JOHN H. ALLEN, the well known furniture dealer and undertaker of Farmersburg, has been engaged in business in this city since 1904, when he sold his farm and bought the furniture and undertaking business where he is now established. He studied undertaking under efficient directions, and also has a diploma from the Barnes School of Anatomy and Sanitary Science of Embalming.
Mr. Allen was born in Linton township of Vigo county, Indiana, April 24, 1863, a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Williams) Allen, and a grandson of Josiah and Rebecca Allen, both of whom were born in Ireland. They came to America before their marriage, living for a time in Virginia, removing some time after their marriage to Kentucky, where Mr. Allen followed his professions of surveying, and school teaching, having been an efficient teacher for sixty years. He also owned a farm there. There were eleven children in their family, but none are now living, and among the number was Robert, who was born in Spencer county, Kentucky, March 28, 1814, and when sixteen years of age he graduated from Bacon College in Kentucky. During the remainder of his life he taught school and farmed, coming to Vigo county soon after his marriage, and he resided there during the remainder of his life, dying on the 23d of December, 1891. His wife, Elizabeth Williams, was born in Bullitt county, Kentucky, October 9, 1820, and died on the 27th of June, 1892. She was his third wife, and they had six children: Robert C., who was born on the old homestead farm in Linton township, July 14, 1866, married Gertrude Risinger, and yet resides on the homestead; Sarah A. Allen, born August 29, 1867, married Charles P. Miller and lives in Terre Haute; John H., the subject of this review; and Hannah E., born December 29, 1867, became the wife of Thomas L. Davis and lives in Linton township, Vigo county.
John H. Allen remained at home until his marriage, in the meantime studying surveying and civil engineering under his father, and after his marriage he located on a farm in Linton township, Vigo county, owning one hundred and twenty acres, and during his residence on the farm he served for five years and three months as a trustee. In February of 1904 he sold his farm, and after traveling for a year came to Farmersburg and purchased the furniture and undertaking business where he is now located. His politics are Democratic, and he is a member of the town board and the president of the financial board. He is also a member of the Grange, in Linton township, Vigo county, Indiana.
On the 1st of November, 1896, Mr. Allen was married to Manna Russell, who was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, March 23, 1872, a daughter of Spencer and Elizabeth (Gaskins) Russell. The mother was also born in Sullivan county, April 15, 1838, and she died in March of 1891, while the father was born January 11, 1826, in Spencer county, Kentucky, and died in Vigo county, Indiana, May 9, 1905. He was a farmer all his life. Mrs. Allen has been a member of the Church of Christ since she was thirteen years of age.