Adams County Wisconsin Genealogy

Transcribed by Robert Schieber

Source: Memorial and Biographical Record and Illustrated Compendium of Biography of Citizens of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, Wisconsin, published 1901 by G. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1901, Pages 554 - 555

N. E. Allen, a prominent and successful agriculturist of Springville township, Adams county, Wisconsin, is one of the honored pioneers of this state, and has materially aided in its development and prosperity. He was born in Portage, Livingston county, New York, March 3, 1821, and belongs to an old and highly respected family of the east, his paternal great-grandfather being a cousin of Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame.

Cyrus Allen, the father of our subject, was born in Scipio, Cayuga county, New York, December 25, 1794, and was married in November, 1818, to Amanda Durkee, who was also born in that place December 15, 1795. Her parents were Elisha and Hannah (Gore) Durkee. She had five uncles killed in the Wyoming massacre during the Revolution. Soon after his marriage Cyrus Allen located in the town of Portage, Livingston county, New York, where he engaged in farming until his death. He was killed by being thrown from a buggy in a runaway in August, 1857. His children were Nelson E., our subject; Edwin C., born June 9, 1824; William D., born June 5, 1827; and Emma, born October 25, 1831.

Our subject was educated in the Nunda Academy, Livingston county, New York, and at the age of nineteen commenced teaching school, a profession which he successfully followed for three successive winters. In 1842 he came to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, which then consisted of but three houses, and, together with A. Knight, made the first improvements in Trenton township, Dodge county, where he made his home for fifty-five years. After securing his land, however, he returned to New York, by way of the Great Lakes, and on the voyage encountered some severe storms. In the spring of 1843 he located permanently upon his land and at once began its improvement.

While breaking his land Messrs Allen and Knight lived together upon the former's claim, and experienced many of the hardships and difficulties incident to pioneer life. He can relate many interesting incidents of those early days when the country was wild and sparsely settled. One of these gives a fair idea of the privations and inconveniences of frontier life. Their breaking team, consisting of ten oxen, strayed away upon the prairie and they were forced to go and find them. After much difficulty and a long search of three days in different directions, they were at length found and driven home, but on entering their shack they found the fire out, and as this was before the invention of matches. Mr. Nelson had to go to the nearest neighbor, which was five miles, to secure a brand of fire, in the meantime having nothing to eat. With his brand of fire he set out upon the homeward journey, and when he had nearly reached his destination he stumbled and fell, the brand flying many rods away in the wet grass. He scrambled after it and secured it before it was entirely extinguished, and by waving it rapidly in the air succeeded in saving the sparks. At another time he was entrusted with quite a large sum of money belonging to the settlers to be taken to the land office in Green Bay. He made the journey on foot through the forests, wading or swimming the streams, and covered the distance between that place and Beaver Dam and return in four days and a half.

On the 18th of March, 1846, Nelson E. Allen married Sarah C. Botsford, and they became the parents of the following children: Ezra, born August 22, 1848, died January 26, 1871; Mary Effie, born December 16, 1853, died in infancy; Mary Effie (2nd), born June 19, 1856, did at the age of two and a half years; Etta Amanda, born February 11, 1860, was married October 12, 1881, to Franklin Coon, and died August 19, 1882; and Eddie G., born may 2, 1866, is in the elevator business at Billings, Oklahoma. Mr. Allen was again married July 25, 1877, his second union being with Eliza Sawyer, who was born in New Hampshire, in January, 1841.

In 1868 Mr. Allen came into possession of seven hundred and sixty acres of land in Springville township, Adams county, where he has since made improvements, and now has four hundred acres under a high state of cultivation and well improved. He makes a specialty of Galloway cattle and Poland China hogs, and has some registered stock upon his place. He is an enthusiast on the subject of clover and has taken quite an active and prominent part in farmers' institutes.

During the Civil war M. Allen enlisted in Company H, Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, but was afterward transferred to the Fifth Regiment. He participated in several skirmishes and the battle of Yazoo Bayou and was mustered out with the rank of lieutenant March 18, 1865. Politically he was a Abolitionist and later a Republican until the close of President Grant's first term, and since then has affiliated with the Populist party. At one time he was nominated for governor by that party, but declined the honor, and subsequently was twice a candidate for lieutenant-governor. During those campaigns he made a strong canvass and delivered many speeches throughout the state. He is a man of prominence, is widely and favorable known as a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, and is highly esteemed and greatly respected in the community where he resides.