1914 Biography - Albert C. Allen

Allen, Albert C., attorney-at-law, Franklin, St. Mary parish, La. Was born at Franklin, La., Aug. 23, 1847; son of William P. and Caroline P. (Nixon) Allen, the former of whom was born at Gallatin, Tenn., in 1806, and the latter in the State of Missouri. Both parents died at Franklin, the mother in 1879, at the age of 60 years, and the father in 1889. When the mother was but 6 years old she had started on a trip down the Mississippi river in a boat accompanied by her father, sister and brother. Her mother had previously died. While the party was encamped near Memphis, her father, in crossing the river, was drowned, and the three small children left alone. Their situation was reported by friendly Indians, and they were taken in charge by white people. Through correspondence the relatives of the children were located near Franklin, La., and shortly afterward the orphans were carried to that place. The father, William P. Allen, was one of the pioneers of Franklin. He located there in 1830, as a contractor, and built most of the antebellum sugar houses of St. Mary parish. When the town of Franklin was incorporated, in 1834, Mr. Allen was elected the first mayor of the municipality. At one time he occupied the office of coroner of the parish. Albert C. was the 8th of 9 children born to his parents, only 3 now living. At the beginning of the Civil war there were four brothers in the family. Benton E. enlisted in Company G, 13th La. infantry. He attained the rank of lieutenant, was mortally wounded at the Battle of Shiloh, and died in the enemy's hands. David enlisted in the same company and regiment, served to the close of the war, and died in 1884. Robert W. enlisted in the same company as the other brothers, but was afterward honorably discharged because of physical disability. He later recovered, and enlisted as a member of Vinson's Scouts, serving to the close of the war. Albert C. enlisted in April, 1864, previous to his 17th birthday, as a member of Vinson's Scouts, Gen. Brent's brigade, and served until the surrender of his command, on June 10, 1865, 2 months after Gen. Lee's surrender. This was due to the fact that the command had been sent to Southern Louisiana, and until notified by the commander of a gunboat that had been sent to that locality, did not know of the surrender of Gen. Kirby Smith's army. Previous to his enlistment in the army, the young man had attended private schools at Franklin, and in April, 1866, he entered White Creek Springs academy, completing a 2-year course at that institution. Following this, he returned to St. Mary parish, and there taught in private and public schools for a time to secure means with which to prosecute his further studies. When this had been accomplished, he entered the law department of the University of Louisiana (now Tulane), from which he graduated in 1871, in the same class with Sen. Murphy J. Foster of Franklin. Following his graduation, he at once returned to Franklin and began the practice of his profession. In April, 1882, Mr. Allen was elected mayor of the City of Franklin, and reelected in 1884. While yet mayor, in 1886, he was elected district judge to fill the unexpired term of Judge Goode, and following this, was successively reelected to that station five times, three times without opposition. Judge Allen occupied this position longer than has any other man in the history of the court - 22 consecutive years, his last term expiring in 1908. In 1909, Judge Allen was appointed by Gov. Sanders as a member of the state Board of Pension Commissioners for Confederate soldiers, and remains incumbent of that position at this time. He has been a life-long democrat, is a member of the Episcopal church, and of the Masonic fraternity, having filled the exalted station of Grand Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana from 1898 to 1900, inclusive. At the time of the first agitation toward building the beautiful new courthouse that now adorns the central square of the City of Franklin, Judge Allen was one of the most active workers for the construction of the building. He served as a member of a committee appointed to go before the police jury of St. Mary parish and request the passage of an ordinance authorizing the expenditure of the necessary sum of money. The handsome structure cost $125,000, and Judge Allen was the first jurist to preside in the new building. His term as judge of the district court expired shortly after the completion of the new courthouse. He is now engaged in the practice of law in the City of Franklin. Dec. 3, 1874, Judge Allen was married to Miss Katie E. Johnson, of Franklin, a daughter of Cheney Johnson, one of the pioneers of St. Mary parish. Mr. Johnson removed from Maryland and located in St. Mary parish at a time when that region was very far from its present state of development. He owned and operated a line of boats between Franklin and New Orleans before and after the Civil war. During the war he operated his boats in the transport service of the Confederate government. To Judge and Mrs. Allen 6 children have been born, namely: Gracie Katie, Herbert G., Edna, Louise, William P., and A. C., Jr. The latter died in infancy.

Extracted 2020 Nov 01 by Norma Hass, from Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, published in 1914, volume 3, pages 28-29.

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