The subject of this sketch is in a large and emphatic sense, a "self-made" man, and he is recognized as a prominent and distinguished citizen of this county, and is worthy of such recognition.
    Norman M. ALLEN was born in the town of Dayton, this county, December 24, 1828. His father, Luther and his mother, Huldah (BENEDICT) ALLEN, were natives of Onondaga County, N.Y., being born in the town of Fabius, from which place they emigrated in an early day to Cattaraugus County, and settled in the town of Dayton.
    He was left an orphan at an early age, his mother dying when he was but ten years of age, and his father when he was seventeen. He was thus thrown upon his own resources at this early age, and was without adventitious aid; but by the force of his own talents, aided by an indomitable energy, he has made for himself a successful career, and has become distinguished in the affairs of this county, district, and State.
    To his native talent, self-culture, and untiring energy, his success may be largely ascribed. His educational advantages were extremely limited, the merest rudiments of an English education being acquired by a few years' attendance in the common schools of his native town, prior to the death of his father, after which event he was compelled to commence the "battle of life" in earnest. His school days were ended at this early age, but not his hours of study. All the leisure moments he could find were, for many years, devoted to study, and he is still a hard student.
    For several years after his father's decease, he taught in common schools in his vicinity in the winter, and worked at farming in the summer. He continued this course until his health became impaired so much that for three years he was unable to perform active outdoor labor. This period of his life was given to hard study, and his success was more remarkable from the fact that he had the aid of no teacher in his pursuit of knowledge; his thirst for knowledge was his only inspiration. Although he cannot claim a scholastic training, yet by his own unaided efforts, he has achieved an intellectual culture of which many college graduates might be proud.
    At the age of nineteen in 1848, he married Huldah MERRILL, daughter of Heman and Amelia (HAWKINS) MERRILL. She is a native of Dayton, her parents having removed hither from Onondaga County, N.Y., and being among the pioneer settlers of the place.
    He was admitted to the practice of law in 1864 at Albany, N.Y. During ten years prior to his admission to practice, he had been a diligent student of all the law books he could purchase with his scanty means, or that he could obtain in his vicinity. And from the fact that he pursued his legal studies in this manner, in no office and without an instructor, his success seems the more remarkable.
    From the outset of his legal studies, he began to obtain employment in legal affairs, and became, almost at once, the legal adviser of his friends and townsmen, did much of their law business, drew writings, and tried causes for them in justice's court. His legal knowledge, business, and reputation continued to increase, until 1864, while serving his first term in the State Senate, he made the acquaintance of the Hon. Amasa J. PARKER, on whose motion he was admitted to practice as a lawyer in all the courts of this State.
    From the time of obtaining his majority until 1855, he was in politics a Democrat; but since that date he has been a Republican. He has held varied and important political offices in his town, county, senatorial district, and State, the duties of which have been discharged with rare fidelity and integrity. For nineteen successive years, he has been elected supervisor of his town (Dayton), during fifteen of which he has been the chairman of the Board of Supervisors of this county.
    In 1855, he was elected county superintendent of the poor upon the first Republican ticket nominated in the county, and held that office until 1857, when he resigned to accept the office of school commissioner, which office he held during the years 1858-60. His services in behalf of the common schools of this county, and his assistance and aid extended to teachers, are held today by many in kindly remembrance.
In 1861, he was appointed to the position of United States mail route agent, and held and discharge the duties of this position until February, 1863 when he resigned to accept the office of paymaster in the army, to which he had been appointed by President Lincoln, which station he only filled for a short time, resigning it to accept the office of assistant provost-marshal of the 31st Congressional District, which position he held up to the time of his first election to the Senate in the fall of 1863. In the election of that year, he was the candidate of the Republican party and was elected to the Senate over John C. DEVEREUX, Democrat, by 6,114 majority, being the largest majority received by any candidate of the Republican party in the district. Mr. Allen was again elected to the Senate in 1871, over Frank L. STOWELL, Democrat, by 4,276 majority. In the Senate of 1864 and 1865, he served upon the committee on literature and other important committees, and in the Senate of 1872 and 1873, upon the judiciary and other committees, and by virtue of his office as Senator was a member of the court of impeachment that tried and removed Judge BARNARD from office. In 1867, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, receiving all the votes in his own town, save one, of all parties. That convention was composed of one hundred and sixty delegates, many of whom were then or have since become distinguished in the nation, embracing such names of William M. EVARTS, William A. WHEELER, Francis KERNAN, Samuel J. TILDEN, Amasa J. PARKER, Horace GREELEY, George William CURTIS, etc.
    In the year 1866, Mr. ALLEN was appointed State Assessor, and held that position for four years. The duties of this office required him to visit all parts of the State in company with his two associates, and it is but justice to all of the members then constituting the board, to say that their equalization reports were accepted with less criticism and objection that the reports of that body have usually been received.
    In 1868 and again in 1876, he was one of the candidates for elector upon the Republican electoral ticket.
    During the years of the late war of the Rebellion, he did good loyal service in helping in the formation of regiments and in sustaining the cause of the country; and when the remains of the murdered President Lincoln were brought to Albany on their way to the great West, Mr. ALLEN was one of the pallbearers appointed by the Senate who attended the remains of the dead President during their stay at the capital of the State.
    Mr. Allen is esteemed by his neighbors and acquaintances as few men are, and in a way of which any man may well be proud. Some of the reasons for it seem to be found in the fact that he is courteous and obliging to all, kind and generous towards poor men, never oppressive, and charitable to all deserving charities.
    The family of Mr. Allen embraces four children: Mary A.F., now the wife of W.S. Thrasher, who is associated with him in legal copartnership; Kate C.D., the wife of W.W. BRAND of Dayton; Carlton W. ALLEN and Hoyt M. ALLEN, both being at home.
    We cannot better sum up the salient points of Mr. ALLEN's character than by quoting the words of one of his political opponents, Col. J.T. HENRY, as given in his recently-published "Recollections" in the Olean Record:
    "Mr. ALLEN is among the few representative men of this Senatorial district who have escaped sharp criticism and calumny in office. No suspicion of wrong has ever been breathed upon his record. He was ever conscientious, high-toned, faithful, and honest in all his public life and acts, and without a cloud or color as a private citizen. He was a member of the last Constitutional Convention,- Hon. George VAN CAMPEN of Olean, being his colleague,- where he attained distinction for his wise counsel and solid worth.
    .....He has administrative ability of a high order, and discharges all his public duties with faithfulness and rare intelligence. A man who has seen so much of public life, and escaped political slander and vituperation, is an exception to the almost universal rule. Mr. ALLEN has accomplished this in ample measure. He has not only been unassailed, but has so conducted himself in public as to be entirely unassailable. He is yet in middle life, in the enjoyment of excellent health, a large practice, and enough of this world's wealth to keep "the wolf from the door," and insure his declining years from care or anxiety on this account."

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Ralph Johnson and Mariah Johnson

GILE JOHNSON

    Gile JOHNSON, the fourth son of John and Althea WATKINS JOHNSON, was born in Stafford, Connecticut, in the year 1804, and soon after removed with his parents to Herkimer County, N.Y. When seven years of age, he, with his five brothers and a sister became orphaned by the death of his father. His mother unable to provide for so large a family with her limited means, found a home for him in the family of a Mr. GRISWOLD, a farmer of that county, with whom he lived until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1826, he came to Cattaraugus County, N.Y. and bought a farm, adjoining his brother Ralph's, in the town of Dayton which, like the entire surrounding county, was a dense forest, and which by his energy and industry, was soon cleared up and with an occasional addition of fifty or a hundred acres, occupied by him till his death, which took place December 7, 1872. Two years after purchasing his farm, he married Philena SALISBURY, daughter of Calvin SALSBURY of Herkimer County, N.Y., who died in 1839, leaving three little boys. He soon after married Milley, daughter of Calvin and Hannah RICH, of New Albion, who died in 1858, deeply lamented by her numerous friends and acquaintances, especially by her family, consisting of two sons and four daughters, besides the sons of her adoption, all who are now living, excepting his eldest son who died from disease contracted in the army. He afterwards married Rosalinda HUBBARD of Dayton who lived but a few months; and in 1860 he married his present surviving wife, Mrs. Sarah Ann BAILEY, daughter of Nathaniel HURD of Perrysburg, whose portrait is given elsewhere, who now lives on the old homestead, honored and respected by her husband's entire family. Her residence is soon in the engraving near where the subject of this sketch lived and died. Her son, by a former marriage, also makes his home there when off from duty, being a naval officer.
    In early life, he became connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Dayton of which he remained a faithful member through life, and had the satisfaction of seeing nearly all his family honored members of the same. Besides being a constant officer in the church, he also was twice elected to the office of supervisor, and often held other responsible offices in his town.
    Like most men who accumulations depend upon their own industry, he was prudent and economical; yet he would not on any account take advantage of the necessity of others.  At an early day, during a period of scarcity of wheat, many of his neighbors were suffering for want of it; and when it could be sold for several dollars per bushel, he would sell his wheat for one dollar per bushel, and would sell but a few bushels to each individual; and also during periods of scarcity of hay, when his neighbor's cattle were starving for want of it, and when it could be sold for a fabulous price, he would sell his hay for ten dollars per ton, and divide it among his neighbors, according to their necessity. He was conscientiously honest in all his dealings. In regard to his farm work, his motto was "drive your work, and not let your work drive you." In all business transaction, he was punctual and prompt to meet all contracts and engagements. He took a deep and lively interest in the welfare of his family, and was a kind and affectionate husband; and his example in life was in perfect harmony with his Christian profession.