My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Lawrence County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  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.

* * * *

Hon. Sampson Russel Allen. Among the successful and enterprising farmers and stock raisers of Mount Vernon Township, Lawrence Co., Mo., and who has made a name in the county’s history, is Hon. Sampson R. Allen, who was born in DeKalb County (now Smith County), Tenn., November 1, 1831 and is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Dougherty) Allen. The father, who was a farmer and stock raiser, settled on Spring River, Lawrence Co., Mo., in 1840, and carried on his professional work until 1884, when he died, lacking a few days of being ninety-three years of age. The mother has been deceased many years. The grandfather on the Allen side was a native of North Carolina, and served in the Revolutionary War. Sampson Russel Allen was the seventh child and the fifth son of eight children born to his parents. He reached his majority in Lawrence County, and in the spring of 1849 joined an elder brother, M. F. Allen, and others in an overland trip to California, driving an ox team and spending six months on the way. He remained two years in California, and then returned to his home in Missouri, where he engaged in farming. In 1854 he purchased land and engaged in farming and stock raising. He here married Miss Josephine Porter Johnson, a daughter of James and Sarah (Davidson) Johnson, the former a native of the Old Dominion, and the latter of old Tennessee stock. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen were born eight children: William Porter, Elmira E. (wife of W. H. Gibson), John D., Sarah E. (wife of W. M. Lee), S. R., James, Charles and Homer L. Mr. and Mrs. Allen worship at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. During the late war our subject enlisted in the service of the State Militia, and served in Company B, Seventy-sixth Regiment. He was afterward commissioned second lieutenant of Company D, Forty-sixth Regiment of Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and rendered active service until the close of the war. He was a war Democrat in his political views, and an original member of the Grange. In 1874-75 he was elected to represent Lawrence County in the Twenty-eighth General Assembly of the State of Missouri. He has served on the school board of his district, and has about 600 acres of land in one tract. He pays considerable attention to the raising of blooded stock, especially Short-horn cattle. Mr. Allen is independent in religion and politics.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 272 biographies included in The History of Lawrence County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Lawrence County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Lawrence County, Missouri family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.