Obituary for Susan Allen 13 May 1935

              DEATH CALLS 
SUSAN ALLEN


Prominent Colored
Woman, Active for
Years, Dies Sunday

   Mrs. Susan Allen, the oldest col-
ored resident of the city and widow
of the late John R. Allen, died at
the family home, 1412 Mulberry
street, at 1:30 Sunday morning fol-
lowing an illness of a year's dura-
tion.
   Susan Elizabeth Cannon, the only
daughter of James and Clarissa
Richardson Cannon, was born in
Galesburg May 26, 1859, near West
Main street on North Academy. At
the age of six her parents moved to 
Monmouth, where she received her
education in the public schols and
old Monmouth Academy. She was
educated for missionary work in the
United Presbyterian church.
   Mrs. Allen was the granddaughter
of Thomas and Susan Richardson, 
who came from Warren county, 
Kentucky, with nine children by 
way of the "underground railroad" 
and settled in this city with its early
history. They were cared for by
the Ferris family, parents of the 
late Mrs. Ella Ferris Arnold. 
   She was married to John R. Allen
in this city over 55 years ago, and
he died in 1933. To this union twen-
ty children were born, only seven of
whom survive. They are Mrs. Ethel
Dawson of Roc  Island, Alfonso L.
Allen of Cincinnati, O., Mrs. Eva Sol-
omon, Mrs. Margherita Fleming, 
Mrs. Susan Rodgers, Miss Glaze and
Harold Allen, all of Galesburg. Also 
surviving is a brother, George Can-
non, and a beloved daughter-in-law, 
Mrs. Bertha Green Allen, both of
Galesburg. There are five grand-
children, Ila Rodgers Allen, An-
drew, Jr., Violet and Harold Flem-
ing, and nine step-grandchildren.
      In Many Groups.
   Mrs. Allen's grandmother was one
of the organizers of Allen Chapel A.
M. E. church, in which Mrs. Allen
was christened at an early age, and
has been active throughout her life.
She has served as trustee, steward, 
stewardess and president of the
Christian Endeavor. She was also
past matron of Patron chapel No.
18. O. E. S., a member of the Wom-
an's Progressive club, Autumn Leaf
and Missionary society, and for the 
past four years has been chairman
of the committee for the colored
beach at Lake Storey. She was also
a member of the Illinois Association
of Colored Women's clubs, and Cen-
tral District Association of Colored
Women's clubs, in which she has
held a number of elective and ap-
pointive offices.
   She was a staunch supporter and
worker in the Republican party, 
and as a fluent speaker, campaigned
over the state in behalf of various
Republican candidates. At the time
of her death she was president-at-
large of the Illinois Colored Wom-
en's Republican club. She was also
an ardent worker for the cause of
temperance. 
   Mrs. Allen has always worked 
faithfully, not only for herself but
for the betterment and upbuilding
of her race as a while, having tak-
en great pride in assisting Prof. 
J. H. Atwood of Knox College in 
gathering data for the colored his-
tory of Knox county, which is to
be written for the 100th anniversay
of Knox college. She spent some 
time in working with the state par-
don and parole board in the releas-
ing of a number of worthy colored
prisoners, having been insturmental
in releasing Tucker Ballard, who
had served 33 years in Joliet prison.
   Her last activities for her church
consisted in completing the new
parsonage on West Tompkins street.
Mrs. Allen was a devoted mother
and grandmother. All of her fam-
ily were at her bedside at her death.
She had the respect of all the citi-
zens and her neighborhood where
she had reside over 55 years.
   Funeral services will be held at
1:30 Wednesday afternoon from the 
home, followed by rites at 2 o'clock
from Allen Chapel, A. M. E. church
with the O. E. S. in charge. Friends
may call at the home, 1412 Mulberry, 
Tuesday evening.