Abstract of obituary published in Evansville Press, 9 May 1957
MT. VERNON CIVIC LEADER ALLYN DIES
Mt. Vernon, Ind. (Special)
Abijah Allyn age 76-
one of leaders of move to build Wabash Memorial Bridge. Died at St. Mary's
Hospital,
Prominent real estate man and land owner
in Posey Co., IN.
Born in
Memberships: Hadi Temple Shrine
(Evansville), Mt. Vernon Masons and Elks, General Baptist Church, director of
Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce
Survivors: wife Emma B. (Wolfinger) Allyn, daughters Mrs. Lorel
Simpson and Miss Ruth Allyn; sons Louis and Otis B.
all of Mt. Vernon area. Half-sister Mrs. Walker Schwartz of
Carbondale, IL.
Funeral Saturday at
Abijah Allen, 75 whose driving energy and sound
sense of valued coupled with an optimistic outlook on all undertaking aligned
with progress and advancement in Mt. Vernon, Posey County and the Tri-State had
achieved in farming, finance and civic affairs, died at 10:20 o'clock late
night at St. Mary's Hospital in Evansville.
Mr. Allyn entered the hospital two weeks
ago last Monday from his home at
Few individuals had exerted great influence on the
The body is at short-Niehaus Funeral
Home in
Surviving are the wife, nee Emma Wolfinger,
whose marriage to Mr. Allyn took place 53 years ago
last October; two daughters, Mrs. Lorel Simpson, R.
R. 1, Mt. Vernon, and Miss Ruth E. Allyn, at home;
two sons, Louis E. Allyn, R. R. 2, farmer and
Attorney Otis B. Allyn, Mt. Vernon; six
grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Walker Schwartz, Carbondale, Ill. two
brothers are deceased.
The late deceased's business ventures were as varied as they were
successful. In the throes of the depression in the late 1920's and early
1930's he recuperated his finances by engaging in a widespread purchase and
sale of mules for farming operations -- and undertaking which remained through
the rest of his life as one of his most memorable
experiences. The return of normal times found him alert to the future of
agriculture and he added year after year to extensive agriculture interests.
From agriculture he branches into finance, service for many years as
secretary of the Posey county national Farm Loan Association affiliated with
the Federal Land Bank. Later, he became a farm loan agent of Prudential
Insurance Co., and as the years progressed he became a lender of money,
particularly for home ownership, in his own right.
His civic interests were equally as varied and successful. the was twice president of Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce
and a director for many years, a position he held at the time of his death.
He was a diligent member of the original
He was a member of the Mt. Vernon Board of School Trustees from
1952 to 1955 and served as president of the board for two years and secretary
for one year.
As president of Mt. Vernon Realty Co., he pioneered the opening of
local residential subdivisions which have in recent years transformed
He was one of the most devoted Masons in this locality affiliating
with Beulah lodge No. 578, Free & Accepted Masons, in early 1912 and later
become a member of Sunbeam chapter No 1, Order of Eastern Star; Mt. Vernon
chapter No. 73, Royal Arch Masons Mt. Vernon council, No. 91, Royal &
Select Mason's Evansville Scottish Rite Consistory of 32nd degree Masons; Hadi Shrine Temple of Evansville Posey county Shrine Club,
and Two Rivers Sword of Bunker Hill. At his passing, he held the offices
of king in Mt. Vernon R.A.M. chapter and conductor of council in Mt. Vernon R.
& S. M council. He had been a trustee of Beulah lodge without
interruption since 1947.
His religious affiliation was with
Long a leader in Republican politics he viewed as a crowning event
of his party service attendance of President Eisenhower first inauguration in
During World War II while his son, Attorney Allyn,
was in military service, he was busy in the affairs of American War Dads.
The deceased was a native of
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Originally submitted by Betty Sellers