Montgomery County Biographies

Source: W.H. Perrin's 1882 Biographical Sketches
Submitted by Debbie Quinn

Hillsboro City and Township

Deceased, was born in Kingston, Tenn., September 5, A.D. 1828, and, at an early day, came with his parents to Hillsboro, Ill., which was about the time of the location of the county seat of Montgomery County at that point, and when there were but very few houses in the town. William Allen, the father of the subject, was born in Roane County, Tenn., January 15, 1799, and was married to Mary K. Killingsworth, the mother of Jesse K. Allen, to whom were born eleven children – first, the subject of this sketch; second, William A. Allen, for many years a prominent physician in Greenville, Ill.; third, Margaret Allen, now intermarried with Theodore Smith of Greenville, Ill.; fourth, Aaron Allen, now deceased; fifth, Rufus S. Allen, now a physician, employed the General Government in doctoring the Indians; sixth, John H. Allen, now in Kansas; seventh, Emily E., now wife of Charles L. Bartlett, a merchant of Hillsboro, Ill.; eighth, Mollie, now married to Dr. Perkins, of Fredonia, Kan.; ninth, Frank F. Allen, also a physician, Neodesha, Kan.; and tenth, Laura Allen, now deceased; and Charles F. Allen, now at Mattoon, Ill. William Allen, the ancestor, was a man in very moderate circumstances, and consequently, his son, Jesse K., was denied many of the advantages enjoyed by his youthful companions. In his youth, he attended such schools as opportunity afforded, in the town of Hillsboro, and later, when what was then known as the Hillsboro Academy was built, in 1836, Jesse attended such academy as far as means could be afforded him, and it was here he gave promise of the future man. He was here noted for his industry and untiring energy in his efforts to acquire an education. He particularly excelled in mathematics and those studies which called more particularly for the exercise of the reasoning faculties. He was held in very high esteem by the Faculty of the Hillsboro Academy, which was at the period second to none in the State. Lieut. Allen, having finished the school course at the academy, looked about him for something to do. At this time, there happened to be a vacancy in the cadetship from his Congressional District, and, through Gen. Shields and his friends in Hillsboro, and the then Representative in Congress, the appointment to West Point was secured to him, and in 1851 he entered as a cadet to West Point. He remained at the Military Academy for the usual course of four years, and in 1855 graduated with honor and distinction. In this Military School, as in the academy at home, he excelled in the study of mathematics, and he also acquired distinction in civil engineering. After he graduated, he entered the army, being at that time in the meridian of life and vigor of manhood. He was full of ambition, and entered the army with a high resolve to win for himself a name and fame as a soldier. He was appointed Lieutenant in Company B of the Ninth Infantry, and in this capacity served the Government in active service for three years. He had the entire confidence of his superior officers, and was often intrusted with services which called forth special judgment and nerve. In the winter of 1856, he was intrusted with $3,500 in specie, to be carried from Washington Territory to some point in Vancouver's Island, in command of fifteen men. They were overtaken in a very severe snow-storm, and all his men deserted him but two, and it was supposed he was lost, but in a few days, he, with his two remaining men, came riding into camp, with the funds all safe. Whether as citizen or soldier, he was always reliable, and never disappointed the expectation of his friends. It seemed at this time that a life of activity and usefulness was open before him, and he was surely prepared to enter upon it; but the end came before it could reasonably be expected. About 3 o'clock on the morning of the 15th of August, 1858, in the moment of accomplishing a successful surprise on a camp of Indians, he was shot down, and thus, in his early manhood, and while the dew of youth was on his brow, he was called upon to die the death of a soldier. He died as he had lived – in the line of duty. The following letter was written at the time by his superior officer:

Major: It has become my painful duty to communicate to you for Gen. Clarke's information, and that of the Adjutant General of the army, the said intelligence of the death of Second Lieut. Jesse K. Allen of the Ninth Infantry, who expired at this camp at half-past 2 o'clock to-day. Lieut. Allen died the death of a soldier.

He fell at 3 o'clock this morning, at the moment of accomplishing a successful surprise of a camp of hostile Indians.

There is reason to fear that he was shot accidentally by one of his own men in the darkness of the hour.

I must be permitted here to express my own sorrow for the untimely end of this young officer, and to offer this officially my tribute to his worth. He was an officer of rare energy and zeal, and an acquaintance with our army of seventeen years' duration, warrants me in uttering the conviction that his place will not again be readily filled in our service. His loss to his command can scarcely be overestimated.

His remains will be taken back to-night to Fort Simcoe by his company commander and personal friend, Capt. Frazer, Ninth Infantry, who will take the charge of his effects, required by the regulations. It is perhaps proper to report in this connection that Lieut. Allen's party [fifteen mounted men], captured in this sad affair twenty-one men, about fifty women and children, seventy head of horses, and fifteen head of cattle, besides considerable of the Indian property.

Three of the men having been recognized as participants in the attack on the miners, were shot in compliance with my general instructions on this subject.

The remains of Lieut. Allen were brought to Hillsboro by his parents and relatives, and were interred in Oak Grove Cemetery, near his childhood home. Had his life been spared until the commencement of our late civil war, he would have been found battling for the Union, and doubtless, with his energy and courage, would have attained high rank as an officer in our army.

Grocer, Hillsboro, was born in North Carolina, December 15, 1850; son of John C. and Elizabeth [Morrison] Barkley, natives of North Carolina. John C., who is a farmer, was born in 1815. His wife died April 14, 1854. Our subject, the second son of a family of five sons and two daughters, received a fair education in the schools at Hillsboro, and at Freehold, N.J. He came to Hillsboro when seventeen years old, without money or education, and but few clothes. He first worked on a farm, then in a brickyard. He traveled for a wholesale house in St. Louis [Udell, Schmieding & Co., dealers in wood and willow ware], and finally engaged in the grocery business on his own account in Hillsboro, where, by push and energy, he has acquired a lucrative trade. He was in the hotel business in Hillsboro for about eighteen months, and was one of the many citizens who lost heavily by the failure of the banking firm of Haskell, Harris & Co., of Hillsboro. He married in Hillsboro, November 4, 1875, Emma A. Slack, born in Ohio, October 18, 1857, daughter of Daniel Slack, a native of New Jersey, who died in Ohio in 1868. There have been born to them one son, Edward Daniel, and one daughter, Maggie Elizabeth. Mr. Barkley is a member of the Methodist Church, and was Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday school in Hillsboro for two years. In politics he supports the Republican Party.

Grocer, Hillsboro, was born in Montgomery County, December 20, 1839; son of Samuel T. and Martha [Maxey] Bartlett. Samuel T. was born in Henry County, Ky., in 1818. He removed to Illinois about the year 1835, and is now living at Irving, where he owns and manages a large farm and a general store. He wife, who is still living, was born near Bowling Green, Ky., in 1819. Our subject is the second son of a family of seven sons and two daughters. He received his education chiefly at Irving, Ill., and began life as a farmer; but, after being three years in that occupation, he abandoned it and engaged in the mercantile business in Irving, where he remained four years. He left Irving in 1872, and came to Hillsboro, where he has since been engaged in the grocery business. He started in business with but small capital, but by his tact and enterprise, he has built up and is now enjoying a lucrative trade. In Hillsboro, in 1868, he married Emily E. Allen, born in Hillsboro in 1839, daughter of William and Mary K. [Killingsworth] Allen, the former born in Tennessee, and died in Hillsboro in 1863; the latter, still living, was also born in Tennessee in 1812. Mr. And Mrs. Bartlett are the parents of two children – Charles William and Nellie; Cary Bell, their first child, died in infancy. Mr. Bartlett has filled the offices of Deputy Sheriff and Jailer of Montgomery County for two years. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity and the I.O.O.F. They are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Gun-Smithing and cancer doctor, Hillsboro, was born in Franklin County, Penn., November 30, 1820. He was taken to Virginia when about nine months old by his parents, and there raised. Christian Beck, born in Lancaster County, Penn., on June 17, 1785, was a gunsmith by occupation, and died in Oregon on July 15, 1863. Mother was Lena Ahl, born February 6, 1790, in Cumberland County, Tenn., and died September 5, 1821, in Williamsport, Md., while en route to Virginian with her husband and family. Parents had seven sons, subject the youngest. Subject was educated at Martinsburg, VA. common schools. Began life as a gunsmith, an occupation he has kept up through life. In 1860, subject began the practice of cancer doctoring with a remedy he had come into possession of some two years previous, and had experimented with it sufficiently to satisfy himself and its merits. From that time to the present time he has treated large numbers of cases successfully, having never lost a single case that came to him before cancer had been out. Subject was Commander in Chief of the Anti-Mormon forces of Hancock County, IL, in 1845-46, and forced them into the city of Nauvoo from all parts of the county and surrounding counties, and there they submitted to a compromise too the effect that they [the Mormons] be allowed sufficient time to send a committee West and seek a suitable location and return and report, which they did during the summer of 1846, and left that fall for St. Joseph, Mo., where they wintered, leaving twelve men behind at Nauvoo to dispose of their property and settle up their business. Immediately after the settling of the Mormon difficulties, subject enlisted for the Mexican war, or rather bought the place of another young man in a company that was already organized, paying the young man $27 for his position. It was Company A, First Illinois Volunteers, called the Quincy Riflemen, commanded by Col. John J. Hardin, James D. Morgan, Captain. He participated in the battle of Buena Vista. In politics he is a Democrat. Self and family are all members of the Lutheran Church. He was married at Indianapolis, IN., February 10, 1848, to Phebe Ringer, who was born in Frederick County, MD., March 5, 1821, and was the daughter of Jacob and Maria Magadalena [Darr] Ringer, he a native of Washington County, MD., and was born March 15, 1791 and died April 22, 1859; she also a native of Washington County, MD., was born February 22, 1790, and died in the year 1824. They have had four children born to them – Julia Agnes, born November 2, 1848, and died in 1856; Virginia Magadalena, born November 9, 1853; Luther Melanchthon, born September 4, 1856, and Clara Belle, born June 1, 1859. Subject belongs to the Masonic order, and also to the Good Templars.

Farmer, P.O. Hillsboro, was born in New York, September 26, 1831. Frederick Bell, his father, was born in New York, in the town of Warren, Herkimer County, October 10, 1800; was a tanner and currier by occupation, and emigrated to this State in 1856, and went to farming in this township. He died February 15, 1880. Elizabeth Voorhies, his mother, was born in German Flat, Herkimer Co., N.Y., March 31, 1802. She died in this State in 1878, and was the mother of three children, the subject being the youngest of the family. He was raised in the town of Chaumont, Jefferson County; was educated in an academy of his native state, and at the age of twenty years, he commenced civil engineering, which he followed successfully in different parts of the United States until 1856. He came to Montgomery County, IL., and commenced farming, his first purchase of land being eighty acres, and has added to that until he has accumulated 300 acres of good, tillable land. He has quite a neat cottage, and good barn with all necessary outbuildings, and was married in New York, March 12, 1857, to Miss Lana Fox. Levi M. Fox, her father, was born in Chester, Washington Co., N.Y., May 7, 1809. Her mother, Cynthia M. [Jerome] Fox, was born in Paris, Oneida Co., N.Y., February 6, 1804. The wife of subject was born January 22, 1832, and she has a family of four children. The names are as follows: Franklin J., born July 9, 1859, Frederick Meade, born August 12, 1860, Harry, born March 17, 1870; Cora Grace, born November 5, 1871. He is a member of the Masonic order, and is quite a public spirited man, encouraging all public improvements that he thinks best for the county at large. He has held the office of County Surveyor one term, 1860-61. He gave general satisfaction, but found it did not pay to neglect his farm for the benefit he received from the office.

Dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, etc., Hillsboro, was born in Clark County, Ohio, January 16, 1847; son of Robert B. and Sarah Ann [Fuller] Blackburn. Robert B., a farmer by occupation, was born near Harper's Ferry, VA., March 3, 1818. About the year 1836, he moved to Ohio, thence to Illinois in 1850. He wife was born in Ohio; our subject was their only child. He received a liberal education at Hillsboro, and began life on the farm. In 1872, he left the farm, and came to Hillsboro, where he worked at the carpenter's trade for about two years. He then engaged in the mercantile business in partnership with C.L. Bartlett. In 1877, this partnership was dissolved, and he has since carried on the whole business himself. He does a brisk business, and employs seven or eight clerks. He owns a neat, commodious frame house in Hillsboro, where he resides. He married in Hillsboro, November 11, 1875, Mattie J. Stewart, born in Hillsboro, November 12, 1857, daughter of John R. Stewart. From this union two children have been born to them – Wallace Stewart and Blanche Ittel. Mr. Blackburn is a supporter of the Republican party, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He wife is a member of the Methodist Church.