Silas D. Allen was born in Vermont May 22, 1801. When yet a small child his parents, Whiting and Mehitable Allen, came to Ohio and settled in Fairfield County, where he passed his minority days on a farm. When he arrived at the age of eighteen years, or in 1819, he began working at the wheelwright and chair-making trades, which he followed about five years. He then turned his attention-to contracting and building, which he followed until in 1832, when he turned his attention to clearing land and farming, which he conducted with success until his death.
In 1824 he married Miss Elizabeth George, then of Fairfield County, who died in the autumn of 1828, leaving him with two small children without the maternal care, viz., Philemon B.and Elizabeth.
In 1831 he married Miss Phebe A. Fridley, of Pickaway County, Ohio. Soon after his second marriage, he came to Shelby County, entered the east half of the northwest quarter of section 25, and the east half of the southwest quarter of section 24, Dinsmore Township.
In 1832 he moved his family to this county, made improvements and settled on his land in section 25, where he passed the remainder of his days.
He died in June, 1850. His wife died in March, 1861. They reared a family of five chil- dren, viz., John S., George S., Oscar D., IsaacC, and Benjamin. George S. died February, 1861. Oscar D. and Isaac C. served in the war of 1861. Mr. Allen's father served about eighteen months in the war of 1812.
