My Genealogy Hound

Elijah L. Allen is one of the successful farmers of Benton County, Ark., and is also engaged in grist-milling. He is of French descent, and was born in Northern Georgia July 25, 1888. His father, Matthew Allen, was born in South Carolina in 1807, and in October, 1852, left Georgia and came to Arkansas, where he died October 11, 1862. He was married to Lucinda Vaughter, who died in Georgia in 1848, having borne nine children: James (deceased); Amanda E., wife of W. E. Smith; Elijah L.; Martha J., who became the wife of Rev. Isom Hall and died in 1854; William C. (deceased); Lindsay M., who died during the late war; Catherine (deceased wife of W. F. Henderson); Hiram S. living in Arkansas, and an infant, deceased. Elijah L. Allen came to Arkansas when nineteen years of age, and for twenty-seven years was a resident of Conway County. Since that time he has resided on his present farm of 120 acres. In 1856 he married Louisa Jones, a native of Tennessee, who died in May, 1868, leaving five children: Sarah C. (Mrs. Solomon Glenn), William A. (deceased), Mary M. (Mrs. J. A. Matthews), Lindsay A. and Laura J. (Mrs. James H. Willis). Ellen A. Townsend was married to Mr. Allen September 28, 1865, and by him became the mother of seven children: Georgia A, (Mrs. F. C. Grimsley), Hiram R., Elijah H., Isom (deceased), Fannie (deceased), T. J. (deceased), and Hattie (deceased). Mrs. Allen died August 15, 1880, and two years later Mr. Allen married Mrs. Amelia C. Willis. In 1862 Mr. Allen enlisted in the Union army, and after honorable service was discharged July 9, 1865. He was at Prairie Grove, Helena, the evacuation of Little Rock and in the Camden raid. He supports the principles of the Republican party, and his first presidential vote was cast for Fremont. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the G. A. R. His wife belongs to the Methodist Church.