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Copied from [[Goodspeed's Northwestern Arkansas]], Biographical Appendix for Franklin County.

Prof. Frank J. Allen was born in Washington County, N. Y., February 28, 1834, and is a son of Amos and Mary (Fletcher) Allen, natives of the same county and State, where they were reared and married. In 1838 the family immigrated to La Salle County, Ill., where the father died in August, 1854. He was a farmer by occupation. The grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution, and lived to be ninety-seven years old.  Frank J. was reared in Illinois, and when eighteen years old entered Madison University, of New York State. After leaving school he began to teach, and has since devoted almost his entire time to that vocation. He first taught six years at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., and then about the same length of time in Illinois. In 1869 he came to Arkansas, locating in Franklin County, where he taught the first free school in Ozark. He subsequently taught in Logan County five years, but then returned to Franklin County, where he has since remained. He presided over the Ozark school four years, but since 1880 has been interested in farming in connection with his teaching. In 1856, while in New York, he was married to Mary D. Howe, a native of Vermont, where she received her education. This lady died in Logan County in 1875, leaving two children: Everett F., of Washington Territory, and Artie M. In 1876 Mr. Allen was married in Logan County to Ellen J. Sadler, a native of Arkansas, who was reared in Logan and Scott Counties. This union has been blessed with the following children: Victor V., Juanita M. and Chester L. While in Logan County Mr. Allen held the position of superintendent of the public school for two years. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and his wife belongs to the Methodist Church. Mr. Allen is also a Master Mason.