JOSEPH ALLSHOUSE, who resides at South Bend, Armstrong Co., Pa., was born in South Bend Oct. 5, 1838, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Fink) Allshouse and grandson of Henry Allshouse.
Henry Allshouse came to South Bend from Lehigh county, Pa., one hundred years ago, settling in what was then a wilderness. At that time there was no tillable land for many miles, and it required time and hard work to clear and cultivate the place on which he spent the remainder of his life.
Henry Allshouse, son of Henry, and father of Joseph Allshouse, was born in Armstrong county. He engaged in farming to some extent, but his main occupation was work at the carpenter�s trade and he constructed numerous houses and other buildings in his neighborhood. He lived to be an old man, his death occurring in 1906, he having survived his wife since 1864. She, too, was a native of Armstrong county. They were members of the Reformed Church. Thirteen children were born to them, seven of whom survive, Joseph being the fifth in order of birth.
Joseph Allshouse remained with his father until he was twenty-one years old, in the meanwhile attending school during the sinter sessions until his eighteenth year. Mr. Allshouse is a veteran of the Civil war, having served three years and eight months in that struggle, during which time he was almost constantly in danger. He was a member first of Company M, 2d Pa. Vol. Cav., joining the regiment at Kittanning and accompanying it to Warrensburg, Va. Among the important engagements in which he participated were: Sperryville, July 5, 1862; Madison, July 10, 1862; Cold Harbor, July 25, 1862, Bull Run, Aug. 30, 1862; Chantilly, Sept. 1, 1862; Thoroughfare Gap, October, 1862; Aldie, Nov. 2, 1862; Occoquan, Dec. 26, 1862; Gettysburg, July 3, 1863; Bristoe Station, Oct. 14, 1863; Mine Run, December, 1863. On Dec. 17, 1863, his first enlistment having expired, he reenlisted as a veteran, was promoted to bugler, and participated on the firing line in almost every battle that took place until his final discharge, including the engagements in the Wilderness, at White House Landing, Malvern Hill, Petersburg, Appomattox Court House, and the surrender of Lee. For three years after his return to Pennsylvania he worked out as a farmer. He now owns and eighty-acre farm in South Bend township, where he carries on general farming. He is one of the well known and highly respected residents of his section.
Mr. Allshouse was married, in Indiana county, Pa., to Anna Kier, who died in 1908. She was a daughter of James Kier, of South Bend township, and was the beloved mother of the following children: Rhetta, May A., Clara, James M., Mary Ida, Florence B., Frank M., Susan Pearl, Lulu and Eugenia. She was a member of the Reformed Church, to which Mr. Allshouse also belongs. Politically he is a Socialist.
Source: Page 697 Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J. H. Beers Co., 1914.
Transcribed September 1998 by Carl Waltenbaugh for the Armstrong County Beers Project.
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