Gilbert Allen

GILBERT ALLEN. The late Gilbert Allen, a highly respected farmer of Mineral township, was one of the early settlers and substantial citizens, owning a well improved farm of 320 acres. Mr. Allen was born at Chelsea, Vermont, in 1818, and died in 1902, aged 84 years, at his home in Mineral township. He was a son of Obed Allen, a lifelong farmer in Vermont. <History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed byp> Mr. Allen was reared on his father's Vermont farm, and attended the schools of his native place. In 1862 he married, and in 1868 moved to Jefferson County, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in farming until 1874, when he removed to Kansas. He settled in Mineral township, Cherokee County, and as he was a very temperate and industrious man he accumulated a large property, and was able to leave his surviving widow a well cultivated farm of 320 acres, located in sections 7 and 18, township 32, range 24.

Mr. Allen married Mary M. Lougee, who was born at Chelsea, Vermont and is a daughter of Peter and Betsey (Morrell) Lougee. They had four children, viz: Hattie, now deceased, who was the first wife of Hon. A. H. Skidmore, of Columbus, Kansas, a sketch of whom will be found in this work, and who later married Alice, the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Allen; Alice; Etta M., who died, aged five years; and Walter P., who married Kate Graham, and has two children,—Peter Leroy and James.

When Mr. and Mrs. Allen came first to Mineral township, there were few settlers, and no house was within visiting distance. No public highways had yet been constructed, markets were far away, and what we now consider necessaries were then luxuries. Mr. Allen lived to see his family enjoy the fruits of his years of labor, and his last days were comforted by their care and affection. He held no political or township office in this county, but in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, he was one of the officials. Mrs. Allen rents out the greater part of her large estate, her son Walter P., being a farmer in Mineral township. The family is well known and highly respected.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Angela Vickers, student from USD 508, Baxter Springs, Kansas, Febuary 26, 1996.