My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL ALLEN, a very successful farmer and prominent resident of Belchertown, was born at Prescott, Mass., August 14, 1828. His father, Roswell Allen, was born at East Windsor, Conn., in the year, 1798; and his grandfather, Samuel Allen, was a lifelong resident of that State.

Roswell Allen received a good common-school education, and in his young manhood taught school. In 1824 he married Beulah Chapin, and they had a family of eight children. In 1828 he moved to Prescott, where he continued to reside until 1845. He then removed to Belchertown, and settled upon a farm of two hundred and thirty acres, situated in the central portion of the town. He conducted this farm very successfully during the remainder of his life, and died on April 28, 1868. He was a Whig in politics, and was a member of the legislature during the years 1839 and 1840.

Samuel Allen made the most of his opportunities for procuring an education in the common schools and at the Hopkins Academy. He was an apt scholar and afterward an apt teacher. He commenced teaching school at the age of sixteen, and continued in that calling for the greater part of the succeeding fifteen years. He also engaged in land surveying both in his native town and the adjoining counties. But finally, attracted by the independent life of a farmer, he purchased in 1860 the property on which he now resides, and has since been prosperously engaged in farming.

Mr. Allen has been twice married. His first marriage, which was performed in 1857, was with Levica Sherman, daughter of Thomas Sherman, of Ware, Mass. They had four children; namely, Elizabeth S. A., Mary L., Roswell, and Thomas. Of these Elizabeth married J. B. Ellis, of Crockett, Tex. The mother died February 26, 1879; and Mr. Allen wedded for his second spouse, in October, 1881, Mrs. Sarah E. (Rice) Walker, daughter of Lyman and Nancy (Bugbee) Rice, of Belchertown. Mrs. Allen’s first husband was Henry L. Walker, son of Lyman and Mary (Gilbert) Walker, of Belchertown, where he was a successful farmer and resided his entire life. He died at the age of twenty-nine years, having been a member of the Congregational church and also an active worker in the Sabbath-school. Mr. Allen was for a period of twenty-five years a member of the School Board, and has always manifested a lively interest in all matters relating to education. He is independent in politics, and Mrs. Sarah E. Allen is a member of the Congregational church.