Napa County Biographies
John Allyn
John Allyn - Son of Mathew and Clara Merrill Allyn, of English descent, was born in
Litchfield County, Connecticut, August 29, 1820, and resided in his birthplace until he was
fourteen years of age. He then moved to Lorain County, Ohio; and at the age of twenty he
undertook to educate himself; and by teaching in the winter, and working at his mechanical
trade in the summer, he was enabled to enter Oberlin College, where he prosecuted his studies
for two years. He then spent the same period at a High School at Quincy, Illinois, and then
entered the Lane Theological Seminary at Cincinnati; and upon graduating from that institution he had the honor of delivering the
valedictory address of the class of 1846. After graduating, the subject of this sketch moved to Illinois,
locating in Carrollton, and there read law; was admitted to the bar, and practiced his profession until
1851. In July of the above year he sailed from New York, coming via, Panama, and arrived in San Francisco
August 30th of the same year. He then followed mining for some time, and again returned to the East,
and resided until the breaking out of the war, when he once more came to this coast, and was appointed
Superintendent of the Marine Hospital at Port Townsend, W. T., for one year; and in March, 1864, moved
to Oakland, and engaged in the real estate business. In May, 1870, Dr. Allyn moved to Napa County, and
in January, 1873, purchased his present delightful: home of six acres in the limits of St. Helena.
The Doctor was married in New Hampshire, June 2,1861, to Miss Sophronia Scott, a native of that place,
and has one surviving child, Charles H., now engaged in mercantile business in Ventura County in this State.
History of Napa and Lake Counties,: San Francisco, Cal.: Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers, 1881
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, February, 2007 Pages 369 - 370
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Last updated February 1, 2007