#31 William Allen

William Allen

Born: December 1803
Died: July 11, 1879
Political Party: Democrat
Term of Office: January 12, 1874 - January 10, 1876
Buried: Grandview Cemetery Chillicothe, Ohio
No. 26 of 56


    William Allen was born in North Carolina in 1803. He was orphaned at a very young age and was taken in by his half sister and her husband Reverend Pleasant Thurman. He moved to Chillicothe, Ohio in 1819 to be close to his sister's family. After 3 years of studying law, he was admitted to the Ohio bar at the age of 21. As a lawyer he gained a reputation for his speaking a debating skills.

   In 1832, William Allen became the Democratic parties candidate for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. His opponent was outgoing Governor of Ohio Duncan McArthur. Allen beat McArthur in a tight race. Allen eventually married McArthur's daughter. After 1-2 year term in congress, Allen lost reelection and returned to his law practice in Chillicothe.

   In 1837, Allen was chosen to be a U.S. Senator. He served 2- 6 year terms in the Senate before losing reelection to a 3rd term in 1849. In the Senate, Allen became an ally of President James K. Polk and his western expansion efforts. Some credit him for coining the term "Fifty fore forty for fight". This was the slogan for people who wanted to annex the entire Oregon Territory. And the northern border of the Oregon Territory was the 54 degrees 40 minutes latitude line.

   At the 1848 Democratic national convention, the front runners for the Presidential nomination were former President Martin Van Buren and former Secretary of War Lewis Cass. Many encouraged Allen to run as a compromise candidate, but he refused. Instead he put his support behind Cass, who then secured the nomination, but lost in the general election to Zachary Taylor. After his second term as Senator was over, Allen returned to his "Fruit Hill" farm that he had inherited from his father in law Duncan McArthur, seemingly retired from politics.


     By 1873, the corruption of the Grant administration left a good possibility for a Democrat to win the Ohio Governorship.  William Allen's nephew (sister's son), then U. S. Senator Allen G. Thurman suggested that his Uncle become the nominee. Allen won the election against incumbent Governor Edward M. Noyes. He was a strong Governor, cutting taxes and at times settling labor disputes by calling in the state militia. Ultimately, it was his support of green back (money with no gold or silver backing it) that lost him public support. He lost his re election in 1875 to former Governor and future President Rutherford B. Hayes.

    His nephew Allen Thurman would become President Grover Cleveland's VP running mate in his failed re election bid in 1888.

  Allen died at his Fruit Hill home in Chillicothe in 1879. 

  After picking up a couple Ohio Governors buried out of state on one of my President sites trips in March 2012, I didn't get around to gravehunting for Ohio Governors for several months. Finally an opportunity presented itself in October 2012 when my sister in law, who lives in southern Ohio was having a baby shower. She lives about an hour away from Chillicothe. So I dropped off my wife and daughter Khloe at the shower, while my son Nicky and I headed to Chillicothe. It was a beautiful fall day at the peak of fall foliage. In Chillicothe is Grandview Cemetery final resting place of 4 of Ohio's earlier Governors. Of the 4, 2 are brother in laws (Edward Tiffin and Thomas Worthington) and 2 are father - son in laws (Duncan McArthur and William Allen).

    Now I already knew the Tiffin - Worthington connection, but did not know that McArthur and Allen were in laws. But when I finally stumbled upon Allens grave, and immediately found McArthur right next to him. I figured there had to be some sort of family connection. In Cincinnati's Spring Grove Cemetery, there are a couple of Governors who happen to be 20 or 30 feet away from each other. These 2 have them beat considering that their individual headstones are less then 5 ft. apart.

Fruit Hill in Chillicothe, Ohio was William Allens home that he inherited from his father in law Duncan McArthur

Governor Allen

Notice the close proximity between Governor Allen on the left and Governor McArthur on the right. The flag markes McArthurs individual gravesite and 2 small stones over in Allen.

Governor Allen and me