ALLEN, M. B.

ALLEN CURTIS

Posted By: Sandy (email)
Date: 1/20/2004 at 20:47:36

The History of Linn County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a
biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and
local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of the Northwest, history of
Iowa, map of Linn County, Constitution of the United States, miscellaneous matters, &c. ;
illustrated.
Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1878
Page 614

ALLEN, M. B. attorney at law and general collection agency, Marion; born at Saratoga Springs, N.
Y., Aug. 26, 1813; moved to Addison, Addison Co., Vt., in 1817; when 10 years of age, went to
Weybridge, Vt.; lived there one year, then went to Sudbury, Vt.; was there only a few months, then
moved to Westport, Essex Co., N. Y.; when 11 years of age, went as cabin boy on a boat on Lake
Champlain; run on the lake until he was 15 years old, then he returned to his native place, Saratoga
Springs, and served apprenticeship at blacksmith and carriage maker's trades; in 1833, he went to
Albany, N. Y.; remained there a few months, then he found employment in Simmons' Edge Tool
Factory, at Cohoes Falls, where he worked seven months; worked a short time in Fairbanks' scale
factory, at St. Johnsbury, Vt., during the Fall and Winter of 1836, and ran an emigrant boat between
Whitehall and Buffalo during the Summer of 1837. Jan. 1, 1838, he married Priscilla E. CURTIS;
lived at Orwell and Whiting, Addison Co., Vt., until 1840, when he moved to Mt. Vernon, Ohio; in
1856, he came to Marion. Served as Deputy Sheriff and Constable about two years; was Justice of
the Peace over four years, between 1863 and 1871. Admitted to the bar in January, 1870. Mr.
ALLEN lost one son--Charles H.--in the army; he was a member of Co. A, 18th I. V. I. [Iowa
Volunteer Infantry]; he died at Springfield, Mo., Feb. 9, 1863, aged 21 years. One daughter now
living; her name is Eliza Jane.