REMINISCENCES
of Isaac Jackson Allen
edited by JOHN Y. SIMON
Isaac Jackson Allen, prominent in Ohio a
century ago, is now almost com-
pletely forgotten. Allen began his
public career in Mansfield as mayor and
judge of the court of common pleas. In
1853 he was the unsuccessful Whig
candidate for lieutenant governor. The
next year he became the president
of Farmers' College, located near
Cincinnati, and ultimately was that city's
superintendent of public instruction.
From July 1861 to late 1864 he edited
the Columbus Ohio State Journal. In
1865 Lincoln appointed him consul
at Hong Kong. After leaving Hong Kong in
1869 he entered a long period
of obscurity. For sixteen years he lived
at Avondale, a suburb of Cincin-
nati; in 1886, he moved to Morristown,
New Jersey, where he had been
born seventy-two years before. There he
lived into his ninety-third year,
dying in 1906.
In 1904, when approaching his ninetieth
birthday, Isaac Allen prepared
a manuscript for a cousin, Mrs.
Elizabeth Allen Nichols, which he called
"Memoranda Genealogical and
Biographical of the Allen Family." The first
quarter of the manuscript, headed
"Note," contains genealogical informa-
tion on the Allen family in New England
and New Jersey which is available
elsewhere and of no general interest.
The remainder, headed "Memoran-
dum," is Allen's autobiography, and
is printed below through the courtesy
of his descendants.1
Isaac Allen was descended from Scottish
Covenanters who settled in
Massachusetts Bay in the seventeenth
century. At the beginning of the
eighteenth century, Job Allen left
Vermont to settle at Danville, New
Jersey, where he established an iron
works. There the Allens lived until
1814, when Job Allen, III, a veteran of
the War of 1812, moved West with
his wife and nine children. Isaac, the
youngest, was six weeks old. Job
Allen and some neighbors had already
inspected Ohio; now the Allens and
nine other families packed children and
household goods in sturdy "Jersey
wagons" for the forty-five day
journey to Ohio. They settled near Freder-
icktown in Knox County, where ultimately
two townships came to be
known as the "Jersey
settlement."
Beyond what is contained in the
"Memorandum," little is known of the
first four decades of Isaac Allen's
life. By the early 1850's he began to seek
a reputation as an orator beyond
Mansfield. In the earliest of his printed
speeches, "The Relations of
Christianity to Civil Polity; Delivered Before
the Literary Societies of Western
Reserve College, July 9, 1851," he ob-
NOTES ARE ON PAGES 270-271
208 OHIO HISTORY
scured an interesting topic with
doubtful history, conventional rhetoric,
and a touch of bigotry.2 The speech was
more a display of erudition than
an intellectual endeavor, more an
exposition of conventional belief than
an attempt to enlarge it, and clearly
indicated political ambition. Even if
Allen's nomination as the Whig candidate
for lieutenant governor in 1853
came as unexpectedly as he recounts, he
had prepared for it.
In addition to Whigs and Democrats, a
party of Free Democrats entered
the campaign of 1853 to promote the
abolition of slavery and prohibition
of liquor. Despite his firm adherence to
the Whig party, Allen agreed with
the two major goals of the Free
Democrats and was probably nominated
to attract their support. The original
Free Democratic nominee for lieu-
tenant governor, Benjamin Bissell,
declined to run; the party then nomi-
nated Goodcil Buckingham, who also
withdrew.3 At this point, Allen wrote
a letter to the Ashtabula Sentinel, widely
reprinted, setting forth his anti-
slavery and Maine Law convictions.4
Correctly or not, regular Democrats
believed that Allen and the Free
Democrats were working together.5
Democrats had nothing to fear in the
gubernatorial election, but they were
worried that a coalition of Whigs and
Free Democrats might elect Allen as
lieutenant governor. For the remain-
der of the campaign Allen drew the heaviest
fire of the Democrats. The
Ohio Statesman of Sunset Cox charged that Allen was "a loose
abandoned
demagogue; a man who drinks at the bar
even while his Whig friends are
tacking up bills for 'Temperance lecture
by I. J. Allen' at the door of the
shop where he tipples."6 In time
the charge was bolstered by affidavits
from those who swore that Allen once
drank ale in Bucyrus.7 Although
friends in Mansfield came forward to
swear to his general sobriety, the
damage was done.8
On Christmas Eve of 1853 Allen was
offered the presidency of Farmers'
College. The college was the successor
of Pleasant Hill Academy founded
by Freeman Cary in 1833, one year after
his graduation from Miami
University, where President Robert H.
Bishop had advocated practical
education. In 1846 the academy was
elevated to Farmers' College, with
ambitious plans to expand upon the
public support already given the
academy. But by 1853 President Cary
decided that his college had become
too much like other colleges, that the
goals of scientific agriculture had not
been met, and resigned the presidency to
devote his full time to the school's
experimental farm.9
Cary had designated Samuel St. John of
Connecticut as his successor.
When St. John declined, the presidency
was offered to Allen.10 President
Allen delivered his inaugural address on
commencement day, June 7, 1854.
Undeterred by the ominous circumstance
that none of the 282 students
was graduating, he announced that the
college was "now fast budding into
a University." In addition to
serving as president, Allen was "Professor of
Rhetoric, of Mental and Moral Science,
and of the Institutes of Civil
Law."11 Allen found spare time to
serve as president of the Cincinnati
Horticultural Society, deliver the major
address at the opening of Gran-
REMINISCENCES OF ISAAC J. ALLEN 209
ger's Commercial College in Columbus,
and make a Fourth of July address
in Urbana.12 In 1856 Farmers' College
reached what was to be its highest
enrollment ever--330--and Isaac Alien
resigned. His salary had not been
increased, despite assurances from the
trustees, and Freeman Cary's
salary of $1,500 was $300 larger than
his.13 Allen retired to a private law
practice in Cincinnati, where he became
superintendent of public instruc-
tion in 1859.
That Allen wrote his recollections when
age had softened his memory is
shown by the discussion of his
connection with Francis Hurtt and the Ohio
State Journal. Hurtt had previously owned the Journal in
partnership
with Henry D. Cooke, brother of the
Philadelphia banker Jay Cooke.
When Henry D. Cooke went to Washington
after the Republicans had come
to power in March 1861, his father wrote
to Jay Cooke:
H. D.'s plan in getting [Salmon P.]
Chase into the Cabinet &
[John] Sherman into the Senate is
accomplished, and . . . now is the
time for making money, by honest
contracts out of the govt. In per-
fecting loans--& various other
agencies--the door is open to make up
all your losses. If H. D. don't avail
himself of the hard earned favor
of the Administration, he deserves
poverty.14
Francis Hurtt controlled the leading
Republican newspaper in Ohio and
had a close relationship with Henry
Cooke; the door to prosperity was
also open to him.
Allen purchased a quarter interest in
the Journal from Hurtt in July
1861.15 Hurtt was to manage business
matters, Alien, editorial matters,
but Hurtt still controlled editorial
policy.16 In order to repay the money
he had borrowed to buy his share of the Journal,
Allen had to draw money
from the company, and for each dollar
withdrawn by Allen, Hurtt took
three.17 Despite the influx of
government advertising and new subscribers
hungry for war news, the Journal's already
substantial debt did not de-
crease. Hurtt decided that a post as a
quartermaster, with his salary ear-
marked for the firm, would be more
profitable, and he entered government
service, leaving behind S. H. Dunan as
business manager.
Allen's career with the Journal began
auspiciously enough with the
purchase of better printing equipment,
the publication of the first "extra"
(with news of the first battle of Bull
Run), special correspondence from
Kentucky and western Virginia written by
Hurtt, and the addition of
weekly and tri-weekly editions to
supplement the daily. Through his influ-
ential position Allen was thrice elected
to the executive committee of the
Ohio Republican party.18 Then the door
closed when the government in-
vestigated the activities of his
partner.
Quartermaster Hurtt had made extensive
use of his Washington con-
nections and involved himself in dubious
financial transactions. He used
his position as a quartermaster to
advance the interests of the Journal,
and he used his position with the Journal
to advance his interests as a
quartermaster. Hurtt had first been
assigned to duty in Virginia, but used
210 OHIO HISTORY
Washington friends to secure
reassignment to Cincinnati. In the spring of
1863 Hurtt began to intrigue for the
reassignment of Captain John H.
Dickerson, senior quartermaster at
Cincinnati, which would have put Hurtt
and a brother-in-law of Senator John
Sherman in charge. General A. E.
Burnside, commander of the department of
the Ohio, became suspicious
of Hurtt and ordered Major N. H. McLean
to make a thorough investiga-
tion. This led to a court-martial, but,
somewhat mysteriously, the court was
disbanded and Major McLean exiled to
duty at Fort Vancouver, Washing-
ton Territory. Continued agitation in
Democratic newspapers, however, led
to a new court, which convened on
January 29, 1864, ultimately convicted
Hurtt on numerous charges, and ordered
his dismissal from service.19
The Hurtt case reflected unfavorably on
so many prominent men that
the testimony remained sealed until the
story was broken by a Cincinnati
newspaperman in 1874.20
The court-martial record had been reviewed
by
President Lincoln, who wrote to
Secretary of War Stanton:
I return the record in Captain Hurtt's
case. It is a dismissal from
service by a sentence of a general
court-martial, and hence one in
which I could not interfere if I would;
and so far as I have been able
to look into it, one in which I ought
not to interfere. I do not per-
ceive that there is anything affirmative
for me to do in the case.21
Lincoln's curious note ignored the
testimony which pointed to other promi-
nent men who deserved investigation.
Indeed, the "Ohio Gang" of the
Civil War era provided many an unsound
precedent for a later period.
Allen was something more than a
spectator of the activities of his part-
ner. The prosecution of the
court-martial, built upon seized letters and
papers of Hurtt, proved that Hurtt had
asked Allen to use his influence
with ex-Governor William Dennison to
have Captain Dickerson removed
from Cincinnati. "We can well
afford to pay Dennison's expenses to
Washington," wrote Hurtt.
"Please telegraph me if he will go immedi-
ately."22 Although Allen could not
induce Dennison to go to Washington,
he assured Hurtt that the ex-governor
was sympathetic. "I told Dennison
that your position there was some
advantage to us in the way of securing
advertisement patronage."23
Nor was this all. Hurtt proposed to
distribute the Journal among sol-
diers using army equipment. He told
Allen: "I have given Dunan a chance
to make some money for the Journal by
ordering hay and horses through
him." Hurtt even suggested:
"If you had a friend to speculate in forage
he might make money."24 Indeed,
Allen made a poor showing at the court-
martial and did little during his own
cross-examination to brighten the
picture.25
Hurtt had become increasingly
dissatisfied with Allen's position on the
Journal. One reason was the inability of Allen to pay his debt
without
drawing on the paper; another was the
prospect that Allen's interest might
be purchased by John Sherman's
brother-in-law, and this could cement
Hurtt's political connections. Hurtt
unsuccessfully asked Allen to sell out,
REMINISCENCES OF ISAAC J. ALLEN 211
then tried to influence Secretary Chase
to offer him a more attractive
position.26 The result was four
successive offers of diplomatic posts. It
was hardly coincidental that while the
Hurtt investigation was in progress,
Allen was offered a post in remote
Bangkok.27 But Allen did not go abroad
until the court-martial was over and his
partnership dissolved.
Perhaps the most interesting of Allen's
recollections deals with his
interview with President Lincoln
concerning the appointment at Hong
Kong. There is no way to substantiate
its accuracy; in focusing upon
Lincoln's interest in postwar relations
with the Orient it covers matters
never discussed by Lincoln elsewhere.
But it does have an internal integrity
which suggests that this account, like
the entire "Memorandum," contains
a remarkably clear view across the misty
years, tempered only by an
understandable egotism.
For Allen never fulfilled the promise of
his early years. His various
careers--legal, political, academic,
journalistic, and diplomatic--were cut
short before they fully developed. Had
he not recorded his own career it
would be entirely forgotten today. He
was described by a neighbor in
Mansfield as "a little windy, and a
kind of popinjay fellow," and surely
there was some truth in this brief
dismissal of the ambitious Whig.28
If he lacked the strength for the rough
game of Ohio politics, this is
hardly discreditable. Although he never
reached the heart of the major
events of his day, he came close enough
for a good look; this he gives us
in his "Memorandum." And he
gives us something else: a picture of a man
with moral integrity, a love of
erudition, and an adventurous spirit. The
recollections written so many years
after the events must be read with
caution, but they can also be read with
pleasure.
MEMORANDUM --
In conformity with special requests by
those of our Allen family very
dear to me I am induced to add here
something of my own biography.
I do this the more readily as my life,
having been now extended to the
latter half of my Ninetieth year, must,
in the course of nature, be verging
to its close, notwithstanding that I am
still in the enjoyment of perfect
health, and deem a daily walk of 3 or 4
miles a pleasant recreation.
And though my career as herein to be set
forth may not record anything
of great interest or moment, it may be
of some value as a souvenir to those
of my family connections, with whom my
relations have always been inti-
mate and cordial, and our family ties mutually
cherished as of one general
parentage.
Moreover, as my career in life is now
behind me, on looking back on its
course, I find it so unusually varied,
as to public positions held, by circum-
stances altogether unforeseen and
utterly unanticipated, that I am im-
pressed with the great truth that though
"man deviseth his way, the Lord
directeth his steps."
Born on the 21st day of January, 1814,
on the old "Job Allen Farm" at
Danville, Morris County, New Jersey, I
was but 6 weeks old when my
212 OHIO HISTORY
father with his family started on the
long journey to his new home and
farm near to Fredericktown, in Knox
County, Ohio. And when we had
reached there I was 3 months old.
I state this, not as of my own personal
knowledge and recollection, but
from information of others, chiefly from
my mother; who would be good
authority, as she had the care of me
during that tedious and toilsome
journey in our covered-wagon across the
Allegheny Mountains to the then
far-away West.
Our farm was considerably improved when
bought; but my father
added many fields by additional
clearings of the forest.
Our dwelling house was of logs; but
roomy and comfortable.
My infancy, childhood, and early youth
were spent on that farm, at first
with the great forest adjacent. I well
remember, in my childhood, of hear-
ing the night howlings of wolves, and
the occasional screams of panthers,
in the neighboring depths of the forest.
I also distinctly recollect frequent
visits of the Wyandotte Indians, in
great numbers, at our house, to exchange
venison and wild cranberries for
cornmeal and pickled pork. They were
entirely amiable and friendly. Many
times have I gone to their camp and run
foot-races, and wrestled, and shot
with bows-and-arrows, with Indian boys
of my age. I mention this to show
what Ohio was then, and what Ohio
has become within a single lifetime!
The near-by village of Fredericktown,
the trading centre for the "Jersey
Settlement," so called, was early
distinguished for its good schools, for
those days. I cannot remember when I
first went to school. Nor can I re-
member any time in my life when I could
not read any English book. I do,
however, well remember the surprise I
caused the teacher whom my father
had employed to keep a kind of
Kindergarten in summer time for us 'kids'
in a tenant-house he had built on our
farm. There was no system of school-
books then. Each child brought whatever
the sparse family library af-
forded, from primers to bibles. At
school-opening each pupil was examined
as to his literary attainments in order
to form the classes. When I was
called to the teacher's knee and inquiry
was made as to what book I had
brought, I handed her my "English
Reader," a book much in use then,
and consisting of selections from
Addison and others of the best British
authors. She looked at me, a little chub
of [a] chap, laughed, and said, "Can
you read in this?" "Yes
mam." Opening it somewhere, she handed it to me
and told me to read there. I read it off
fluently, not thinking it any very
remarkable literary performance. Then
came her look of surprise that
made me wonder, and which I never
forgot. And that is the earliest recol-
lection I have of ever learning to read.
How, when, or where I learned to
read, I have not the most remote idea.
My parents were particularly thoughtful
for the education of us children
so far as means of education were then
available. At one time, however,
when our village school was not very
high-toned, the teacher admitting
that he had never studied grammar, my
father sent me to school at Mt.
Vernon, where I was boarded in the
family of the teacher, quite a scholarly
man. I was there, I think, about 2 years,
and was well advanced in all
common school studies.
Then, considering my education as
finished, my father recalled me to the
work of the farm. But the education thus
acquired, though good, instead
REMINISCENCES OF ISAAC J. ALLEN 213
of seeming to me to [be] finished,
served to excite a desire to obtain
more. At Mt. Vernon I had become
acquainted with some boys who were
students of Kenyon College, only 5 miles
distant. From this sprang up a
longing to go to college.
I timidly mentioned this to my father.
He would not hear to it; and for
two reasons--he could not afford it, and
he could not spare me from as-
sistance on the farm. My elder brothers
being now grown and gone for
themselves, and I the youngest, he did
indeed need me. Besides, he thought
it a foolish, boyish whim.
But the longing to go to college would
not down at his bidding. I pon-
dered over it as I ploughed; I thought
it over as I hoed; it went with me
as I foddered the sheep, and rode the
horses to water. I finally mentioned
the matter to my mother. She was
sympathetic, wished it might be, but
couldn't see how it could be; and
counseled me to be content as I was.
At that time the country was in one of
those frequent financial throes
that demoralized business. Banks failed
everywhere. Money good today,
good for nothing tomorrow. My father had
plenty of everything but money
--money there was none.
I had learned to play the flute, and was
accounted a good performer.
Commencement time at Kenyon College,
only 12 miles distant, had come;
the public exercises were announced. A
band of music was desired. There
were no professionals. Among the
students and some others an amateur
band was improvised. I was wanted to
play the piccolo flute. All went off
well. I was charmed with the exercises,
with the scholarship of the gradu-
ating class, the Latin, Greek, and fine
English orations. That was in June.
Then and there I determined to go to
college at the beginning of the next
fall term. I said nothing about it then.
When autumn came I told my father of my
determination. He scouted
it as foolish. And it was. But I
was none the less determined. I told my
mother. She was sorry; but couldn't help
me.
Finally, on an occasion when father was
to be from home for several
days at court serving as a juryman, with
my mother's help, giving me
bed-clothes and things, I packed up my
personal belongings for departure.
My mother gave me two dollars, all
she had: and with that amount of
capital, and with her kisses and
blessings; I left home: in fact, I ran away
from home to go to college! My mother had assented;
because, as she said,
it would be of no use to prevent it. My
father had not consented; but he
had not actually forbidden it.
Arrived at the College, I went at once
to the President; found him at a
meeting of the College Faculty; told
them who I was, what I wanted, and
why I had come,--explained to them
frankly the situation. They received
me kindly, questioned me as to my
advancement in studies, gave me en-
couragement, and promised such
assistance as might be in their power.
Never was poor boy received and treated
more kindly!
The College session was about to open.
My name was placed on the Col-
lege Roll, and I was duly matriculated.
I had a room assigned in one of the
College buildings, and I gathered my
belongings therein. Lacking a bed-
stead, that night I slept on the floor.
And that night I was verily homesick!
I had been used to feather-beds!
Consequently I was homesick! I was never
homesick before--nor since: and never
want to be! Once is enough!!
214 OHIO HISTORY
The next morning I attended for the
assignment of studies, of course,
in the Preparatory Department; for, as
yet, I knew not a word of Latin
or Greek. On examination my preparatory
studies were found sufficient in
English branches for the Freshman Class;
so I had no special need to spend
time on them. I at once commenced the
course in Latin, Greek, and Algebra.
I procured text-books from the College
Library, kept for that purpose.
At that time the students were all
boarded in "College Commons," under
a superintendent in charge, and were
charged only actual cost, about $3
per week. The College property embraced
about 8000 acres of fine lands as
an endorsement; some of it in farms,
much then in forest. The situation
of the College and its various buildings
is one of the most beautiful in the
United States. Around the main College
building, an imposing Gothic struc-
ture of stone, there was a large area of
ground intended for a Park; but
was, as yet, in its native forest
growth.
The College authorities gave to those of
the students desiring it the
privilege of working to clear up that
area of its undergrowth and super-
fluous timber trees, allowing payment on
College expense account at so
much an hour, working only out of
study hours; thus affording both health-
ful exercise and profit.
I was handy with the axe and other tools
for such work; and gladly
availed myself of this work as a means
of paying board expenses and other
minor charges. Many others, thirty or
forty, I think, did the same, some
for exercise and amusement, others for
the profit. Many an afternoon,
during recreation hours and on Saturday
half-holidays were we youngsters
busy in clearing up that bit of forest,
then all a "tangled wild-wood," now
a grand and beautiful College Park.
My studies delighted me. I loved the
'Languages'; and have, I think, a
natural aptitude in acquiring them. I
was diligent and attentive; never
missed a recitation. At the end of the
autumn session, at Christmas, the
President sent for me. I went with
trepidation. I feared he was going to
dismiss me. He greeted me kindly. Told
me that my Professors had re-
ported that I had made such progress
that by taking some extra studies
I could be fitted for the next Freshman
Class at the ensueing [sic] autumn
examination. This, as he told me, would
shorten my College course by one
year, and thus save me both time and money; but, as he said,
I would need
to study hard to do it; as it usually
required two years study to complete
the preparatory course. I eagerly
embraced his kindly suggestion, thanked
him heartily, and departed, a happy boy!
I immediately took up the extra studies.
Then the 'Fellows,' there were
about 400 of us, laughed at me for a
'flam' trying to enter 'Fresh' in one
year! I couldn't "laugh back,"
because I might fail. But I would try it,
anyway; if successful--then it would be
my turn to laugh. I did try. I
tried hard. My professors encouraged
me--one in particular, Professor
Finch: I shall never forget his kind
words!29
The session passed: the autumn
examination for the 'Freshman' came
on. Of the 52 candidates 48 were
admitted; and out of the 48 I stood
second: the one who ranked me had been two years in the
'Preparatory.'
To maintain my class rank in the
Freshman year I studied hard; a little
too hard, it seemed. For, towards the close of the year my
health failed.
One morning I fainted in the recitation
room at class. I knew no more till
REMINISCENCES OF ISAAC J. ALLEN 215
I found myself in bed in my own room,
the College physician sitting beside
me. My breathing was labored, my chest
pained me, my voice was gone,
only a hoarse, raucous whisper remained.
The Doctor wrote a note, told
me to take that to the President--then
the excellent Bishop McIlvain--
as soon as I was able. In the course of
the day, having recovered, I did so.
The good Bishop expressed anxiety,
almost alarm, on hearing my raucous
speech; and told me I must go home and
take a rest. He had not been the
President when I first came to the
College. So, now I had to tell him that
I had no home: that I was a run-away boy--had
run-away from home to
go to College. Then, in answer to his
further inquiries I told him all about
it. The dear, good Bishop smiled kindly
as my story was told, told me to
sit still a minute, he thought he could
fix matters for me. He thereupon
turned to his table and wrote quite a
lengthy note, sealed it, and giving it
to me, said--"There, give that to
your father, mount one of his horses, and
don't leave his back till you get well.
Then return to your class."
I had been then nearly two years from home,
only 12 miles distant, and
had had no word from my father,--and yet
I knew he was one of the best
fathers any boy ever had, and that he
was affectionately fond of me, as his
youngest son.
And I really blamed myself for thus
leaving him alone on his farm in
his now advancing years. But, somehow, I
couldn't help going.
However, as the Bishop had directed, I
went home. I had to walk, had
no money; snow on the ground, soft, and
mushy. That 12 mile walk was a
hard one! Never forgotten!
But I didn't go directly home. I went to
my brother William's, who lived
on his own place near by. He and his
good wife soon made me comfortable.
He went that evening to father's and
told him that I was at his home. My
father told him to tell me to come home.
I went home. Father seemed glad to see
me. Spoke not a word of reproof.
Mother, seeing my condition got me dry
stockings, got me an excellent
supper--She knew what I liked!--then
gave me something for my hoarse-
ness--hoarhound tea and maple-sugar, I
guess!
Sitting all quietly by the fireside
after supper, finally my father broke the
silence by asking me how I got along at
College--rather jokingly, as I
perceived. He thought I had got cured of
my foolish freak, and had come
home to stay. I told him I had done
pretty well; and added--"I have a
letter for you, father, from the
Bishop"; and gave it him.
Adjusting his spectacles, he opened it,
and read it silently. Not a word
was spoken by any one. I never knew what
was in that letter. I only know
that in reading it father's
spectacles became dim--and he coughed some!
Then, rising, he went and put the letter
away in the deep bottom of the
eight-day grandfather's clock, where he
kept his private papers. Then he
came and sat down again, remained
silent, as in thought.
Finally, he inquired how I had managed
to pay for what I had had. I
told him all about clearing the woods,
and so on. He laughed, but rather
sadly. No more was said.
The next morning being fine; I told my
father what the Bishop had said
about the horseback performance. He said, "Well,
Isaac, yonder in the field
is a four-year-old that has never been
bridled. Go with Henry (the hired
man), catch him, bridle him, and ride as much as you
please."
216 OHIO HISTORY
It was done. I did ride! He was a
fine animal. I trained him well, riding
many miles daily. The Bishop's remedy
proved good. The chest-pain in
breathing disappeared gradually, my
voice returned; in two weeks I was
well again.
I then announced my purpose of return to
the College so as to keep up
with my class. My father then, seeing
that I was incorrigible and irre-
claimable, consented to my going; and privately told me he would
take
measures to assist me. And he did. Thereafter,
I had not much difficulty;
though I spent all my Summer vacations
at home, assisting in the harvest
work on the farm. And so, in due time I
received my Degree as "Master of
Arts" from Kenyon College, the Diploma for which I have yet,
and well
preserved.30
On leaving College it was deemed
advisable that I should have a period
of rest and recuperation. My brother
James was then married and living in
New Jersey. He wrote requesting me to
visit him. It accorded with my
wishes. I arranged to go; and, as a
measure of health, decided to make the
journey on horseback. Father
furnished me a fine horse and all needful
equipments; and I so made the
journey--full 500 miles. It was June: I
travelled rather leisurely, avoiding the
heat of mid-day hours. I have made
the transit many times since by
steam-power on rail and water, but never
one more agreeable to myself. I remained
in the East till the following
autumn.31
Returning to Ohio, I took thought of
some business career. My inclina-
tion was for the Law. My dear, good
mother, a devoted Christian woman,
earnestly protested against this; for
the reason that lawyers were neces-
sarily wicked, and therefore certain victims of the 'Evil One'! Probably
she was right!--at least, half-right! Her special desire was to
make a
preacher of me. But, as I was a trifle
too wild and wayward for that staid
and solemn profession, she concluded to
compromise with the Evil One by
making a doctor of me.
I yielded to this at her urgent
solicitation; and entered upon the study
of Medicine. I was pleased with the
study of the Natural Sciences per-
taining to that profession--anatomy,
chemistry, physiology, and incident-
ally, also, psychology. But, the bedside
practice was revolting to me. I,
however, pursued the study to regular
graduation.
I then turned to my first choice, and
commenced the study of the Law
under Hon. Henry B. Curtis, an
eminent lawyer of Mt. Vernon, Ohio.32
To meet my expenses while engaged in
this study, I obtained position
as Recording Deputy in the office of the
Clerk of the Courts, under Isaac
Hadley; rendering service about 3 hours daily and during Court
terms,
for my board in his family. He and his
family were excellent people, and
made me as one of themselves. This
service in the Office of the Courts
was of substantial benefit to me in my
professional pursuits. It made the
practical machinery of the Courts
familiar to me even before I commenced
professional practice.
I retained this position during the two
years of my law studies, when
I was admitted to the Bar of the Ohio State Courts, and
soon afterwards
to the Bar of the United States Courts;
to the latter of which the oath
was administered to me by Judge John
McLean, of the Supreme Court
of the United States, in 1841.
REMINISCENCES OF ISAAC J. ALLEN 217
On my admission to the Bar, my law
Preceptor, H. B. Curtis, proposed
a partnership in Law practice; I to take
charge of a Branch office at
Mansfield, Richland County adjoining,
for which he furnished a well
selected Law library. Thus equipped, I
began my Law practice in 1842.
This Law partnership continued for 5
years, the term of its original
limitation.
While in New Jersey, as before mentioned,
I had met and made the
acquaintance of a young lady of 16, who
was, to my notion, exactly what
a young lady should be; and, somehow,
she came to about the same
conclusion, from her point of view, as
to me. And we had mutually con-
cluded to harmonize our respective views
by means of matrimony, at such
future time as circumstances would
warrant. So, now, having commenced
my business life, I went to New Jersey,
in pursuance to said arrangement
and was married to Susan, daughter
of Judge Peter P. Brown, proprietor
of Newfoundland, New Jersey, on the 11th
day of August, 1841.
Our married life continued most happily
for a little more than 60 years;
until the 19th of November, 1901; when
death bereaved me of her, at the
age of 80 1/2 years. Since then my life
has been lonely!
In entering upon professional life, I,
fortunately, did not have to wait
for clients. Mr. Curtis placed his
pending cases in that county in my
hands. Thereby I had at once a standing
at the Bar of that and the
adjoining counties; and so continued to
have.
I soon discovered the auxiliary [sic]
advantage of my previous Medical
education in my law practice; as many
cases involving Medico-legal
questions, from that circumstance, came
to my hands; especially in Crim-
inal Law.
And, by reason of this, only about two
years after commencing my law
practice, I was unexpectedly invited to
the Chair of Medical Jurisprudence
in the "University of Lake
Erie," near Cleveland, Ohio.33 As the duties
of that Professorship required my
attendance for the Lectures of my
course but about two months of the
winter season, I accepted.
I held that Professorship five years;
then resigned because of the
demands of my increasing law business. I
have reason to conclude that
my lectures in that department of the
Law were not unsuccessful; as I had
meanwhile received invitations to the
same Chair in the Medical Colleges
at Baltimore, and at Worcester,
Massachusetts; but which I must needs
decline because of my law business at home.
I was also written to by
Professor Armour, when holding the same
Chair in the Michigan Uni-
versity, at Ann Arbor, requesting my
Lectures for his use in the Institu-
tution. I was obliged to reply, that, as
my lectures had never been written,
but delivered from mere skeleton notes,
I could not comply.
During the memorable political campaign
of 1840, while yet a student-
at-law, through the urgings of Hon.
Columbus Delano, a distinguished
lawyer, afterwards Member of Congress,
and a member of President
Grant's Cabinet, I had appeared with him
"on the stump" in Knox and
the neighboring counties; and so became
early known to the public and
among politicians. Our county of
Richland being strongly democratic,
(3,000 majority), and I of the opposite
party, I, of course, entertained no
aspirations for political promotion; nor
did I desire any--my business
was just business. I was, however, somewhat
active in the political cam-
218 OHIO HISTORY
paigns. I was frequently nominated for
office by my party,--and always
beat my own ticket--once for State's
Attorney, and twice for Senator. I
was, however, elected Mayor of
Mansfield--and without my knowing it,--
during my absence on business in the
court of another county,--was in-
formed of it on my return home. I served
one term, and declined re-
election.
By selection of the Bar and by appointment
I served one court term
as Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas. And during that term there was
tried before me as the Judge the
memorable murder case for the killing
of a man named Hall. Of this case, as
exemplifying the extraordinary
features of circumstantial evidence in
such cases, I have made a full and
exact record left among my papers, under
the title of "The Story of a
Crime." There is nothing stranger in any work of fiction than
were the
facts in that very remarkable case as
shown in the trial.
The period from 1850 to 1860 was one of
continual excitement in politi-
cal circles throughout the entire
country.
The annexation of Texas, the consequent
war with Mexico, the repeal
[of] the law known as the "Missouri
Compromise Act," whereby the
extension of negro slavery into northern
territory became permissible,
which led to the outbreak of civil war
in Kansas--then a territory: all
these events had profoundly stirred the
political elements of the country.
Whig and Democratic were the leading political
parties. The Republican
party was yet unborn.
In 1852 Franklin Pierce had been elected
President, and with him a
democratic majority in Congress. The
South was rallying for the exten-
sion of Slavery into the new
territories; and the Democrats followed the
lead of the South. The Whigs mainly
opposed Slavery extension into free
territories; but were greatly divided by
factions; some of the older
leaders joined with the democrats. This
led to the formation of a third
party of considerable strength known as
the Anti-Slavery "Free Soil
Party"; composed mainly of
dissatisfied Whigs, with many Democrats of
the North, also dissatisfied because of
the Slavery extension question.
I was of the Whig party, but allied with
that section known as "Anti-
Slavery Whigs"--that is, opposed to slavery extension into Free Territory.
In 1853 a Whig Convention for nominating
State Officers from Governor,
down, was held at Columbus, the State
Capitol. I had been appointed a
delegate from our County; but, oweing [sic]
to business in the courts of
Morrow County, then in session, I did
not intend to be at the State Con-
vention. But a violent rain storm
prevented my leaving the railway train
to reach the town, some two miles from
the station; and I was carried on
to Columbus, intending to return to the
court by an early morning train.
On that day the Convention was to
assemble.
At Columbus I found that most of the
Delegates had arrived. During
the evening I mingled generally among
the Delegates with whom much
miscellaneous consultation was going on,
as usual. Knowing that I must
be in court the next day, I left the
crowd and went to bed at about ten
o'clock. About 2 O'clock I was aroused
by thunderous poundings and
kickings at my room door; and voices
calling my name and demanding
to be let in. I asked who was
there?--and what they wanted? They re-
plied that they "had news for
me." Thinking it some rowdy trick of the
REMINISCENCES OF ISAAC J. ALLEN 219
jolly boys some of whose voices I had
come to recognize, I said--"No, you
don't!" and told them to
"begone with their nonsense, and to go to bed
and get sober." But they persisted;
and a voice said--"No, Allen; it's
no nonsense. Open the door."
I recognized the voice as that of Gen'l
Gibson, a warm personal friend.
Thereupon I rose, dressed, and opened
the door. A crowd, led by Gen'l
Gibson, rushed in, cheering, and
hurrahing; and announced that a pre-
liminary caucus of the Delegates had
just nominated me for Lieutenant
Governor of Ohio. Still thinking it all a frolicsome
joke, I said to them--
"Oh clear out, boys, with your
noise and nonsense!" But Gibson replied--
"Yes, noise; but no
nonsense."
It was a fact. Of course I was
surprised. I had not even thought of
such a thing. The next day, when the
Convention was assembled, they
unanimously confirmed my nomination as
Lieut. Governor on the State
ticket. And, on being called for, I made
a speech before the Convention,
accepting their nomination.34 Meanwhile
I had telegraphed Judge Stewart
to hold my cases open till my return
from Columbus. He did.
Hon. Nelson Barrere, then a member of
Congress, was nominated for
Governor. He was of the old school, a
"pro-slavery Whig"--so called. I
was well known to be an
"Anti-Slavery Whig"--that is, opposed to Slavery
extension; then the great political issue.
The Whig party, of which Henry Clay and
Theodore Frelinghuysen had
been the great exponents, with Daniel
Webster and John J. Crittenden,
had become divided in sentiment, rent by
factions, and materially weak-
ened by the withdrawal of large numbers
to the "Free Soil Party," chiefly
on account of the Slavery question,
which was becoming acute. And that
party also had a full State ticket in
the field. Of course under such lack
of unanimity the success of our ticket
was not at all promising. It was
also well known that the "Free
Soil" ticket could not succeed.
Knowing this, and my anti-slavery
extension sentiments being well
known from my many public speeches and
writings, Mr. Joseph Medill,
the late distinguished editor and
proprietor of the Chicago Tribune, but
then publishing a "Free Soil"
paper at Cleveland, Ohio, came to see me
at Mansfield. We had a long and friendly
conference on the political
situation and on the leading questions
at issue.
He expressed a hearty concurrence in my
views, as harmonizing, sub-
stantially, with his own from the
"Free Soil" point of view, left me and
went home,--saying that he would report
my views to his "Free Soil"
friends.
Soon afterwards, I received a letter
from him; in which he alluded to
the subject matter of our previous conference.
He also said, that while
the "Free Soilers" knew that
they could not elect their ticket, they wanted
to defeat Barrere, our nominee for
Governor, they did not want to defeat
me. And he then indicated that if I would decline the nomination of the
Columbus Convention with Barrere, Samuel
Lewis, the "Free Soil" nomi-
nee for Governor would withdraw from
their ticket, and they would there-
upon nominate me for Governor; and
by the union of the Anti-Slavery
Whigs and the "Free Soilers,"
I could be elected. And the result of the
election showed that this opinion was
correct: for the combined vote of
these two parties was largely in the majority
over the Democratic opposi-
220 OHIO HISTORY
tion vote; though the latter was elected
by a minority of the whole vote.
To Medill's suggestion, however, I was
compelled to reply, that, though
in hearty accord with the "Free
Soilers" on the question of Slavery exten-
sion over soil now free, I had, by my
speech before the Columbus Conven-
tion, virtually accepted that
nomination; and that now to decline it and
accept another for a higher position as
Governor, would be deemed dis-
honorable on my part; and I must
therefore decline his proposition, even
though my election might thereby be
assured.
Writing in this confidential way, in the
same letter to Medill, of June 6th,
1853, I went further, writing somewhat at large on the general
political
outlook: saying to him, that, as parties
then stood, I had no expectation
of the success of our ticket: that the
Whig party was evidently in process
of disintegration: that its factions and
divisions must result in its dis-
solution, and preclude its continued
existence as a political organization.
But, that, in view of the new national
issues thrust forward, a new political
organization must of necessity arise that would more successfully harmon-
ize and combine the anti-slavery
elements of the Nation: And said to him,
that such new party organization should
discard the name of 'Whig'--
which was really meaningless--and
organize under a new and more
appropriate name. And, as our opponents
had monopolized the name of
'Democrat' and 'Democracy', I would
suggest that the new political
organization should take the appropriate
and significant name of
"REPUBLICAN." That was June
6, 1853.
And I think that was the first time the
name of "Republican" was ever
publicly mentioned as for the great
political party that now [bears] and
has long borne that title.
Medill published my letter with this announcement
of the name; and
answered me, warmly commending my views
and suggestion as to the
party name. I have his letters now, with
copy of my own. I preserve them
carefully as mementoes of the fact of my
being the first to announce that
party name, for my family's information, and, as proof of the fact
for
THEIR use.
The published announcement of that name
in Medill's Cleveland paper
of that date attracted immediate
attention everywhere. It was speedily
acted upon by political organizers in
various States.
At that election of 1853 our ticket was
defeated; but by a very significant
vote. For, while Barrere as head of the ticket was defeated
by over 30,000,
I was defeated by about 2,700. On the
morning after the election it was
supposed, and our opponents conceded,
that I was elected; as many "Free
Soilers" had come to me. But the final
count defeated me.
But, though defeated, that vote was a party
triumph, and settled the
question of a new party organization.
It showed the decided trend of
public sentiment. It was the knell of
doom to the old, expiring Whig party.
'Young America' had come to the front.
The venerable political 'pro-
slavery' "moss-backs" were
relegated to the rear. The Republican Party
was there and then born! At the very
next Gubernatorial election in Ohio,
(1855) the Official Call was for a "Republican Convention."
At that Con-
vention Salmon P. Chase was
nominated for Governor, and was elected on
the "Republican" ticket.
And only 5 years later, 1860, Abraham Lincoln
was elected as the first Republican President
of the United States!
REMINISCENCES OF ISAAC J. ALLEN 221
Whatever merit there may be in thus for
the first time proposing that
name for the organization of the Republican
party, I think I may fairly
claim that honor. And that I would
esteem more highly than to have
been elected Lieutenant Governor of
Ohio!
I have thus mentioned all this somewhat
in detail for the reason that,
though relating to my own biography, it
in some measure pertains to our
general political history.
Shortly after that political campaign in
Ohio, I received a letter offering
me the Presidency of a College at
Cincinnati. The offer was a surprise
to me. I took it under consideration. I
visited the Institution, and con-
sulted friends; among them, Rollin C.
Hurd, then Judge of Common Pleas
Court, who had been an intimate friend
and class-mate with me at College.
After some reflection as to expediency,
he assured me of my fitness for
the place, and of its fitness for me,
because of my literary tastes. I finally
accepted.
I, of course, removed with my family
from Mansfield to Cincinnati;
and joined the College classes at the
fall session of 1854; having been in
professional law service 13 years at
Mansfield.
At my suggestion and under the earnest
sanction of Judge McLean of
the Supreme Court of the United
States, Chairman of the Board of College
Trustees, there was added to the usual
scientific branches of tuition,
incident to my position as President of
the College, the Professorship
of "The Institutes of Civil
Law"; conducted by lectures before the Senior
and Junior classes; having in view
instruction in the law of business and
general citizenship.
I also volunteered a course of weekly
lectures on our "English Classical
Literature," before the same college classes.
These lectures soon became popular; so
that many persons not of the
College, at their own request, became
attendants; so that my lecture room
was usually crowded by intellectual
people, many of them ladies.
I remained in the Presidency 4 years.
When I went there, the College
catalogue of the preceding year showed
an enrollment of a little less than
one hundred; the catalogue of the last
year of my Presidency showed an
enrollment of over four hundred
students.35 I therefore conclude that my
administration was successful.
When I accepted the Presidency the
salary was admitted to be small. But
I was assured that in a year or two it
would be increased. At the end of 4
years it had not been increased. And,
because of its inadequacy, I felt com-
pelled to resign, in order to make
better provision of my family, now con-
sisting of wife and 3 children. I did so
against the remonstrances of the
Board of Trustees.
At that time, Lorin Andrews, a
warm personal friend and former Col-
lege-mate of mine, learning of my
resignation as above, and he being then
the President of Kenyon College, our Alma
Mater, came to Cincinnati to
see me, and proposed that I join him in
the Faculty of Kenyon College in
the "Professorship of Law and
English Classic Literature." I liked An-
drews, I liked Kenyon, and I
particularly liked that Professorship; and
told him so. But the salary attached to the
Professorship was but a slight
improvement on what I had just resigned.
I was therefore compelled to
decline acceptance.
222 OHIO HISTORY
I then removed from the College into the
city, and went again into Law
Practice. In connection therewith [I]
held position as Lecturer on Com-
mercial Law in a Commercial College. This was in the autumn. The
morn-
ing after the next spring election for
city officers, on perusing the news-
paper, I was surprised to find it
announced that on the day previous the
people of our Ward had elected me as
their member of the City School
Board. I had not even been to the
election. I accepted and served; and was
unanimously elected to a second term.
The Cincinnati School Board was
composed of some of its best and most
substantial citizens.
At the organization of the Board at my
second term I was made the
vice-president. Hon. Rufus King, another
of my College mates at Kenyon,
now an eminent lawyer, was the
President.
Soon afterwards, Mr. King's health
failing, he went to spend the winter
in Cuba for recuperation; whereupon I
became President of the Board
during my second term as member.
Near the close of that term, the
management of the City Superintendent
proving unsatisfactory, he was removed.
At a meeting of the Board at
which I presided, a member proposd to
make me City Superintendent. I
declined to accept the nomination. I was
then requested by the Board to
hold the matter under advisement for a
week until the next meeting of the
Board. To this I, of course, assented.
During the interval I received numerous
letters and messages from
prominent citizens, among them Judge
Bellamy Storer, and others, urging
my acceptance. These influenced me. At
the next meeting I signified my
acceptance, provided I could be allowed
to retain my position as Lecturer
on Commercial Law. This was readily
granted. Thereupon the Board im-
mediately increased the salary by the addition
of $500 to the previous
amount, and then unanimously elected me
the City Superintendent.36
I served in that office for 3 years, and
with general public approval.
Meanwhile the Civil War had broken out.
Many citizens of Cincinnati
volunteered at the President's call for
troops. Some of them left families
without adequate means of support. A
public meeting was called to take
measures for the relief of all such. A
general Committee of citizens was
constituted to receive the needed funds,
and to care for the needy families
of soldiers in the field. I was
appointed on that Committee, and with the
others made it our daily business to
receive reports and seek out and pro-
vide all needful relief for such
families; for which the contributors were
prompt and abundant. By this means not a
family was left destitute.
Four years before this, in one of his
letters to which I have referred,
Mr. Joseph Medill had said to me,
"I wish to God you were the editor of
the Ohio State Journal!" This had long been the principal central political
organ of the State of the Whig party;
but its editorial weakness had
caused its decline in a marked degree:
hence Medill's remark as above
quoted.
And, strangely enough, there now came to
me a Mr. Hurtt, an experi-
enced newspaper man, and proposed a
joint interest with him in the pur-
chase of the "Ohio State
Journal," on which he had an option,--he to have
charge of the business department; I to
have charge of the Editorial de-
partment. After some negotiation the
arrangement was concluded. The
paper had become greatly run down.
William Dean Howells, who has since
REMINISCENCES OF ISAAC J. ALLEN 223
gained some notoriety as a writer of
novels, had been the editor. Because
of its enfeebled condition under his
hands, the concern was not paying
expenses. It was consequently bought at
a very low price. Our aim and
hope were to make it profitable by making
it better. And we succeeded.
Under this arrangement I moved my family
from Cincinnati to Colum-
bus, the state Capitol. I at once took
editorial charge, dismissing Mr. How-
ells and his Assistant
Editor--determined to do the work myself.37
The civil war was in progress. The
demand for news was incessant.
Our working and reportorial force was
reorganized; our army corres-
pondence was increased. We found
ourselves compelled to buy a new press
and a new "dress" for the
paper--the old ones were absolutely worn out.
For that we had to incur considerable
debt. But we enlarged the paper,
cut off various supernumeraries, and
lived economically.
I found editorial work congeneal [sic],
and worked hard--had no
Assistant! The paper as a business concern revived. At the end of
the first
year we had paid its debts; but had no
surplus. At the end of the second
year we were out of debt, and about $2,000
ahead, net; at the end of the
3rd year we cleared up $7,000.
I then felt that I had come into what
was congeneal to me and for which
I had found myself fitted, as shown by 3
years of success, and against
adverse circumstances; and into what I
now intended as my life-long
pursuit.
A year or so before this, Mr. Hurtt had
expressed to me a great desire
to enter the army with a commission in
the Quarter Master's Department.
I objected, because of the need of him
in the business department, to which
I could give no special attention. He
pressed the matter again, and offered
to furnish a competent substitute in the
business office, and would pay him
himself out of his own army salary.
Under this arrangement, I assented;
as thereby I had no personal interest in
his outside army affairs. I knew
him to be a sharp, shrewd business man,
and his being a church member
and devout, gave me assurance of his capacity to be of service in
the army.
He got his Commission and was made a
Quarter Master, ranking as Cap-
tain.
Months passed on. His business
substitute was diligent and efficient. I
was pushing the editorial work
vigorously on, and all was proceeding
favorably as to the "Journal."
Finally, there came a newspaper
announcement that Captain Hurtt had
been arrested for embezzlement or
misappropriation of public funds in the
Quarter Master's Department, and was
ordered for trial by Court Martial.
I could not credit it; only as it might
be some mistake, soon to be cor-
rected. He wrote me, saying "it was
all moonshine, and would amount to
nothing."
He was duly tried, found guilty,
sentenced to be dishonorably dismissed
from the army, pay a fine of $500, and
suffer one year's imprisonment.
This was a thunderstroke to me, and to
the "Ohio State Journal"; All
that had been gained was now lost! I had
really built up the "Journal,"
only to see it fall,--and through no
fault of mine!
Hurtt, however, hastened on to
Washington; and through some influence
there-I know not what nor how--he had
the imprisonment remitted, paid
his $500 fine, and came home a free man.
224 OHIO HISTORY |
Meanwhile I had endured great anxiety. I well knew that no public journal could survive under such an incubus of criminal disgrace in one of its proprietors. And, though entirely outside of any affair of mine, its disastrous effect must react on me and my interest in the "Journal." Besides, I could not get my own consent to continue in partnership with one so dishonored and disgraced. On his return to Columbus, he came immediately to me at my home, with roseate plans for the improvement and enlargement of the "Journal." I heard them, commended them, and then said--"But it must needs be done without me: our partnership must be considered as dissolved." He was shocked; sank into a chair as one about to faint, ghastly white. I really thought the man had not before fully realized the enormity of his own disgrace; had looked upon it merely as temporary annoyance. Presently, he remonstrated, argued: said it would soon blow over and be forgotten. I replied--"No: records are imperishable!" Two days afterwards we settled upon the terms of dissolution: he bought my interest in the 'Journal' on the agreed basis of a four-fold increase of valuation above the cost of purchase. I took. my books and private papers, went home, and never saw the Journal office again.38 |
REMINISCENCES OF ISAAC J. ALLEN 225
Of course all my cherished business
plans and prospects and contem-
plated life-pursuits were thwarted,
overthrown--through no fault of mine.
But, disastrous though it was, I could
not remain associated with disgrace
and crime. I never knew an Allen that
would!
While thus situated, my law-business
interrupted, gone; with no em-
ployment in hand, there came one
morning, a few days after the partner-
ship dissolution, a book package by mail
bearing the stamp of "State
Department." Thinking it "Public Documents," such as were
often re-
ceived, I took it home unopened, and
laid it aside, and forgot it. A few days
afterwards, calling it to mind, I hunted
it up, opened it, and found therein
my appointment as United States
Consul at Hong Kong, China, with the
"Consuls' Manual of
Instructions." I confess my surprise. I had not asked
for it. And I may here remark, that,
whatever of public positions I may
have filled or been nominated for, I never
asked or sought for one.
Previous to this one Mr. Lincoln had
proffered me three other appoint-
ments in the foreign service of the
Government,--one at St. Johns, one at
Demerara, and one as Minister to Siam;
all which preferring my editorial
position at home, I had declined to
accept. And now had come the 4th one,
to China.
I first knew Mr. Lincoln personally in
1859, when he came to speak in
Cincinnati; and then but slightly. I had
been active for him in convention
and "on the stump" in his
first Presidential campaign of 1860. I again
greeted him at the Burnett [sic] House,
Cincinnati, as did a thousand
others, when, in February, 1861, he was en
route for Washington City, to
be inaugurated as President of the United
States.
I did not meet him again till the autumn
of 1863, on the occasion of
the Public Dedication of the National
Cemetery on the battle field at
Gettysburgh [sic]. To this
Dedication the Governors of all the loyal States
had been specially invited. As I then
held no official position, I was not
intending to go. Learning of this,
Governor David Tod, of Ohio, invited
me to join him as a member of his Staff,
pro tempore; to this I assented,
as that would give me the privilege of
seat on the platform at Gettysburgh.
When there, I was seated near Mr.
Lincoln, with whom were seated mem-
bers of his Cabinet.
The day was beautiful, and the throng of
people was immense. The oc-
casion throughout was marked by
appropriate solemnity. The great battle
--one of the greatest known to human history--and the
victory for the
Union won, on the 3rd and 4th of July
preceding!
Hon. Edward Everett, the
distinguished scholar and speaker of New
England, was the Orator of the Day. He
delivered his Address from manu-
script. We had listened to the polished
address of Mr. Everett, before the
assembled thousands, for an hour, or
more. But not a stir of sympathetic
emotion had been manifested in his audience
during its delivery; though
listened to in respectful, thoughtful
silence.
At its conclusion, the band played a
solemn dirge.
Then President Lincoln rose to deliver
the Address of Dedication; ad-
vanced to the reading desk, put on his
steel-rimmed spectacles, took from
his vest pocket a thin slip of paper,
laid it before him, glanced at it a
moment; then, as if not able to see its
writing very well, he crumpled it
in his hand, returned it to his vest
pocket, removed his spectacles, and
226 OHIO HISTORY
proceeded to deliver that ever-memorable
Dedicatory Address that has
become a classic in our American
literature, and which of itself would
render the name of Abraham Lincoln
immortal!
He spoke but seven minutes. But, before
he had spoken five minutes
that whole assembled multitude were
sobbing, and sympathetic tears were
dimming all eyes. Lincoln's simple
eloquence of heart in speaking of our
heroic dead had touched the responsive
cords [of] feeling, that Everett's
finished oratory had failed to reach.39
After the exercises of the day, and an
evening address in one of the city
churches by Hon. Charles Anderson, then
Lieutenant Governor of Ohio,
we had some hours to wait at Hanover
Junction for our homeward trains.40
The time was passed in easy
conversation, as we gathered in group around
Mr. Lincoln, in which Secretary Seward,
Simon Cameron, Senator Florence
of Pennsylvania, and others joined,
telling many amusing and interesting
incidents of the war.41 I was
seated very near to Mr. Lincoln, who was
suffering from a grievous headache from
sitting with head bared in the
hot sun during the exercises of the day.
Resting his elbow on the arm of
his chair, he leaned his head on his
hand, listened and smiled at the quaint
sayings of those around him, but joined
sparingly in their conversation.
The trains came to the Junction at
Midnight. The President and his party
departed for Washington, we for the
West.
During our return journey to Ohio I
happened to occupy a car-seat with
Governor Oliver P. Morton, commonly known as "the Great War-Governor
of Indiana." With him I had much
conversation relating to a treasonable
organization known as "Knights of the
Golden Circle," secretly operating
in his State in favor of the rebellion;
with which Governor Morton had
had much to do, and had succeeded in
discovering and revealing their plots,
and in breaking up their organization.
Knowing that everything pertaining to Mr.
Lincoln and his peculiar
character and wonderful career has
become of general interest to all
Americans, I have been prompted to
record these circumstances and inci-
dents as from my personal observation
relating to him, for the perusal and
information of those of my own family
who are to come after me. And for
the same purpose I have deemed it proper
to proceed to record more
minutely the incidents attending my last
personal interview with that
Great Man, whose public career and
tragic fate gave Immortality to the
name of
Abraham Lincoln!
The year 1864 had come. In November of
that year Mr. Lincoln had, the
second time, been elected to the
Presidency. The civil war was still in
progress. General Grant was now at the
head of the Union armies. The
rebel Government was still at Richmond.
But the general military condition
was such that the country began to see
the beginning of the end of the
Rebellion.
The year had passed on into winter. My
appointment to Hong Kong had
just come to hand. I had to consider its acceptance.
The position was one
that of all others I would particularly
desire; first, because of its impor-
tance as being one of the five great Consulates of the
United States; and,
second--particularly because of my
desire to visit and have personal know-
ledge of that wonderful Empire and of its very peculiar
people, the seat
REMINISCENCES OF ISAAC J. ALLEN 227
of the world's oldest civilization, and
whose history led us back to the
infancy of the human race. And, although
the oldest of Earth's Empires,
it was a country and a race of which we
had read and heard so much, and
really knew so little, that I had long
desired to know more; but had never
dreamed of ever seeing it.
In consequence of my recent withdrawal
from the State Journal, I was
now unemployed, in perfect health, and
could well afford to go. But, how
about my family ?--that was the grave
question. I could not take them with
me,--the ocean voyage was too great, and
health too uncertain. My eldest
son, Theodore, was in the army in the
field, then Adjutant of the 7th Ohio
Cavalry. My younger son, Arthur, was yet
at school. My only daughter,
Caradora, was just entering her
school-girl days; her education must not
be interrupted by years of absence in
China. After full consideration of
the subject and full discussion of the
situation with my thoughtful and
clear-minded wife, I concluded that I
could not accept, and told her so.
But, as all the previous appointments
had been declined by letter, it was
now considered my proper duty to go to
Washington, present my thanks
in person to the President, explain to
him the circumstances, and decline
acceptance. With that purpose in view I
went to Washington.
Before going, however, the dear wife had
said to me, that she had long
known my interest in China by much
reading, etc; that now the oppor-
tunity was presented me to go there,
though the separation would be re-
grettable, she could wish for my sake
that I might go: Said, she would look
after our daughter's education, and that
Theodore would soon be home
from the army; and that she would
carefully manage affairs so that I
might go, if I so could decide. But I
replied, that I thought I had better not
accept.
The day after my arrival at Washington I
went to the White House to
see the President. I was met in the
anteroom by Mr. John Hay, then the
President's private secretary,
afterwards Minister to England, and now
in the Cabinet as Secretary of State.
I had some acquaintance with
him by previous visits to Washington.
Mr. Hay took my card, requested me
to be seated in the anteroom a few
minutes, as the President was just then
in conference with some foreign
diplomat. We sat and chatted for half-an-
hour. The door of the President's room
opened, and there came forth a
personage bearing a plumed hat,
gorgeously epauletted, his dress blazing
with gold lace. I fancied that my plain
civilian appearance would cut but
small figure after such splendor!
Mr. Hay then entered with my card, in a
moment returned and said the
President would now receive me. I went
forward. Mr. Lincoln received me
standing near the door, greeted me
cordially, gave me a hearty hand-shake,
and almost led me forward towards the
open wood-fire burning in an open
fire-place, and pointing me to a seat at
one corner of a long, green-cloth
covered table, on which was piled what
seemed a bushel of letters, and
seated himself at another corner.
Our conversation was at first of a
general nature, then some matters
about the war, and so on. I then
tendered some congratulations on his
recent re-election to the Presidency,
and spoke of the concurring sentiment
of the country in general, and of Ohio
in particular. To this he remarked,
that recently he had had some trouble
with certain of our Ohio people,
especially with a Mr. Valandigham [sic]
who had been arrested under
228 OHIO HISTORY
military warrant for treasonable
utterances in a public speech, "and had
been sent down among his friends
beyond our Union Army lines."
To this I expressed the assurance that
the sentiment of all loyal Ohio
people was heartily with him in that
matter of Valandigham. He smiled,
and said it was always gratifying to
find the people sustaining him in
those trying times, and hoped they would
continue to do so until our
troubles would be over, and peace
restored.
This opened the way to speak of my
purpose in calling: and I said, "Mr.
President, speaking of Mr. Valandigham's
exile reminds me that I too have
received your orders sending me abroad, and
I am curious to know what I
have done that you would send me out
of the country."
The suggested idea evidently pleased
him. A mirthful sparkle came into
his eye, a genial smile lighted up his
rugged features, and turning full to
me, with long finger uplifted as in
admonition, and speaking in tones of
mock solemnity, he said--"I want
you, sir--like Mr. Valandigham,--to
leave your country for your country's
good!"
I felt myself very aptly answered, I
laughed. So did he.
Then, speaking gravely, I
said--"Yes, Mr. President, I duly received
the papers covering your appointment of
me to the Consulate at Hong
Kong; and I have come to express to you
my most hearty thanks for pre-
vious favors of like kind shown me, and
particularly for this last appoint-
ment tendered me; and to beg your
permission to decline it."
He glanced at me an instant, then put
his hand quickly up covering his
ear, and said--"I don't hear that:
It is so unusual for anybody to decline
anything that I can't hear that."
I then expressed to him the great
satisfaction that such an official resi-
dence in China would afford me, because
of my desire to know something
about that great Empire that books could
not teach us; and briefly ex-
plained to him the circumstances that
hindered my acceptance. He then
said:--"Now, let us talk together
in a neighborly way. I am not Mr. Presi-
dent--I am Mr. Lincoln. We want some
competent, judicious man to go to
Hong Kong. Something seems to be wrong there.
I am informed at the
Treasury Department that from some cause
our Chinese trade at Hong
Kong is in a demoralized--I may say, in
a disorganized--condition. But,
from what cause, I am not informed. And
it is the policy and purpose of the
Government as now administered, (he
always used this phrase when speak-
ing of himself in that relation)--to
promote by all proper means in our
power the growth of our Chinese
trade,--nearly one-third of all the earth's
population live over there. And Hong
Kong, though not exactly Chinese
territory now, is, nevertheless, one of
the most important commercial ports
in connection with the Chinese and
Asiatic trade. We are in some trouble
just now, you know, with our home
affairs. But we are satisfied that the
war cannot last much longer. It will
soon be over. Grant has got Lee by
the throat down there at Richmond, and
it is only a question of time how
long he can struggle. And it can't be a
very long time. Should Grant suc-
ceed, as we believe he will, in
capturing or dispersing Lee's army, the end
must come. For, as the Government is now
advised, the rebel authorities
cannot put another army in the field;
and the rebellion must consequently
perish from exhaustion--and the war is
over.
REMINISCENCES OF ISAAC J. ALLEN 229
When that is accomplished, we shall have
a very large army of men to
disband."
Then I remarked--"Yes, Mr.
President, and, as you know, our British
cousins and critics have said that when
we come to disband that immense
army, the day of our greatest peril will
come."
At this remark, Mr. Lincoln looked up
from his thoughtful mood, smiled
incredulously, and was silent for a
moment; then proceeded, saying--"Yes,
I know: and what they say might be true
of European armies; but ours is
not an army of mercenaries. Our soldiers
are our own people, our citizens,
our neighbors. They volunteered to go
and attend to that little job down
South, and when it is finished they will
volunteer to quit and go home."
I could but smile at Mr. Lincoln's
quaint but impressive way of putting
it. He had been speaking in a quiet,
gentle tone, as if only communing with
his own thoughts; and now continued in
tone of monologue,--"When the
war is over and our soldiers are
mustered out, thousands of them will want
employment. Many of them left good
situations of business employments;
those places are, in many instances, now
filled by others; and other places
may not readily be found. It is
therefore the policy of the Government as
now administered to provide, so far as
may be possible, full employment
for such of our soldiers as may need it
or desire it. To that end, as well
as for other ends, it is the purpose of
the Government as now administered
to prosecute with all possible despatch
the building of the Pacific railroad
to completion. This will afford
employment to thousands of men. Moreover,
the completion of that highway across
the continent will be urged in order
to facilitate and expedite communication
with our growing States on the
Pacific Slope. For, possibly, at some
future time we may have another war
with somebody, and we would greatly need
such a line of transit. Besides
all that, it is important that we unite
the extremes of the country from the
Atlantic to the Pacific by closer ties
of commercial interests and facilities
for social intercourse, thereby binding
the Pacific Slope indissolubly to the
Union."
Again, I remarked,--"Yes, Mr.
President;--I well remember that, at
the outbreak of the war, there was great
anxiety in the public mind as to
what course the Pacific Slope would take
touching secession."
Mr. Lincoln looked up full at me,
hesitated a moment, then said,--
speaking emphatically, almost
solemnly--"Yes; secret machinations had
been set on foot there; and it will
never be known until the secret archives
of the Government are read how near
we came to losing the Pacific Slope!"
Of course I knew not to what he
particularly referred. He said no more.
Then, resuming his tone of monologue and
looking steadily towards the
fire, he continued:--
"Of course, in the convulsive
unheaval of all the elements of popular
and national excitement and anxieties
that must always attend civil wars,
the deepest energies of the whole nation are aroused,
and are, for the time
being, devoted to the demands of the
war. And among our American people
such unusual energies, once aroused, cannot
be at once repressed. They will
naturally, and of necessity, be directed
to and manifested in the affairs of
private life. From this will proceed
business activities and enterprises of
an unusually energetic character. So
that, when this war is actually ended
230 OHIO HISTORY
and peace restored and our people have
resumed their commercial and
industrial pursuits, there will be a
period of production and prosperity
unexampled heretofore. And, it will be
the policy of the Government as
now administered to promote that
peaceful solution of our PRESENT
troubles by all suitable means; and will
aim thereby to bring the people of
all the several sections into friendly
business relations and harmonious
cooperation; thus strengthening the
bonds of union through a community
of industrial and commercial interests.
To this end, the opening of an
all-rail highway across the continent,
uniting the Pacific Slope and looking
out upon Asia, will be an important
factor. For we are determined, (look-
ing now fully at me and speaking
emphatically), as the Government is now
administered to make a strong strike
to bring a large proportion of the
trade of Asia across this
continent,"--bringing his big
bony fist down
solidly on the table.
Then, continuing, he said--"Now, as
I have said, there seems to be some
trouble with our Chinese business; and
knowing that you are a good
organizer, I want you to go to Hong
Kong, one of the focal centres of
Oriental commerce, and there re-organize
our Chinese trade. I don't know
what is to be done, nor how; because I
don't know what is the matter. That
will be for you to find out; and, then,
for you to devise the remedy.
I may say, for your information, that
you will have no one over you.
I can only commission you as Consul;
but, oweing to the necessities of the
case at Hong Kong, you will be charged
with the duties of Minister Resi-
dent as to that jurisdiction. And I am
sorry that I cannot give you either
the honor or the emoluments of that
office; as we cannot well appoint
more than one Minister to the same
Government (Smiling). And your
Minister will be at London, distant half
around the globe. You will, how-
ever, as due to your position,
correspond direct with the State Depart-
ment."
He ceased speaking. Then I
remarked:--"I thank you sincerely, Mr.
President, for the information so kindly
tendered. And allow me to say,
Mr. President, that your full
presentation of the matter places it before me
in a new aspect."
"I thought it would," he
replied. "I asked Governor Seward, (Secretary
of State), the other day, if you had
come to see him yet; and told him
that, when you came, I wanted to talk
with you. And I will say further,
that I would consider your acceptance a
favor. Now, go to Governor Sew-
ard. Tell him you have seen me, and what
has been said. He will be able to
give you more information than I can.
Then come to see me again."
Thanking him for according to me the
honor of this interview and for
kind attentions, I rose to go,
saying--"I fear, Mr. President, that I have
consumed more of your time than I should
have done; for I perceive
(glancing at the pile of letters on his
table) you have no small amount of
work before you."
He also looked at the pile, and with a
kind of tired smile, replied,--"Yes,
that is a little foreign mail brought in
this morning that I suppose will
have to be attended to." Then,
bidding me 'good morning,' I left him.
The interesting nature of this
conversation, as well as Mr. Lincoln's
impressiveness of manner, made such a
deep impression on my mind that
it has remained so vividly before my
recollection that I am able to give it
REMINISCENCES OF ISAAC J. ALLEN 231
accurately, and much of it exactly in
his own words. And what he then
said as in some measure prospective and
prophetic has become actual and
historic in subsequent events.
From Mr. Lincoln I went directly to the
State Department, saw Gover-
nor Seward, told him what had passed,
received from him further infor-
mation. He summoned to him the Chief
Clerk of the Consular Bureau,
introduced us, and directed him to show
me all records of the Hong Kong
Consulate. I spent two days at this. On
the second day I happened to be
seated at dinner in the hotel next to a
venreable [sic] looking gentleman,
who, during the meal turned to
me--"This is Mr. Allen, I am informed."
I said, "Yes, Sir." "You
are newly appointed Consul at Hong Kong, as I see
by the papers," he remarked. I
replied affirmatively; but that I had not
accepted as yet.
Then, giving me his name, he
said--"I am a retired sea-captain; have
made many voyages to China; know Hong
Kong well. You would find it a
comfortable and interesting place. And
if you have inclination for the
Foreign Service, I would advise you to
accept."
Further conversation followed about
China in general and Hong Kong
in particular. This kind of information
as to details, very kindly and
intelligently communicated from one so
accidentally thrown in my way,
had much influence with me; and that night,
before going to sleep, I had
concluded to accept.
The next morning I called on Governor
Seward and told him of my
acceptance.42 He expressed satisfaction,
and inquired--"How soon can
you go? The situation at Hong Kong is
such as to require your presence
there with all reasonable
despatch." I replied that my preparations would
be immediate. He commended this, and
said--"You will now receive your
passport, and your salary will begin at
once. Your Commission will be
issued on confirmation."
I had previously written to [John]
Sherman, then Senator, to defer
confirmation of my nomination while
under advisement as to acceptance.
I now went to the Senate Chamber. The
Senate was in executive session,
doors closed. I pencilled a note to
Sherman on my card, and sent it in by
the Sergeant-at-arms. Sherman came out into
the lobby. I told him briefly
of my acceptance, and requested action
on my confirmation. He returned to
the Senate; and in 30 minutes my
appointment was unanimously confirmed.
The next day I called on Gov. Seward,
received my Commission and
passport.43 But my Commission must needs
be sent to the U. S. Minister
in London, to be presented to the
British Prime Minister to be counter-
signed as his exequator [sic]--thence to
be forwarded to me at Hong Kong.
Bidding Gov. Seward 'good bye,' I went
over to the White House to see
Mr. Lincoln, as he had directed me to
do.
I was received by the President almost
immediately, and informed him
of my acceptance as he still held my
hand in greeting; and he smiled and
said "good!" "And how
soon can you go? Some one is needed there." I
replied--"Well, Mr. President, I
must go home to Ohio, pack a carpet-bag,
kiss the wife and baby, then I'm off!" "Good
again!" he said, and shook
both my hands, smiling.
Then he added--"The only
instructions I have to give are, that you
proceed to San Francisco, call on the
Collector at that Port, gain all the
232 OHIO HISTORY
information you can at the Custom House
bearing on the Chinese trade;
then proceed to your Consulate, and in
due time institute such measures
as may be found necessary to remedy the
difficulties existing in our Chinese
trade."
He then expressed his best wishes for my
health and successful mission,
gave me a hearty hand-shake in farewell,
said--"Good bye! and God bless
you!"--and we parted.
I never saw Abraham Lincoln again! Not long afterwards, and before
my departure, the Great and Good
President had suffered martyrdom:--
from the mortal, had put on
Immortality!
While yet at home, preparing for that
long voyage to the opposite side
of the world, President Lincoln's
remains, on the way from Washington
to Springfield, Illinois, for burial,
arrived at Columbus, Ohio, and lay in
State in the Rotunda of the Capitol
there; and were viewed by thousands
of mourning citizens. By resolution of
the Ohio Legislature, then in session,
I was invited to deliver the funeral
eulogium. The day fixed for this was on
a Thursday; I had arranged for my
voyage, and must need be in New York
on the following Saturday to meet
the steamship to sail on Monday. The
time was too short to allow of delay. I
was, therefore, compelled to decline
the honor of that solemn service, that last
sad leave-taking of all that was
mortal of--ABRAHAM LINCOLN!--whose hand, now cold in death, had but
recently signed my Commission as representative
to China:--the last
Commission, I believe, that that hand
ever signed for the Foreign Service.
That mournful event, with the sorrowful
leave-taking with my family,
made my journey to New York a sad one.
My son Arthur I took with me in
view of conducting his further education
under my own care. My elder
son, Theodore, was still in the army. My
only daughter, Caradora, re-
mained with her mother, with
arrangements and injunctions to have her
education thoroughly pursued.
The Pacific Mail Steamship Co:--had
tendered a free passage for myself
and son by their line from New York to
San Francisco by the way of
Panama across the Isthmus. We arrived at
San Francisco without incident
of any moment: a voyage of full 5,500
miles; and only the beginning of my
journey!
There, I immediately applied myself to
the matter of consulting with
the Custom House officials on the
subject of the Chinese trade with that
port and Hong Kong. I spent a week in
that behalf.
I then began looking about for a
suitable ship in which to make my
voyage across the Pacific ocean. Consulting the
shipping lists, I found an
American clipper-ship up for China. I
examined her accommodations, and
engaged passage to Hong Kong, to sail in
about a week. Before the day
for sailing came, information was
received of the destruction of our whal-
ing fleet--thirteen vessels--in the
Northern Pacific, by the rebel cruiser,
"Shenandoah," a Captain Watson
commanding!
Alarmed by this, my ship, and others
bound for China, was at once
withdrawn from the voyage; and none
other would venture. So I was de-
layed nearly two months, from early May,
before a vessel could be found
for my voyage.
During this forced delay I rambled much
through California, and saw
many places and things of interest in
that interesting country.
REMINISCENCES OF ISAAC J. ALLEN 233
Finally a vessel was found, up for Hong
Kong, owned by Mr. John
Purrott, of San Francisco. He made it
very comfortable for me, and I took
passage on her in July.
Our voyage lay by Hawaii, then through
the Ladrones, a Spanish group
of Islands, of which Guam is the
Capital; the next sight of land was the
great island of Formosa; thence through
the Bashee Channel between
Formosa and the Philippines, (since
become American territory), into
what is known as "the China
Sea."
Here we encountered a terrible typhoon,
one of those fearful storms
frequent in the China Sea. With that
exception, my voyage across the
Pacific was uneventful, and not
unpleasant. It was slow and tedious be-
cause of our running into the region of
calms; and the Pacific Ocean is vast!
One cannot conceive of its immensity until
he has sailed across it--day
after day, week after week, and still the waste of waters seems boundless!
We had on board as fellow passenger a
young Spanish gentleman, bound
for Manila. We industriously utilized
our time on board by my studying
Spanish under him, and he English under
me,--taking our daily lessons
mutually.
We did not reach China till the first of
October--nearly three months
from San Francisco--about 80 days!44 No
trans-Pacific steamship then!
Arrived at Hong Kong, I learned that the
Consul in charge who had
preceded me, being in ill health, had
gone to Japan for recovery; and had
died there about 6 weeks before my
arrival.
I found the Consulate nominally in
charge of a former clerk, merely
holding-on awaiting my arrival.45 I
arrived on a Saturday; rested from
my long voyage on Sunday, and on Monday
morning I took charge, and he
took leave.
I was consequently quite alone--"a
stranger and in a strange land"--
no one to induct me in the routine of
Consular service; no one to make me
known to any other one. I found there my
Commission and the English
Minister's exequator, forwarded
from London, and had arrived there be-
fore me. I called with these official
credentials on the Governor, and was
duly recognized in my official capacity.
Then I set to work. I examined the
records of the Consulate; and soon
picked up the methods used in discharge
of the duties. I at once commenced
studying the situation as to the
troubles to which Mr. Lincoln had re-
ferred, and which I had his instructions
to remedy. But I would make no
radical changes at once. I must find out
what was right before I went
ahead. I studied the situation for 3
months. By that time I had discovered
the cause of the troubles, and had
planned the remedy. And on the first
of January after my arrival I put the
machinery of my reform system in
operation, with explicit directions to
my clerks and official Chinese In-
terpreter as to modes of procedure.
As I had anticipated, it met at first
with some outcry and remonstrances
from merchant shippers, particularly
because it gave them and their clerks
so much more work. I persisted; and
explained to them how it would accrue
to their benefit, by obviating
custom-house seizures and confiscations of
cargo because of irregularities in
violation of our revenue laws. The out-
cry soon ceased, as the parties found
themselves obliged to conform; and
I had no more trouble.
By the first ship sailing with cargo to
an American port under my
234 OHIO HISTORY
revised system, I notified our
Government of what I had done, and why I
had done it; and notified Customs
Collectors also.
Many months must pass before I could
receive any word from Wash-
ington, on the other side of the
globe; and I waited with some anxiety.
Finally, I received an official dispatch
from Secretary Seward of the State
Department, by the European mail,
informing me that " at the request of
the Collector of Customs at San Francisco
to the Treasury Department, the
Treasury Department had requested the
State Department to present the
thanks of the Treasury Department to
Consul Allen at Hong Kong for his
complete organization of the Chinese
trade."
Such was the "red-tape
formula" for communicating that simple cir-
cumstance! Of course, I was not a little
gratified; and my anxiety was
relieved. Moreover, the rich Chinese
merchants, who had at first remon-
strated, now finding their cargoes all
pass our Custom Houses without
loss or friction, became my enthusiastic
friends and admirers. So much so,
indeed, that years after, when it was
announced that I would return home
the following month, many came to me
anxiously inquiring if I was to come
back to them after a visit home. And on
learning that I was not to return,
and fearing that it was because my
salary was not satisfactory, a Commit-
tee of 3 wealthy Chinese merchants came,
inquired the amount of my
salary, and then said the Chinese
merchants would double that salary and
pay it themselves, if I would come back
to them. And on being told that
it could not be, they had afterwards
prepared and presented to me a
"Memorial Tablet," in Chinese, written in golden letters, on a large
crimson
satin body with elaborate bordering--a very
beautiful thing--and express-
ing, handsomely, sentiments of most
sincere friendship and respect. I have
it now, and prize it highly.
And I may say here, that during all the
years of my Consular service,
I never had anything but words of
approval and commendation from our
Government at home.
While there I travelled much in China. I
aimed to study for myself,
the political system of that ancient
Empire, its civil institutions, its eco-
nomic conditions, its educational
methods, its industrial pursuits, its relig-
ious beliefs, and particularly the
philosophy and foundation of its very
peculiar language, oral and written. To this end, I went everywhere among
the people that interest or curiosity
might prompt,--to their farms, their
factories, their schools, their temples,
their markets, their commercial
houses, their banks, and even to their
theatres. And I take occasion to
say, that in all my goings among them in
cities and towns, multitudes of
people everywhere, mostly of those who
came to look upon me as a strange
curiosity that wore boots and a beard, I never
received an uncivil word nor
the least semblance of incivility.
In this manner I came to learn much that
our books on China do not
teach, and much that the writers either
did not know, or misunderstood. In
fact, after a residence of a year or two
in China, I found that I had not only
much to learn, but also much to unlearn
of what books had taught, er-
roneously; or which they had
misrepresented, ignorantly.
Certainly, there be many things of the
Chinese that we would con-
demn, there are also many things of them
and their ways that we would
REMINISCENCES OF ISAAC J. ALLEN 235
commend,--their industry, their economy,
their mechanical ingenuity and
products, their love of their children,
their reverence for age and parentage.
And of all the tens of thousands of
Chinese whom I have seen, I never saw
a drunken Chinaman!
Their educational system is not unlike
our own, in its organization of
graded schools--from the District School on up to the National University.
And it is rare indeed to find a Chinaman
however humble in life who is
not educated in the rudimentary branches
of reading, writing, and arith-
metic. But, unfortunately, this applies
only to boys, and does not reach the
girls to the same degree. Among the
Chinese Literati are many men of fine
education and of marked ability as
scholars and statesmen.
While there, I had our American
Declaration of Independence trans-
lated into Chinese character on white
silk. It attracted wide attention
among Chinese Literati, and many copies
were made and taken by them
for their private use. Probably,
therefore, I may have served as a kind of
political missionary to the Chinese people; though not at all anticipating
it!
I also, with the aid of my official
interpreter, Chue Ah-Sine, wrote out
a full phonographic copy of the
'Declaration' in our Script form, in order
to show as near as may be by our Romanic
letters the sounds of the Chinese
words as pronounced. A copy of the whole
work, in Chinese binding, is now
in the Mercantile Library of Cincinnati,
to which Institution I sent it from
China. I retain also a copy in Scroll
form at the present time. It is beautiful,
regarded simply as a work of Art.
During my Consular Service in China,
steamship connection between
America and China was organized. And I
deem it not amiss to record that
on the First Day of January, 1869, I
had the honor of receiving in my
official capacity, at Hong Kong, the first
vessel that ever crossed the Pacific
Ocean by steam:--the Pacific Mail
Steamship "Colorado"--one month
from
San Francisco,--And she bore the Starry
Flag of the United States of
America!
Well knowing the general propensity of
our British cousins to assert
claim of priority in every great marine
enterprise, I deemed it important
to make permanent record of this event.
Accordingly, I prepared, at the
time, a full report of the whole
matter--the name and ownership of the
vessel, the tonnage, her port of
registry, the names of the Captain and
other officers, the date of her
departure, the date of her arrival, amount
of coal consumed, etc.--and sent it by a
special despatch to the State De-
partment at Washington, where it remains
as a permanent record proof of
priority of American Enterprise in
Oceanic Steam Navigation.
On my homeward return I went to Japan.46
It was soon after the close
of their civil war of revolution as
between the Shogun and the Mikado. I
saw there the feudal Damios, some of
them still attended by their retainers.
The Shogun claimed imperial power by
virtue of his ecclesiastical head of
the Japanese religion, a kind of
domination as a Pope: the Mikado claimed
sovereignty by right of Imperial
descent. The Damios, as feudal chiefs of
the Nobility, were divided as partisans of the
different claimants, and made
war accordingly. The cause of the Mikado
triumphed. And from that per-
iod, on, Japan has made amazing progress
in civilization and in their sys-
tem of government.
236 OHIO HISTORY
It is a very beautiful country to travel
through, in every particular.
Like all Oriental countries, it has its
special peculiarities of manners and
customs; some pleasant, others otherwise.
Our homeward voyage from Japan to San
Francisco, across the Paci-
fic, was now by Steam; and the
whole way without seeing land! Otherwise
uneventful. My son, Arthur, returned
with me, now grown from boyhood
to youngmanhood. We had now crossed the
great ocean by steam, and from
San Francisco crossed the Great
Continent by Steam and by rail. Mr.
Lincoln's prophetic forecast of coming events
had now been realized; the
Civil War was long past, the country
re-united, prosperous, and at peace.
We arrived at home in winter: I had not seen
frost before for nigh
seven years!47 It seemed very chilly! I had telegraphed to my
wife of our
arrival at San Francisco. On reaching
home, I found the family in perfect
health, and eagerly expecting us. They
laughed at my darkness of com-
plexion: the passing years under a tropical sun had given me a
highly
fashionable "coat of tan"!
To my surprise, my little
schoolgirl daughter had grown into young-
womanhood during my absence! It seemed
incredible! But, there she stood,
tall, bright, and blooming; there could
be no mistake as to her identity!
Theodore was now home from the army: So,
now the whole family was
once more united, after separation of
years of time, and by the whole
diameter of the globe!--Safe from the
perils of the battle-field, and from
the dangers incident to sea and land.
I presume I am the only one of our Allen
family who ever trod soil on
the other side of the world. And
even now, when recalling the many years
spent there, it all seems more a vision
than a reality. Nevertheless, I found
that side of the world, in its physical
aspects, not materially unlike this
side of our planet. But, as to the
people, their appearance, their domestic
conditions, their personal habits and
special characteristics, the differences
are immense. At Hong Kong, which is a great commercial centre, I met
almost all the Asiatic races. Besides
the Chinese, these were the Japanese,
the Hindus, the Parsees, the Siamese,
the Malays, the Cingalese, the
Tonkinese, the Seihks [sic],--each
race or people wearing their native
costumes, and observing their own
special manners and customs. It was
an immense "object lesson" to
one of our Western World. And I was soon
convinced that there were among them all
the same human impulses, aims,
ambitions, motives, passions, feelings,
sentiments, desires, struggles, and
anxieties that prevail among us here: in
a word,--that mankind every-
where are exceedingly human!
During my career in Ohio I seem to have
attained some literary reputa-
tion; and by reason thereof I have, by
invitation, delivered addresses on
their 'Commencement' occasions in nearly
all Western Colleges and Univer-
sities:--in Ohio, at Kenyon College,
Gambier,--my Alma Mater: at Denni-
son [sic] University, Granville:
at University of Lake Erie, Willoughby:
at Starling Medical College, Columbus:
at Western Reserve College, Hud-
son: at Wesleyan University (twice), Delaware:
at Heidleberg [sic] Col-
lege, Tiffin: at Xenia University,
Yellow Springs: at Ohio Female College,
College Hill: at Farmers' College,
College Hill, Cincinnati: at DuPau [sic]
University, Greencastle, Indiana: at
Jefferson College, Washington, Penn-
REMINISCENCES OF ISAAC J. ALLEN 237
sylvania: at the Columbus Academy of
Science,--besides Lyceum and plat-
form addresses, very many.
Having come East to Reside, in 1889, I
received invitation of the Funk
& Wagnalls Publication Company, of
New York to take position as Special
Definer on the staff of the
"Standard Dictionary" work, which that House
was preparing for publication. To me was
assigned the editorial charge, as
specialist, of the Departments of Law
& the Medico-physical Sciences.
I continued on that work about four
years, until my Departments were
completed. During those 4 years I did
not miss a single working day from
my desk. It was a work of great
magnitude, and cost the publishers fully
one million of dollars; and has turned out to be profitable.
The Dictionary
has been accepted and approved as a Standard
by the great Universities of
both England and America, and has
received the sanction of the "National
Academy" of France. I have had the
gratification of seeing my Law defini-
tions cited and quoted as authority in
the Courts of several States.
Since that period of public service I
have lived in retirement, conscious
that my career was all behind me. I am
now living at Morristown; and in
view of Washington's Head Quarters in
the Revolutionary War, where our
grandfather, Job Allen II, served
in command of his Company in the Jersey
Line, 127 years ago.
The new era--the 20th Century--had come
to us. In the first year of that
century--1901, I suffered bereavement by
the death of both wife and only
daughter: Caradora died at Germantown,
Philadelphia, on June 15, 1901.
Four months afterwards, her mother died
at Morristown, November 19,
1901. They lie together in the Newark
Cemetery! The daughter had been
the idol of my parental love,--a
superior woman in all the relations of life.
The mother was the wife of my youth. For
more than 60 years we had
travelled in hand; lovers in the last of
those years as in the first. This
double bereavement left the world to
loneliness and me. And this loneliness
must needs continue till to me Time
shall be no longer!
Now, my dear Cousin, in concluding these
memoranda of our Allen
family, does it not seem a singular
coincidence of circumstances, that my
father lived to be sole survivor of his
father's family; I am sole survivor
of your father's family! And all
probabilities are that Theodore will be
sole survivor of my family!
And now to him, Theodore
Frelinghuysen Allen, as a member of the
Allen family, I may properly add a few words, inasmuch as he
too has made
his mark in the public service of his
country.
He was well educated at the College and
University of Cincinnati. He
was an accurate observer and a fine
writer. A Cincinnati Newspaper sent
him, at the outbreak of the Civil War,
down to the Potomac as a corre-
spondent. While there, he very
accurately took in the situation of affairs.
From there he wrote to me a very
sensible letter on the prospects of the
war: said it was going to be a long war:
that it must [be] fought out by
the young men of the country: that he
saw no reason why he should not
go, though he was then only 17: said, if
[I] thought he was fitted for any-
thing more than as a private in the
ranks, for me to speak to the Governor
about it.
238 OHIO HISTORY
I hesitated; considered his extreme
youth as to a soldier's service in the
field. I reflected; he was in vigorous
health, well developed by exercise and
athletic culture. I had accustomed him
in his boyhood and college vaca-
tions, to hunting, fishing, swimming,
and camping out in the woods; and
he was expert as a horseman.
Finally, after a day or two, I
concluded--'Yes; the boy is right; the
younger men of the country must see this
business through.'
In his letter he had said that he would
prefer the cavalry arm of the
service.
With his letter in hand, I went to the
Governor, with whom I happened
to be on familiar terms. I said to
him--"Governor, I have called on you
at various times on behalf of other
people; now I have come to ask some-
thing for myself." He
replied--"Well, just tell me what you want." I
handed him the letter. He read it;
commended it, and said--"Good boy!
Now tell me what you want." I
said--"You see he prefers the cavalry arm
of the service. He is well educated, has
good business capacity; and would,
I think, make you a first rate
Adjutant."
"The very thing I want!" said
he. And called out to Colonel Young, his
Military Secretary--"Colonel Young,
telegraph to Theodore Frelinghuysen
Allen, that he is appointed 1st
Lieutenant in the 7th Ohio Cavalry, and
assigned to duty as Adjutant."
The thing was done in 30 minutes.
Theodore immediately returned, joined
his regiment, under Colonel
Garrard, a personal friend of mine, and
commenced his military service.
In this he succeeded so well that when
Garrard was promoted to Brigadier
General, he kept Theodore with him as Assistant
Adjutant General on his
staff--and Theodore then not quite 19.
He continued in active service in the
field throughout the war. Was 44
times under fire in as many different engagements and general battles.
He
was three times promoted for gallantry
and good conduct on the field; and
finally, near the close of the war, he
was breveted as Colonel of Cavalry
in the United States Service,--and he
then but little past 21 years of age!48
Fortunately, he came through it all
without serious injury, though with
many narrow escapes. He endured fatigue,
and sometimes hunger; he
marched through storms, and camped out
in the snow; but his health re-
mained firm. On one occasion, an order in Adjutant's business sent
him
into the city; where at a hotel he slept
on a feather bed--and caught cold!
Such, in brief, was his career in the
army,--and one to do no discredit
to the soldierly name of Allen, from
his Great-Grandfather down.
And now, Lizzie dear, having told you
about all I know of us Allens, I
beg leave to subscribe myself--
Your affectionate cousin:
Isaac Jackson Allen
THE EDITOR: John Y. Simon is ex-
ecutive director and managing editor of
the Ulysses S. Grant Association and a
member of the department of history at
Southern Illinois University,
Carbondale.
REMINISCENCES
of Isaac Jackson Allen
edited by JOHN Y. SIMON
Isaac Jackson Allen, prominent in Ohio a
century ago, is now almost com-
pletely forgotten. Allen began his
public career in Mansfield as mayor and
judge of the court of common pleas. In
1853 he was the unsuccessful Whig
candidate for lieutenant governor. The
next year he became the president
of Farmers' College, located near
Cincinnati, and ultimately was that city's
superintendent of public instruction.
From July 1861 to late 1864 he edited
the Columbus Ohio State Journal. In
1865 Lincoln appointed him consul
at Hong Kong. After leaving Hong Kong in
1869 he entered a long period
of obscurity. For sixteen years he lived
at Avondale, a suburb of Cincin-
nati; in 1886, he moved to Morristown,
New Jersey, where he had been
born seventy-two years before. There he
lived into his ninety-third year,
dying in 1906.
In 1904, when approaching his ninetieth
birthday, Isaac Allen prepared
a manuscript for a cousin, Mrs.
Elizabeth Allen Nichols, which he called
"Memoranda Genealogical and
Biographical of the Allen Family." The first
quarter of the manuscript, headed
"Note," contains genealogical informa-
tion on the Allen family in New England
and New Jersey which is available
elsewhere and of no general interest.
The remainder, headed "Memoran-
dum," is Allen's autobiography, and
is printed below through the courtesy
of his descendants.1
Isaac Allen was descended from Scottish
Covenanters who settled in
Massachusetts Bay in the seventeenth
century. At the beginning of the
eighteenth century, Job Allen left
Vermont to settle at Danville, New
Jersey, where he established an iron
works. There the Allens lived until
1814, when Job Allen, III, a veteran of
the War of 1812, moved West with
his wife and nine children. Isaac, the
youngest, was six weeks old. Job
Allen and some neighbors had already
inspected Ohio; now the Allens and
nine other families packed children and
household goods in sturdy "Jersey
wagons" for the forty-five day
journey to Ohio. They settled near Freder-
icktown in Knox County, where ultimately
two townships came to be
known as the "Jersey
settlement."
Beyond what is contained in the
"Memorandum," little is known of the
first four decades of Isaac Allen's
life. By the early 1850's he began to seek
a reputation as an orator beyond
Mansfield. In the earliest of his printed
speeches, "The Relations of
Christianity to Civil Polity; Delivered Before
the Literary Societies of Western
Reserve College, July 9, 1851," he ob-
NOTES ARE ON PAGES 270-271