia, by the Governor of PA, "The Independent Hornets" attached to the 2nd Brigade of the 16th Division, composed of the Counties of Beaver, Butler, and Mercer. John's commission lasted until August 3, 1849. Not much is known about the time John spend serving with the "Independent Hornets" as this was not a period of conflict.
A few months after leaving the militia he married Elizabeth Peirsol on Christmas Day, December 25, 1849 in Trumbull County, Ohio. Elizabeth is the daughter of John and Anne (Morrison) Peirsol, born April 9, 1824 in Milton, Mahoning County, Ohio. The Peirsol family located to Mercer County in 1847. After marrying in 1849, John and Elizabeth relocated back to Mercer County, where John began farming. Three days after the 1850 US Census was taken, their first child was born on September 19, 1850, Elma Amanda Allen. From 1850 to 1866, John and Elizabeth would have eight children, but only three of the eight would survive the rigors of early life in the 1850's:
1. Elma Amanda b. 19 Sept 1850, d. 21 Nov 1853, age 3;
2. Nancy Anne b. 5 Mar 1852, d. 7 Mar 1932, age 80;
3. Sophia Jane b. 5 May 1855, d. 26 Dec 1856, age 1;
4. Euphemia Almir b. 24 Sept 1857, d. 11 Mar 1937, age 79;
5. Lillian Estella b. 25 Dec 1860, d. 12 Nov 1944, age 83;
6. Clement P.V. b. 29 May 1863, d. 22 may 1865, age 2;
7. Joseph McGranahan b. 25 Dec 1866, d. Jan 1867, age newborn;
8. John McKinzie b. 25 Dec 1866, d. Jan 1867, age newborn.
John and his family relocated to occupy a part of his father's farm. Farming the 119 acres was a family effort split between John, his father Joseph, and John's brother William. Both John and Elizabeth were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1869, the birth of twin boys to daughter Nancy Anne (unmarried at age 17) added a new dimension to the family. Just 2-3 years earlier John and Elizabeth lost three of their children so it was hardly an unwelcome event which filled the void. The boys, John Clayton Allen and Thomas Clifford Allen, were raised in the Allen household. When Nancy Anne remarried Albert Shultz Jr. six years later the twin boys remained on the Allen farm.
John died on 23 December 1908 at the home of his daughter Lillian (Allen) Minnis, in Salem, Mercer County, PA; two weeks after breaking his leg at the age of 84. From his obituary (The Record-Argus, Greenville, PA, 28 Dec 1908, page 2) we can develop a better picture of John the person.
"He was one of Salem's pioneer residents, having resided there a period of 66 years, only leaving his home pacitated (?) him for active life on the farm. He was of a quiet, gentle disposition, whose greatest pleasure was in his home surrounded by his family. He was a considerate husband, an indulgent father, and a neighbor of whom only the kindest things could be said."
He is buried in the Stevenson Cemetery, Mercer County, PA. His wife Elizabeth (Peirsol) Allen died July 16, 1910, in Shalersville, PA, at the home of her daughter Euphemia (Allen) Hall. She was 79 years old and is buried along side husband John in the Stevenson Cemetery, Mercer County, PA.
|
1824 - 1908 (84 years)
