NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899.

This citizen of Lake Hopatcong was born in New York city on the 8th of January, 1846, and is a son of John L. and Fannie (Ogle) Allen, natives of Belgium who came to the United States in 1841, locating in New York, where the father followed his trade of stone cutting.

John L., their only child, attended the city schools until thirteen years of age, when he entered upon his business career as a newsboy and sold papers in the city of his nativity for three years. It was now 1862 and the country was engaged in civil war. The patriotic spirit of the lad of sixteen would not permit him to remain quietly at home, and with loyal devotion to the Union he offered his service to the government and became a member of the One Hundred and Second New York Infantry, serving in the Army of the Potomac until his capture at Bristow's Station on Meade's retreat from Virginia. Soon afterward he was paroled and immediately enlisted in Company F, Seventieth Ohio Infantry, serving in the Atlanta campaign and participating in the engagements at Resaca. Kennesaw, Lookout mountain, Peach Tree creek, and prior to this was with General Sherman on the Vicksburg campaign. He was captured again sixty-five miles from Savannah at Six and One-half station, and after three months' incarceration in Pemberton prison, near Libby, and four months on Belle island, he was taken to Charlotte, north Carolina, from which prison he ultimately succeeded in making his escape. Twice he made the attempt, but was captured; the third time, however, he succeeded in eluding his pursuers, traversed the enemy's country for thirty days without communicating with a single individual, finally reached Kilpatrick's cavalry, and thence proceeded by way of Wilmington to Washington, D.C. He was discharged from Mount Arlington Hospital, Alexandria, on the 5th of August, 1865, and returned home with a record for loyalty and bravery that many a man of twice his years might well have envied.

Upon returning to civil life, Mr. Allen became a traveling salesman for a New Jersey jewelry house and remained with that firm for nine years, enjoying the unlimited confidence of the house and winning the friendship and regard of many of its patrons along the road of his travels. During the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia he accepted a position in charge of the agricultural exhibits: following this service he constructed a rifle range for the New Jersey Guards and was appointed instructor for the officers for rifle practice. In 1890, Mr. Allen came to Noland's Point and purchased the Pavilion Hotel, of which he his now the proprietor. He has made this a popular resort and conducts it in first-class style, furnishing it to his guests all modern accessories and conveniences and putting forth every effort to make their stay with him enjoyable.

On the 2nd of April, 1864, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Kelley, of Pennsylvania. They have two sons: William L., a decorator in Trenton, New Jersey; and Joseph L. Mr. Allen is a member of the Odd Fellows Society and of the Columbia Legion, G.A.R., renewing, in the latter organization, the friendship with the old comrades of the battlefields whereon he aided in the defense of our nation's starry banner.

Transcribed by Christopher Cresta

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