LEWIS S. ALLEN, POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

This early settler in Cass county, and forceful agency in the first efforts made for the development and improvement of the region, who is now an esteemed citizen of Pottawattamie county, was born in Menard county, Ill., on March 27, 1850, and is a son of William and Lucinda (Watkins) Allen, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Illinois. The father was taken to Illinois by his parents when he was twelve years old, and there he passed the time attending the country schools, assisting on the farm, and farming on his own account until 1866, when he moved to this State and located in Cass county, taking up his residence at Eight-Mile Grove, and a lattle (sic) later moving to Buck creek, where he bought a tract of wild land which he broke up, improved and made over into a first rate farm. He afterward moved north, but died in Kansas City, Mo., May 1, 1891, after having lived some time in Nebraska and Arkansas. The mother died at Marne, this county, in 1879. They were the parents of five sons and four daughters. The Grandfather Allen, who was born in Kentucky, became a resident of Illinois in the early days of its history but rather late in his own life. He was a farmer and died in Illinois.

Lewis S. Allen accompanied his parents and the rest of the family to Cass county in 1866, and here he lived and farmed until he purchased the farm in Pottawattamie county on which he now lives. His father and the family of his household were therefore among the very early settlers in this county, their first location being in Brighton township; and by their industry, their enterprise and their interest in all the affairs of the locality, they became useful and productive agencies in the progress and further settlement of this section. Mr. Allen's purchase in Pottawattamie county was also virgin to the plow when he made it, and he was again confronted with the trying and exhaustive toil of breaking up a new tract and reducing it to fruitfulness, at the same time putting up the necessary buildings to make a home of the place. But he entered upon the work with ardor, and has prosecuted it with such vigor and persistency that he now has a well improved and highly productive farm.

Lewis S. Allen was married in 1873 to Harriet E. Trailor, a daughter of William M. Trailor, of whom more specific mention will be found elsewhere. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen nine children have been born, and of these eight are living: Ada B., now Mrs. Allen, of South Dakota; Sarah J., now Mrs. Berkie, of Iowa; Lorena, now Mrs. Moon, of Marne; Ira, a prosperous farmer of this county; and Eleanor, Effie, William and Avery, who are living at home. While not fond of public office, and seldom taking any part in political contentions, Mr. Allen has served as township trustee. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order and the United Workmen, and religiously he affiliates with the Methodist Protestant Church.


From "Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pp. 250-251.