Collection: Books and Periodicals

About This Item:

Title: A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California (1891) Collection Type: Books and Periodicals Publisher: Lewis Publishing Company Published: 1891 Copyright: In the public domain or published before 1925 Source(s): Google Books # of Pages: 713 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

Date Scanned: 2024-07-22 00:25:09 Item Sourced From: PDF First Created: 2025-03-17 03:11:29 Last Updated: 2025-03-17 06:30:36

Original Held At: Searls Historical Library Location: 161 Nevada City Hwy, Nevada City, CA 95959

Page: of 713  

410 HISTORY OF NORTHERN OALIFORNIA. 1885, to Miss Annie E. Stevenson, a native of California, and daughter of Colonel A. M. Stevenson, the old railroad pioneer. They have one child: Frank S. Mr. Buck is an old-time Democrat, and is active in the advocacy of its time-honored principles. His “ancestry traces on both sides to English origin, and they were among the early Colonial settlers in this country. The subject of this sketch affiliates with the I. O. O. F., Vacaville Lodge, No. 83; also K. of P., Franklin Lodge, No. 94. =m eente OHN HENRY ALLEN is ranked among J the early settlers of California. He crossed the plains to this coast in 1859, in company with his father, five brothers and four sisters. Upon their arrival in this State they located at the head of Little Butte River and spent eight years in the mines. The father, David Allen, was a native of New York, born in 1803. Grandfather Samuel Allen was a cousin of Ethan Allen of Revolutionary faine, and Samuel Allen himeelf was also a participant in the great struggle for independence. David Allen married Sarah Woolery, a native of Canada, of English and German extraction. They were the parents of eleven children. John Henry was born near Rochester, New York, September 2, 1847, and was twelve years of age when he came to California. They mined with good success until 1867, when they engaged in farming and stock-raising in Sonoma County. In 1865 Mr. Allen enlisted at Chico with Captain Doty, Company I, Second California Cavalry, and crossed the mountains to fight the Indiajis in Nevada and Oregon. While. there he had many narrow escapes, but he and his brother, who was also in the same cotnpany, returned in safety. At the battle of Queen’s River Mr. Allen’s horse was pierced by tive arrows. Mr. Allen was a frontiersman and a good shot and a general favorite with his companions. On one of their raids, which was commanded by his Sergeant, that ofticer asked his . advice, and through the advice then given the war ended. Mr. Allen’s plan was that they capture and not kill the Indians. This they did, and through the chief’s son, who could talk a little English, they sent out rations to the Indians, and about seventy-fuur red men came in and surrendered and a treaty was made which ended the strife. While his company was in camp at Chico Mr. Allen became very much attached to one of his officers, Lieutenant Livergood. Both were musicians and became warm friends. On the night of April 14, the night on which President Lincoln was assassinated, Lieutenant Livergood was foully murdered by one of the soldiers. At the burial of their Lieutenant Mr. Allen was one of the men who fired a volley over his grave, and while there it occurred to him that he would like to follow and capture the murderer who had escaped. He asked permission to go and with two other soldiers he set out in quest of the criminal, nor was their search in vain, for in the highway at Tehama they recognized him although he was disguised as a shepherd and his beard removed. He was tried and convicted and hung at Sacramento. In 1870 Mr. Allen came to Chico and, in partnership with his brother, engaged in blacksmithing. They did a successful business on Main street for seven years, after which they sold out. In 1879 Mr. Allen purchased the lots corner of Main and Fifth streets, where his present shop is located. He also has a home on the same block where he resides with his family. He was married, in 1879, to Miss Nellie Barnes, a native of New York. They have two children, born in Chico, Fred and Ina. Mr. Allen belongs to the A. O. U. W., and is a member of the fire department, in which he served as foreman for some time. He is a stanch Republican, and his father was a strong Union man during the war. An incident worthy of note is as follows: High Good, a noted Indian fighter, favored the Southern cause and with twelve others like himself was up at the mine near where David Allen was. One of the number, while in a fit