My Genealogy Hound

Ben H. Allen. In sketching the life of this gentleman it is but just to say that his good name is above reproach, and that he has won the confidence and esteem of all who know him. As a tiller of the soil he has been quite successful, and is still following that calling. He was born in North Carolina, February 19, 1838, to William and Nancy (Crump) Allen, both of whom were born in North Carolina, the father being an agriculturist by occupation. Their marriage took place in their native State in 1835, and resulted in the birth of ten children, nine of whom are now living, the subject of this sketch being the eldest. The other members of the family living are Frank, Bettie (wife of J. J. Micenhimer), Lucy (wife of John Thompson), Sallie (wife of J. Burns), Cara (wife of Phil Randel), Fannie (wife of G. Lanier), and Maggie (wife of Mr. Bennett); George is deceased. About 1856 the father of these children was judge of Stanly County, and was magistrate for a number of years. He died in 1885, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, also a Mason. His wife died in 1870, a member of the same church as himself. Ben H. Allen was married in 1869, to Miss Bettie Howell of Pope County, and to this marriage two children have been born: Minnie and Bettie. He was called upon to mourn the death of his wife in 1874, she being a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and in Stanly County, N. C., he was married, in 1877, to Miss Eugenia Randel, by whom he has four children: Bennie, Randel, Samuel and Loy. Mr. Allen is a well-to-do farmer, and is the owner of 320 acres of land, of which 155 acres are under cultivation. He emigrated from North Carolina to Arkansas in 1859, and has since been a resident of Pope County. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Second Arkansas Cavalry, and served as a private soldier on the Confederate side until 1865, taking part in the battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Jonesboro and Nashville. Since the war he has devoted his time to farming, and not only is his land valuable for farming, but it is also heavily under laid with coal. Mr. Allen and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of Russellville Lodge No. 254, of the A. F. & A. M.