Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885 Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL

Transcribed by: Becky Jones

Page 796

Oren W. Allen, a farmer, residing on section 26, Portland Township, is a son of Reuben and Sarah Woodward, and was born in Rutland County, Vt., July 1, 1814. His father was a native of Connecticut, a farmer by occupation, and died in Fair Haven, Rutland Co., Vt., in 1839. His mother was a native of Massachusetts, and is also deceased. The parental family comprise six children, of whom five are yet living. Mr. Allen of this sketch is the eldest. He was reared on the farm, alternating his labors thereon with attendance at the common schools, and procuring a good English education. He followed the vocation learned in early life in the East, where he rented a number of farms, until he came to this county, in March, 1855, and purchased from Col. Seely 40 acres of land in Portland Township. He located upon the land, which at that time consisted of unimproved prairie, and entered vigorously upon the task of its improvement and cultivation. He has continued to reside upon the place and cultivate it until the present time, except for about the last three years, having become too old to engage in active manual labor, and for the last two years has rented his place to his son Roderick.

Mr. Allen was united in marriage, March 18, 1840, to Miss Lydia Crossman, daughter of Robert and Perly Crossman. She was born in Poultney, Rutland Co., Vt., Sept 18, 1817. They have been the parents of eight children, only three of whom survive. The living are: Isabel, wife of E.J. Brewer, a farmer, residing in Greenwood Co., Kan.; Martha, wife of Watson Brewer, a farmer, residing in Lyons Co., Kan.; and Roderick, who now works the homestead farm.