Allenensworth California

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Colonel AllensworthAllen Allensworth was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 7, 1842. He was one of several children born to Phyllis and Levi Allensworth, who were slaves of the Starbird family. He was named after Bishop Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, as his parents were devout Christians.Instinctively knowing the value of education, his mother encouraged him to “play school” with little “Marse Tommy” the young son of the Starbird family, so Allen could learn to read and write.“Marse Tommy” was discovered “playing school” with young Allen by his mother “Miss Bett”, and was warned to stop.After several warnings, when they were found “playing school”, Allen was given to a business associate of the Starbird family, the Talbots.This appeared to be the answer to his mother’s prayer. The mother of Master Talbot was a Quaker woman who showed special interest in young Allen. She bought him clothing, gave him lessons in reading and writing and sent him to St. Paul P.E. Church which held Sunday School classes for slave children.When his former mistress, “Miss Bett”, heard about his continued education, she persuaded Mrs. Talbot to send Allen away to a “proper” plantation owned by Mr. Starbird’s partner, John J. Smith, where young Allen would be taught how to fill his roll and duties as a slave.In 1854, at the age of twelve, he was sent to live on the Smith Plantation in Henderson County At his new home, he was watched very closely and was severely beaten whenever he was caught reading.The first time Allen attempted to run away was in 1855. His owners said that anyone who found him should sell him to the first trader they crossed, so he was sold to Marin Hancock who then sold him to Fred Scruggs as a jockey for his race horses.Though Allen attempted to reach Canada three times to gain his freedom, it didn’t come until he joined the US Army where he served honorably in the hospital corp.He then served in the US Navy from 1863 to 1867 where he distinguished himself as a petty officer, first class.Upon leaving the Navy, he started two restaurants with his brother William Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. The restaurants were so successful that they were soon sold for a good profit.After working as a cook, and being employed at an iron company, he began attending the Normal School for freedmen. During that time he received his calling to enter into Christian ministry. He joined and was later ordained by the Fifth Street Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky.He distinguished himself throughout his career as a dedicated, diligent pastor and an inspired religious and civic teacher of fine moral character.On September 20, 1877, he married his betrothed, Josephine Leavell, and they lived in her hometown of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Mrs. Allensworth was a school teacher and an accomplished musician.His book “The Battle of Life, and How to Fight It” and his lecture on “The Five Manly Virtues” gave him national notoriety, and he became a popular lecturer.As active in politics as he was in his faith, he was elected to represent the Third Congressional District to the Republican National Convention at Chicago in 1884. There he was elected by the Republican State Convention to the Republican Electoral ticket as an at large representative.While serving as pastor of the Union Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Rev. Allen Allensworth began serving in the US Army as Chaplain of the 24th Infantry on April 30, 1886 by Presidential appointment. He became the first African American Chaplain in the US Army, and with this appointment he also became a Buffalo Soldier.On April 7, 1906, after twenty years of active service, Major Chaplain Allensworth retired from the US Army with the rank of Lt. Colonel which was granted by special Presidential order. This order made him the highest ranking African American in the US Army in his day.In 1908, Colonel Allensworth and Professor William Payne bought and incorporated a township they named the California Colony and Home Promotion Association, and founded the town of Allensworth. The town was governed by the Allensworth Progressive Association. The town flourished and bustled with industry until his untimely death on September 15, 1914.After his death, the town began to languish, but with the persistence of its citizens, Allensworth was made a State Historic Park in 1976.Today, the town of Allensworth is committed to fully realizing the Colonel’s vision of being a thriving, prosperous, self-sustaining community.