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When I saw this old newspaper article on the Internet, I was captivated
by the author's simple eloquence and his vivid description of life on the Wisconsin frontier more than 150 years ago. I
wanted to know more about him. Very quickly, I was able to identify him in the US Census as Noah W. Allen. Shortly after,
I found a website devoted to the family history of Noah's wife Elizabeth. I corresponded with one of her descendants,
who lives in Northern Ireland. She got me in touch with one of Noah's great-great-great grandaughters. She lives
in Wisconsin. She and her husband had discovered the article several years ago. They were kind enough to send me
some information and several marvelous old photos of the Noah and his family.
After you read Noah's wonderful article, click on the link below to see
what I found out.
Letter from an Old Settler
I was born in Tinmouth, Vermont, on October 16th, 1827. At that time there
was not a rod of railroad in the United States, the first being built in 1828. When I was five years of age, my parents moved
to Wayne County, New York. On August 29, 1849, I was married to Elizabeth Playford, who died three years ago last September.
In the year 1850 we settled on the farm near Packwaukee, where I still reside.
There was not a tree touched by an axe up to that time. When we came to this
part of Wisconsin there were no shingles, and roofs were made of shocks. There were no horses, and money was a scarcity. In
winter, when we went visiting our neighbors, I would pull my wife and child on a hand sled.
At the time of my arrival, there were no railroads in Wisconsin, the first
being built ran from Milwaukee to Madison and the second from Milwaukee to Waupun. At present there are four generations living
on my farm, myself, Charles my son, Harry my grandson, and great grandsons, Elroy, Roy and Howard. I lost my eyesight completely
four years ago but still have a fair appetite. I will be 88 years of age next October and believe that I am the second oldest
man in the county.
N. W. Allen
-Oxford Times (Wisconsin), July 22, 1915
More about Noah Allen
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