1891 Portrait & Biographical Album
for Ingham & Livingston Counties, Michigan

EDMUND ALLCHIN.
The County of Kent, England, is the place of nativity of the gentleman whose portrait is shown on the opposite page and whose biography we here briefly record. More than three-quarters of a century have passed since he made his appearance in the world, his natal day being February 25,1816. He is a son of William and Mercy (Hawkins) Allchin, his parents both being natives of England. He was reared on a farm and received the rudiments of his education in the pay schools of his native land. He would not be worthy of the name of a progressive Englishman, however, had he not taken advantage of the desultory course of study that he enjoyed to make experimental discoveries for himself in literature and the sciences, and by his self-imposed curriculum has acquired a position which ranks him as an intelligent and well-read man.

In 1831 when our subject was sixteen years of age he with an elder brother, William, emigrated to America, taking passage at London in it sailing vessel and after an ocean voyage extending over seven weeks he landed in New York City, where he resided for a short time. From there he proceeded to Monroe County, N.Y., where he remained for a short period. In 1837 when the subject of the admission of Michigan as a State was being agitated, our subject came to Ingham County, locating first on section 33, Leroy Township. In order to penetrate to the land which they had taken up they were obliged to cut away the timber for a distance of six miles.

On reaching their tract our subject cleared fifty acres of land and there he built the first frame barn in Leroy Township. He resided upon this tract for six years, thence removing to White Oak Township where he staid for several years. In 1847 he settled on his present farm which is located on section 23, Leroy Township. At the time of his purchase about twenty acres had been improved and the balance he has cleared, broken and cultivated himself. On his advent into the country Indians and wolves were a more frequent sight than the face of a white man and occasionally a bear was seen. He is now the owner of eighty acres of fertile and productive land.

In 1835 Mr. Allchin was united in marriage to Miss Ann C. Angell, who bore him eleven children, six of whom are living; they are by name as follows: Elizabeth, Anan H., Levi S., Esther, Anna and Arloa. Elizabeth is the wife of James Monroe; Esther married Alpheus Bixby; Anna is the wife of William Marsh, Arloa married A. H. Libbie.

Mrs. Ann C. Allchin died in 1888. Our subject three years later was a second time married, his bride being Mrs. Mary C. Sowle, the widow of Eli L. Sowle, of Livingston County, Mich. Their nuptials were solemnized October 20, 1890. Mrs. Allchin is a native of Washington County, N.Y., and was born November 5, 1829. She was a daughter of William and Sarah Birch, natives of New York State. Mr. Allchin has served in a public capacity for a long time, having been School Director and Assessor of his school district, Highway Commissioner and also Justice of the Peace. He is one of the oldest active representatives of pioneer days in Leroy Township and can recall many incidents of pioneer adventure. He was formerly a Whig, but on the reconstruction of the party became a Republican. Now, however, he votes with the Prohibitionists.

Having passed his days in the hardest labor of pioneer life, Mr. Allchin is now enjoying the knowledge that his early efforts have given him a comfortable support for his declining years. He rests content in the knowledge of a life well spent. He has been a member of the Baptist Church for over half a century and was the prime mover and main supporter in the building of the First Baptist Church of Webberville, Ingham County.

Article donated by www.livgenmi.com

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Other Allchin Notables

|Douglas Allchin| |Dr.Bridget & Dr.F.R.Allchin|
|Revd.Maureen Allchin |
| Dr.James Allchin |

World Connections :..... Australia ...... Canada
The Alchins of New South Wales