Pvt. Archibald Allen

Archibald Allen was one of the twelve soldiers born in Franklin County who were freedmen in Ohio before the Civil War. Their families may have been free in Virginia, and migrated, or they may have escaped enslavement. Their migration to Ohio may have been part of a broader movement of freed African Americans encouraged by legal and social conditions to leave the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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In 1860 census records, Archibald Allen was 28 and listed as the head of the household in Truro, Ohio– likely Truro Township or Reynoldsburg, near Columbus. He was working as a laborer and living with three of his younger siblings: Henry (20), William (16), and Simon (12). All three attended school that year. Though Archibald was born in Franklin County, Virginia, these siblings were born in Ohio, suggesting their father Silas had moved the family north while Archibald was still young. There is some evidence that Silas may have owned land in the area.

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Private Archibald Allen enlisted in the Union Army on February 14, 1865, in Columbus, Ohio. He was described as 33 years-old, 5’4” tall, with black complexion, black hair, and black eyes. He was single, working as a farmer. On his Declaration of Recruit, the standard enlistment term of three years was marked out and annotated to denote his specified term of one year. At the time of his enlistment, he could not read, and his signature was expressed by a mark.

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He served with the 5th United States Colored Heavy Artillery, Company F, which was originally designated as the 4th Heavy Artillery on March 11, 1864, and later redesignated on April 26, 1864, in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He performed garrison duty in Vicksburg for the duration of his service. His regiment experienced significant losses; four officers and 821 enlisted men died from the time of its organization until the end of the war. Allen was honorably discharged at the expiration of his service term on February 13, 1866, in Vicksburg.

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After the war, Archibald returned to Ohio and married Eliza Jimpsin on September 23, 1873, in Lucas County. At some point before the 1880 census, it can be assumed that Eliza passed away and Archibald married Elsie King. In 1900, Archibald was living in Toledo, Ohio, with his wife of 25 years, Elsie, aged 50, and son Harrison, aged 15. Archibald died in August 1901 and was buried in Forest Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio, in Section M, Lot 235, Grave 2, beside his first wife Eliza. Ultimately, Elsie would join them.

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Though twice married, census records for Harrison Allen indicated that he resided in Columbus, OH, and had no children. His wives were Georgia E. Bill from Detroit Michigan (1910) and Carrie Allen (1930). His death certificate noted that he was a widower and named his father as Archie Allen. Harrison Allen was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.

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Contributors: Olivia Adkins, James Wood, Sheila Arnold, Toni Smith, Cathie Cummins and Joyce Staples