Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1879 — Governor Allen’S Domestic Life. [ARTICLE]

Governor Allen’S Domestic Life.

At he was a candidate for Congress he was a suitor for the hand of the daughter of General McArthur, who was his political opponent, and, we believe, engaged to be married to her. Perhaps not engaged though, as she afterwards married a Colonel Coons, of Louisiana. Colonel Coons, however, soon died, and, in the course of tiipe, Allen renewed his suit and was accepted. During his second term in the Senate his wedding day was appointed, and everything made ready for the marriage. About this time the Texas annexation question came up, and he wrote to his affianced, who was at that time living in Cincinnati, asking her to postpone the ceremony until that question was decided. To this she consented, and the nuptials were celebrated as soon afterward as he could leave. He took his bride back with him to Washington, and for nearly two years life was to him but a long summer’s day of happiness. Never was husband loved more faithfully or trustingly than he by her; never wife more tender and affectionately than she by him. In January, 1847, his wife died, leaving an infant child, the daughter who has since grown up to be thehead of his household and of her husband’s. At the time o’ bis wife’s death there was no railroads connecting the Capital with the West. The fond husband would not think for a moment of consigning the remains of the one he loved and held most dear to a grave amid strangers, and so he decided-to transport them to Chillicothe for burial. So-he procured the services of an undertaker and started with them, he riding behind on horseback. When night would overtake them they wpuld stop at the nearest hotel, and he would have the coffin taken from the hearse and borne to his own apartment,where he kept watch over it until morning came and time to start again. More than a week elapsed in this mournful trip; yet at no moment during that time was his mournful gaze taken away from the last remains of her whom be had loved so dearly in life, and could scarce part with in death. After her burial he returned to Washipgton and finished his term of office, and then he betook himself with his child to the home which he now enjoys, and where he for so long led a life of retirement among his books and the study of science and philosophy.— Cincinnati Enquirer.