James H. ALLEN, proprietor of the livery, feed and sale stable at Murfreesboro, Tenn., was born in Warren County, N.J., August 26, 1881, son of Obadiah A. and Elizabeth (Harris) ALLEN, both natives of New Jersey, where the father died and the mother still resides. James H. spent his early days on a farm in his native State where he acquired but a limited education such as was common of farmers’ children at that day. At the age of seventeen he left home and began learning the harness-maker’s trade which he mastered, and at which he worked in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Alabama and his native State, and on the 27th of March, 1857, he came to Murfreesboro, Tenn., and followed his trade until the breaking out of the war when he was employed by the Confederate Government in the quartermaster’s department, continuing until the battle of Stone River, when he was employed in the quartermaster’s department of the Federal Government and continued until the close of the war. In 1866 he engaged in his present business and has met with good and merited success. He controls a large share of the trade in town and county, and is also engaged extensively in the sale of horses and mules. February 2, 1860, he was married to Sarah E. LANE, a native of the county. To them were born four children, two of whom are living: Harris L., and Emmet C. Mr. ALLEN was a Whig as long as that party existed. Since the war he has been independent in his political views. He is a Mason and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
Source: History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson (Goodspeed, 1886).
