William Allan

Born July 4, 1825

Berwickshire, Scotland                  

                                                              

SETTLED IN LIVINGSTON COUNTY ILLINOIS IN 1850

 

 ALLAN, William, retired farmer, Odell, Livingston County, Illinois.  This county and State owe much of their improvement and prosperity to the blood of the canny and progressive Scot.  Wherever the Scotchman goes he carries with him industry, thrift, a reverence for holy things and a lively interest in education, which makes him a useful citizen and gives him standing in any community with which his lot may be cast.  He is always sanely and conservatively patriotic, too, and his influence is for that which really stands for the advancement of the best interests of the commonwealth.

 

 The well known citizen whose name is above was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, July 4, 1825, and it is not impossible that, with or without his knowledge, the date of his birth suggested the advantage that he might derive from becoming an American citizen.  His parents were John and Isabella (Hood) Allan, both natives of Scotland and descendants in a long line of Scots whose names are known in the local history of the Land of the Thistle.  He came to the United States in 1850, and settled in Esmen Township, Livingston County, Ill., about two years later, having tarried for a time in Kendall County, Ill.  He had been educated in the public schools in his native land and had from early in his life given attention to farming.  It was but natural that he should have noted the promise of the rich prairie land of Illinois.

 

He was not long in acquiring a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Esmen Township.  Later he made a home near Odell and for the past fourteen years has been a resident of that village, and for the last four years has been living in retirement from active life.  For many years he gave attention to general farming and stock raising.  On his home farm are noteworthy improvements made by him since the place came into his ownership.

 

In 1855, Mr. Allan married Miss Ellen Emrie, a native of Scotland and daughter of William and Agnes (Kinghorn) Emrie, and who came to America with her father and his family, settling in Illinois where William Emrie died many years ago, his wife following him January 3, 1902.  To William and Ellen (Emrie) Allan have been born eight children:  John H., William J., Andrew T., David J., Agnes K., Charles S., Edward D.,  and George B..  The last mentioned died at the age of eleven years.

 

William Allan also wrote poetry:

 

 "Oh, Mamma, Mamma, come and see,                   

 Who now is here and holding me,

 The nicest man I ever saw,

 This surely must be my grandpa."

 

 "His hair's as white as driven sna'

 His beard's the longest ere I saw.

 He says I am his little pet

 He is a stunner, don't forget."

 

 "Now, Mamma, who can this man be?

 Did you one like him ever see?

 A man like him I never saw

 And yet he looks some like my Pa."

 

 "I can't think who this man can be

 Who speaks so kindly unto me

 He holds me kindly to his heart

 As if I were of it a part."

 

 "He says it fills his heart with joy

 To see me such a sturdy boy

 By all the powers staid or fickle

 This is Grandpa, I'll bet a nickel."

 

 Does Andy want to take this bait?

 Speak quickly ere it is too late.

 Well, I will speak to clear the plight,

 I'll bet a nickel Willie's right.

 --Grandpa