"Samuel C. Allen was eight years old when his mother died in Kentucky and from that time until 1861 he lived with his grandmother, Mrs. Martha [sic - should be Sarah] Bond, who had married Thomas Bond as her second husband. She was quite wealthy and a large slave-owner. His grandparents both died in Kentucky. In August, 1861, in company with six other men Mr. Allen came up the Ohio River to Portsmouth, Ohio, and from there up the Ohio Canal to Jasper, Pike County, and then to Marion County. The party consisted of Mr. Allen, James, Alexander, Jesse and William Dean, John Irons and Edward Freeman. The two last named returned to Pike County, Ohio. William Dean is a resident of Marion and Jesse Dean is residing in Richwood, Ohio. When Mr. Allen left Kentucky, he had but $5 and when he landed in Marion County, he was without a penny. He first located at LaRue and obtained work, driving four yoke of oxen for six or eight months, starting at $1 per day and at the end of eight months receiving $3 a day. He had been reared in town and knew scarcely anything of farm work. At the end of eight months he engaged in cutting logs for a, mill, making from $7 to $I I per day. Toward the close of the Civil War, he purchased a tract of 51 1/2 acres, all in timber, although he had not a dollar to pay for the same. He moved to the property soon after purchasing it, erected a little log cabin about 14 feet square and began clearing the land. He chopped cord wood for the railroad in order to pay for the land, and put out the last contract for the "Big Four" Railroad. He got out wood and made ties for 20 years, also operated a threshing machine and ran saw-mills over the country. He finally paid for the land and also acquired more, at one time being the owner of 500 acres. he has sold some, gave his son 65 acres. and retains his present farm of 257 acres. Mr. Allen at one time paid $900 in taxes. His success in life has been due to energy, perseverance and good business management. He was at one time $10,000 in debt, all of which he has paid off and now owes not one dollar. He met with a severe set-back when one of his saw-mills was destroyed by fire, entailing a total loss of $6,000. When Mr. Allen first came to Marion County, there were but few improved farms and no public roads. he has made all the improvements on his farm the splendid residence he resides in was built about 10 or 12 years ago.
On September 18, 1862, Mr. Allen was married to Cynthia Rizor, who was born in September, 1845, and was a daughter of Elijah Rizor. Two children were born to this union: Alice, born September 22, 1863; and James N., born December 6, 1864. Alice married Miles Longshore, who served for some time as deputy auditor of Marion County and at present is bookkeeper for The Huber Manufacturing Company, of Marion. They have two children living-Frank and Coral-and one daughter deceased. James N. Allen, who is a prominent farmer of Marion township, married Fannie Burge, a daughter of Marshall Burge, and has three children-May, Lester and Annabel. Mrs. Allen died November 14, 1874. Our subject was united in marriage November 23, 1875, with, Nancy B. Schertzer, a daughter of Solomon and Lucinda (Thornton) Schertzer, of Union County, Ohio. One child was born to this second union: Charles Hugh, born January 8, 1882, who is a rural mail carrier in Marion County, and when off duty is engaged in clerking in, the clothing store of James Crowley at LaRue; he married Mamie E. Jones, a daughter of John Wesley and Mary Jones, of Bowling Green township.
Mr. Allen formerly owned property in LaRue and for a period of 10 years operated a, lumber yard in the village. He has always been a Democrat and for years took an active interest in the politics of the county. He is a man of enterprise and public spirit, is an excellent conversationalist and is highly entertaining. Mrs. Allen is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Allen accompany this sketch."
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[cos1776 Note of Caution: Contains errors in Birth and Death dates. See headstone. Also, Samuel's paternal grandmother was Mrs. Sarah Bond, not Martha Bond.]
