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GIDEON R. ALLEN, a prominent citizen of Clay Township and one of the large landowners of this section, resides on one farm of 139 acres, which lies on the road between Hallston near to the Muddy Creek Church, and owns also a second farm, containing 117 acres, situated
north of the one on which he lives. Mr. Allen was born in 1840, on a farm in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Robert and Caroline (Richardson) Allen.
The mother of Mr. Allen died when he was three years old and when he was fourteen, his father returned to the homestead farm on which he was born, in Clay Township, Butler County, which had been settled by the grandfather, Stephen L. Allen, in 1800. Gideon R. Allen has lived
continuously in Clay Township from that time until the present, with the exception of his long period of service in the Civil War, and one year spent in Missouri.
Mr. Allen had just reached his majority when the country became convulsed by Civil War. He immediately decided to offer his services in defense of the flag he had been taught to reverence, and by October 12, 1861, had so arranged his affairs that he felt at liberty to leave
everything behind and enter the army. He then enlisted in Company H, Seventy-eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was commanded by Capt. William S. Jack and Col. W. G. Sirwell, and entered upon a long and dangerous service which covered three years and
two months. During all this period Mr. Allen was ever at the post of duty and his remarkable record shows that he was a soldier who not even once was off duty for a single day, never missed a roll call, never fell sick and suffered neither imprisonment nor injury in battle.
Further than this the record proves that he participated in a large number of the most serious battles of the whole war and looking back over his experiences, he can scarcely understand how he could have escaped the misfortunes which left many of his comrades to fill unknown
graves or to pass through life as disabled pensioners of the Government. He took part in the following engagements in 1861-2: Wildcat Gap, October 21; Mill Spings, Kentucky, January 19; Shiloh, Tennessee, April 6-7; Murfreesboro, Tennessee, July 13; Richmond, Kentucky,
August 30; Mumfordville, Kentucky, September 14-16; Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, and Stone River, Tennessee, December 31. In 1863 he participated in the following battles, again, as his record discloses, being ever at the post of duty: Fort Donelson, Tennessee,
February 3; Thompson's Station, March 4-5; Hoover's Gap, Tennessee, June 24; Liberty Gap, Tennessee, June 25; Shelbyville, Tennessee, June 27; Morgan's Raid, Kentucky, July 2-26; Chickamauga, Georgia, September 19-20; Wauhatciiie, Tennessee, October 27; Missionary Ridge,
Tennessee, November 23-25; and Ringold Station, Georgia, November 27. In 1864 the battles were no less important, February 27 chronicled by Buzzard's Roost, Georgia; and on the way to Atlanta, beginning May 1 and terminating May 31, Mr. Allen took part in the engagements at
Red Clay, Rocky Face Ridge, Tunnel Hill, Mill Creek or Dug Gap, Buzzard's Roost Gap, Varnell's Station, Resaca, Tilton, Tanner's Bridge, Adairsville, Rome, Kingston, Dallas, New Hope Church, Burned Hickory, Pumpkin Vine Creek, Allatoona Hills, Cassville Station, Burned Church
and Moulton. In addition, daily and even hourly there were skirmishes and attacks that only constant vigilance could prevent being dangerous to the Federal troops and these demanded courage and endurance that sadly tried the already over wearied soldiers. Mr. Allen's term of
enlistment expired October 14, 1864, and at that time he was with that portion of his regiment that had been mounted and, under the command of General Thomas, was guarding the rear of General Sherman's army which was on its way to the sea. Mr. Allen was mustered out of the
service at Kittanning, Pennsylvania, and reached his home on Hallow Eve, 1864.
For some years Mr. Allen worked as a driller and tool dresser in the Butler oil tields and spent one year, 1867, in Missouri, and then engaged in farming on the homestead, in 1870 purchasing his present property, where he carries on general farming and stock-raising.
In 1892 Mr. Allen was married to Miss Leah Christley, who is a daughter of William Christley, and they have two children: Gideon R. and Manila Bay. He takes no very active part in politics but has always proved himself a worthy citizen. He is identified with the order of
Odd Fellows.
Source: 20th century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and respresentative citizens, McKee, James A., 1909, page 1485-1486.
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