Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 5th ed., 1887,
Franklin Co.

GEN. R.T.P. ALLEN was born in Baltimore County, Md., September 26, 1813,
and is a son or Richard and Sarah (Hughes) Allen, both of Ireland.  Gen.
Allen graduated at the military academy at West Point in 1834; went into
the Third Artillery, but served with the topographical engineers one year,
until the Florida war; served as lieutenant of artillery in Gen. Scott's
campaign against the Seminoles, when he resigned to go as a civil engineer
in the government service, building harbors on Lake Erie, where he was
engaged until the fall of 1838.  He then resigned and became professor of
the chair of mathematics and civil engineering in Alleghany College, at
Meadville, Penn., where he remained until 1841, when he was appointed to
the same chair of Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky., which he
remained until 1845.  In the fall of that year he established the Kentucky
Military Institute, continuing until 1849 as superintendent, when he was
appointed by President Taylor to take charge of the postoffice department
of California and Oregon, which duty he performed until 1851.  He then
resigned and came back to Kentucky, to Franklin County, and resumed the
position of superintendent of the Kentucky Military Institute, which he
retained until 1854; then resigned and went to Cleveland, Ohio, and engaged
until 1857 in general business, but principally in the coal business.  In
1857 he went to Texas and established the Bastrop Military Institute;
continued as superintendent of the school until the late war, when he
closed the school and raised a regiment for the Confederate Army and went
into the field in 1862.  He remained two years and was then appointed to
take charge of the prison camp near Tyler, Tex., where he remained one
year; then resigned and took charge of the school in Texas again and
remained until 1866; resigned and came to Franklin County, Ky., and resumed
charge of the Kentucky Military Institute and continued as superintendent
until 1874.  Then his son, Col. Robert D. Allen, became superintendent, and
the General became professor of the chair of mathematics, and continued
until 1877, when he resigned and moved to Florida.  There he engaged in
orange culture until 1884, but in the meantime, from 1877 to 1884, was
engaged in steamboat transportation between Lakes Tohopokaliga and
Ocheechobee, Florida.  In 1884 he returned to the Kentucky Military
Institute and became professor of natural science, and still holds that
position.  His son, Col. Robert D. Allen, is the superintendent, and John
T. Gray the business manager.  Gen. Allen was married July 8, 1834, to
Julia A. Dickinson, of Nashville, Tenn., daughter of Jacob T. and Patsy
(Bond) Dickinson, and great-granddaughter of Fell, who once owned the
eastern part of Baltimore, Md.  Two children blessed this union: Robert D.
Allen, whose first wife was Miss Laura Sims, of Texas, by whom he had four
children, of whom one only survives.  Miss Minnie Green, of Louisville,
Ky., is his second wife.  Maj. Robert Sims Allen, the only surviving child,
is now commandant of cadets at the Kentucky Military Institute.  John
Howard Allen is the general's second son, and is now practicing law in
Orlando, Fla.  He married Miss Sallie Bell, of Texas, and has five
children: Howard J., Jay Cooke, Walter, Mary B. and Percy.  Mrs. Sallie B.
Allen died in 1886.  Gen. Allen and wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South, and he has been an elder for a number of years. He
is also a Knight Templar.  The secret of Gen. Allen's success in both
public and private life rests in his stanch adherence to principle, his
energy, his accuracy and a thorough performance of every duty.  He is
modest with regard to himself, unselfish and thoroughly amiable in
disposition.

Allen Hughes Gray Bond Fell Sims Green Bell Dickinson
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Lexington-Fayette-KY Louisville-Jefferson-KY Baltimore-MD
Cleveland-Cuyhoga-OH Nashville-Davidson-TN PA CA OR TX FL Ireland

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/franklin/allen.rtp.txt