Obituary - Sheldon O. Allen
SHELDON O. ALLEN, the first male child born in the colony at Log City, and
ever since a resident of the county, died at his home on North Broad Street at
11:30 o'clock, Wednesday evening, after a long illness due to creeping
paralysis. He was an honored citizen and had an extensive acquaintance
throughout this part of the State.
Many years ago, Mr. Allen had the misfortune to break his leg and the affliction
of his later years is attributed to this accident. The paralysis first
manifested itself five years ago and for the last three years he has been
practically helpless. The decline has been gradual. Sunday, January 6th, while
attempting to walk a short distance in his home, he fell. Members of the family
came to his assistance and a doctor was summoned. No bones were broken, but the
shock to the system seemed to hasten the end.
Mr. Allen was the second child of Sheldon W. and Fidelia (Leach) Allen, and was
born in Log City, Henderson township, September 10th, 1838. His parents were
among the pioneers and his father came with the colony in 1837 and settled in
Log City. He was the second child born in the colony, the first having been Miss
Mary Allen West. When he was in his second year the family moved to Galesburg
and here he spent his early life. He attended the village school and Knox
Academy, where Dr. George Churchill was one of his teachers and Hamilton
College, Madison County, N. Y., where he studied during a six months' term. He
then returned to Galesburg and subsequently served a while as C. B. & Q.
fireman. October 25th, 1860, he was married at Henderson to Miss Zipporah
Edwards, daughter of Marcus and Hannah Edwards, natives of New York [the
Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a Sheldon A. Allen marrying a Zipporah
Edwards in Knox County on October 25, 1860]. After this marriage they moved to
the farm at Log City which for 38 years was their home. Two years ago they moved
to their pleasant home on North Broad Street.
Mr. Allen, while following agriculture successfully, did much more than carry on
farm work. He lived for a purpose. He was a man of pronounced moral convictions.
He early took a strong stand on the temperance question and was a fearless and
aggressive worker. Both Mr. and Mrs. Allen were charter members of Fidelity
lodge of Good Templars, and were active in temperance effort. They devoted
Saturdays and Sundays to this cause. In two years they traveled over 1,600 miles
in Knox and Warren counties organizing and directing temperance societies. This
work was largely done in the rural school houses and the societies where the
means of influencing many for good.
Contributed by great-granddaughter, Micky Miller Dawson, extracted from Galesburg Register 1901 Jan 17.
