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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ARTICLE ON ALONZO ALLEN

Alonzo B. Allen, a representative and reputable farmer of this county, is located in Coldwater Township, where he owns a fine farm of 240 acres, the greater part of which is improved.  Mr. Allen was born in Pittsford, Vt., July 11, 1829.  He is the son of John and Esther (Blackman) Allen, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in the Album.  He was in his third year when his parents removed to the Empire State, and so remembers nothing of his native state.

........ at the age of 22 he engaged in the profession of a teacher ..... In 1852 he purchased a tract of land lying on sections 35 and 26, Coldwater Township, and which is included in his present farm.  When Mr. Allen reached a position in life that warranted incurring the additional responsibility, he was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Mary Barnes, the ceremony taking place Dec. 13, 1860.  Mrs. Allen was born at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Dec. 28, 1836, while her father, Smith Barnes, was also a native of that State.  Orphaned at an early age, Mr. Barnes went to reside with an uncle in Saratoga County, and remained there until about 1851, and then came to Branch County and settled in Coldwater Township, where he purchased land on section 27, on which he continued to reside until his decease.  The mother of Mrs. Allen was in her girlhood Luentha Morehouse, a native of the Empire State, adn the daughter of Aaron and Delora Morehouse.  To Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been born four children, two of whom are living, Smith B. and Nellie L., the former of whom married Katy Brown and resides on a farm adjoining the homestead.  Esther M. was born March 8, 1864, and died Sept. 27, 1868; Mary was born Sept. 27, 1868 and died Aug. 3, 1887.  The maternal grandfather of our subject, Asa Blackman, was born in New Hampshire, and was an early settler of Brandon.  He improved a farm which he sold in 1834, and removed to another farm in the vicinity, where he spent the remainder of his life.  His wife was also born in the Granite State, and died at the homestead previous to the death of her husband.