My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Franklin 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.

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Monroe Allen was born in Miller County, Mo., April 1, 1843, and is the son of Joel and Jemimah (Gardner) Allen, both of whom were natives of Barren County, Ky. The father was born August 4, 1808, and died in Franklin County, Mo., November 20, 1884. The mother was born in Miller County, Mo., and died in the same county when Monroe was but a child of four years. The family came to Missouri in 1840, and finally located in Miller County, but from there moved to St. Louis County in 1864, and one year later moved to Franklin County, Mo., where the father died. He was a farmer by occupation, and the son of Isaiah and Rachel (Brown) Allen, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. Isaiah Allen was born April 15, 1786, and died on the farm on which our subject is now living, January 17, 1869. He came from Kentucky to Missouri when his son, Monroe’s father, came and located in Miller County. He afterward moved with him to St. Louis County, and from there to Franklin County. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. His wife was born September 25, 1788, and died in Franklin County at the advanced age of ninety-two years. Joel Allen, after the death of his wife, married Elizabeth Shelton, a native of Tennessee. Monroe received the rudiments of an English education in the schools of Miller County, and, after moving to Franklin County, farmed one year with his father, after which he purchased land, and began farming on his own resources; this he has continued ever since. September 3, 1866, he married Nancy J. Reed, a native of Miller County, Mo., born April 2, 1844, and the daughter of David and Elizabeth Reed. To this union five children have been born, all of whom are now living: Frank B., Mary O., Joseph R., Anna J. and Alice A. David Reed, the father of Mrs. Allen, was born in Cole County, Mo., in 1808, and died in Howell County, Mo., December 25, 1871. He was a farmer, and for many years held offices in Miller County, such as judge, assessor and sheriff. His wife was born in Wythe County, Va., in 1811, and died in Howell County, Mo., in 1874. The father served under Gen. Price in the late war, and was wounded at Wilson Creek. Both he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of which he was a steward. Mr. Allen now owns 180 acres of some of the best land in Franklin County, and is a successful farmer. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church, he being deacon in the same. He is also overseer in Excelsior Lodge, No. 399, A. O. U. W., and a Democrat in politics.

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This family biography is one of 305 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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