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Below is a family biography included in The History of Barton County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Orvilla Allen, who is prominently identified with the ‘bus and transfer business at Lamar, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, February 7, 1844, and is the son of James and Martha (Shane) Allen, both natives of Ohio, where they married and spent their days, he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a prominent man in Jefferson County, which he twice represented in the Legislature. He died in 1873, at the age of seventy years. Both he and wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. Grandfather Allen came from Pennsylvania to Ohio at an early day, as did also Grandfather Shane. Orvilla Allen, the subject of this sketch, is the only child born to his parents, and received his education principally by his own exertions, as his early educational advantages were limited. He attained his growth on the farm, and remained with his parents until 1865, when he came to North Missouri, and taught school a short time. March 15, 1866, he returned to Ohio, and there married Miss Mary J. Morrison, a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, who bore him three children: Hattie C., Ada E. and James F. In 1868 he moved to Greene County, Mo., where he followed farming. May 29, 1873, his wife died, and three years later he came to Lamar, and for several years ran a livery stable. When the railroad was built to Lamar, he started the ‘bus and transfer business, and is now the owner of two ‘buses and two transfer wagons. June 20, 1877, he married Miss Tamer T. Ramsey, a native of Mississippi, and to this union were born three children: May, Orville and Jesse. Mr. Allen is a Republican in politics, and is a Royal Arch Mason.

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This family biography is one of 166 biographies included in The History of Barton County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Barton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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