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Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Record of Seneca and Schuyler Counties, New York published by Chapman Publishing Co., in 1895.  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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JOSEPH D. ALLEMAN. After an active career as a farmer, miller and stock-raiser, the subject of this article retired from business pursuits, and for some years he has resided in Waterloo, where the twilight of his life is being quietly and happily passed. Seneca County has been his life-long home, and he has a large acquaintance among the people of this section, having a host of friends among those in whose association he has lived and labored for many years.

Born in the town of Fayette, January 30, 1814, Joseph D. is a son of Jacob Alleman, who was born at Harrisburg, Pa., in 1782, and died in Seneca County April 6, 1835, at the age of fifty-three years. Agriculture was his chosen occupation, and to it he devoted his active life. In the Lutheran Church, of which he was a faithful member, he served as an Elder for many years. He was of direct German descent, his father, Stephen Alleman, having emigrated from Germany in company with a brother, Conrad, at the age of sixteen, and settled in Pennsylvania.

The mother of our subject, Nancy Ann, was born near Shippensburg, Pa., and was a daughter of Conrad Newstetter, who was of German lineage, and died in Stark County, Ohio. She passed away in Waterloo in 1869, being then in the eighty-third year of her age. In boyhood years our subject attended the district schools of Fayette during the winter months, while in the summer seasons he assisted in the cultivation of the home farm. On attaining his majority he began in the world for himself and, forming a partnership with his brother, Conrad J., under the firm name of C. J. & J. D. Alleman, he became interested in the Fayette Mills, which he operated for six years. In 1844 he disposed of his interest in the concern to his brother.

For a number of years afterward Mr. Alleman operated a farm in the town of Fayette, but in 1856 he removed to the banks of Seneca Lake, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty-six acres. The tract was devoted by him principally to the raising of grain, but he also engaged to some extent in stock-raising. He placed the property under a high state of cultivation, and still owns the place, though for some years it has been occupied by a tenant. In 1871 he came to the village of Waterloo, where he has since made his home. His life has been comparatively quiet and uneventful, and he has followed the even tenor of his way through all the passing years. When a young man, he was commissioned Major of the militia, and later became Lieutenant-Colonel of the state troops.

In 1840 Mr. Alleman married Miss Jane Watkins, daughter of Stephen Watkins, of the town of Fayette. Mrs. Alleman, who was a lady of most estimable character, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., December 30, 1813, and passed from earth at the family residence in Waterloo in 1886. Four children were born to bless their union, there being two sons and two daughters. Andrew A., the eldest of the family, died in 1872. Joseph J. is a resident of Union Springs, Cayuga County, N. Y. Sarah J., formerly the wife of Edgar H. Gambee, died in 1866; and Nancy E. is the wife of John H. Reamer, of Waterloo. In politics Mr. Alleman is a pronounced Democrat. His first Presidential ballot was cast for Martin Van Buren, and he has voted at every succeeding national election. In religious belief he is a Lutheran, although his wife was identified with the Presbyterian Church. He has always been a man of temperate habits, to which fact is largely due his robust frame and good health at his present advanced age.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in Portrait and Biographical Record of Seneca and Schuyler Counties, New York published in 1895. 

View additional Seneca County, New York family biographies here: Seneca County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Seneca County, New York here: Seneca County, New York Map

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