Sixth Generation

411. Rev. Allen Skillman was born on 1 February 1814 in Highland Co., OH. He was living before 5 May 1870 at a farm near in Peru, Miami, IN. He died on 5 May 1870 at the age of 56 in Peru, Miami, IN. Peru Republican, 13 May 1870, p. 3, c. 2

Rev. Allen Skillman was born in Highland county, Ohio, February 1st, 1814, but came to the state of Indiana in early life. When about 17 years of age he united with the M. E. Church as a seeker of religion, but was not converted until the 22nd year of his age, on the 14th of August, 1835. Soon after his conversion he felt it to be his duty to give himself to the work of the ministry, which he did, and in the autumn of 1840 he was received in the Indiana Conference.
He graduated regularly to Deacon's and Elder's orders, sustaining each year a good examination before the Conference. For nine years, and up to the fall of 1842, in different fields of labor he sustained the work very creditably to himself and acceptably to the people; but his health failed, and his disease being of a bronchial character, he felt compelled to retire from the regular work of the ministry, and in the fall of 1849 he was located by his own request. Since that time he has lived on his little farm near this city, and has supported his family by the toil of his own hands. He has, however, continued to preach as a local minister, very acceptably to the people in many places, and has in this way given as much time to the work as the condition of his health and circumstances would permit, during which time he has filled, for a time, the office of County Commissioner acceptably to the people.
Mr. Skillman was a good citizen, an honest man, pious and conscientious in all the acts of his life. He leaves a wife and five children three sons and two daughters to mourn the loss of a true husband and a good and kind father, and the Church, too, has lost a valuable and much esteemed member and minister. For several months past Mr. S. had not been able to speak in audible tone, on account of an affection of the throat and speaking. organs.
On the 5th inst. he closed, most peacefully his earthly pilgrimage, and on the 6th was borne to his silent resting place to await the resurrection of the just and the recognition of loved ones on the better shore.

C. W. MILLER.
Peru, May 10, 1870

NOTE: Skillman Chapel on SR 19 north of Peru is named after him.

Allen was a Methodist Episcopal Minister in Miami, IN. His SOA Number is 35 iv. He was buried at Courter Cemetery in Jefferson, Miami, IN. From SOA:
...went to Miami Co., Ind., 1840...

Obituary courtesy of Ancestry.com - Miami Board:

Allen Skillman-obituary-Peru Republican, 13May 1870, p. 3, c. 2
Death of Allen Skillman
Rev. Allen Skillman was born in Highland county, Ohio, February 1st, 1814, but came to the state of Indiana in early life. When about 17 years of age he united with the M. E. Church as a seeker of religion, but was not converted until the 22nd year of his age, on the 14th of August, 1835. Soon after his conversion he felt it to be his duty to give himself to the work of the ministry, which he did, and in the autumn of 1840 he was received in the Indiana Conference.
He graduated regularly to Deacon's and Elder's orders, sustaining each year a good examination before the Conference. For nine years, and up to the fall of 1842, in different fields of labor he sustained the work very creditably to himself and acceptably to the people; but his health failed, and his disease being of a bronchial character, he felt compelled to retire from the regular work of the ministry, and in the fall of 1849 he was located by his own request. Since that time he has lived on his little farm near this city, and has supported his family by the toil of his own hands. He has, however, continued to preach as a local minister, very acceptably to the people in many places, and has in this way given as much time to the work as the condition of his health and circumstances would permit, during which time he has filled, for a time, the office of County Commissioner acceptably to the people.
Mr. Skillman was a good citizen, an honest man, pious and conscientious in all the acts of his life. He leaves a wife and five children, three sons and two daughters, to mourn the loss of a true husband and a good and kind father, and the Church, too, has lost a valuable and much esteemed member and minister. For several months past Mr. S. had not been able to speak in audible tone, on account of an affection of the throat and speaking. organs.
On the 5th inst. he closed, most peacefully his earthly pilgrimage, and on the 6th was borne to his silent resting place to await the resurrection of the just and the recognition of loved ones on the better shore.
C. W. MILLER.
Peru, May 10, 1870
NOTE: Skillman Chapel on SR 19 north of Peru is named after him.

Rev. Allen Skillman and Louisa A. Spiece were married on 6 October 1848 in Campbell Co., VA. They appeared in the census in 1860 in Jefferson, Miami, IN. Louisa A. Spiece, daughter of George Washington Spiece and Sara/Sarah Unknown, was born on 4 September 1828 in Virginia. She appeared in the census in 1870 in Jefferson, Miami, IN. She died catarrhal bronchitis on 8 December 1897 at the age of 69 in Coal City, IN. Louisa was buried on 10 December 1897 at Courter Cemetery in Jefferson, Miami, IN. Obit: Miami Co., Sentinel, 18 Dec 1897, p. 4, c. 2

Rev. Allen Skillman-1157 and Louisa A. Spiece-10977 had the following children:

+1278	i.	Nancy E. Skillman-10978.
1279	ii.	Edward Skillman was born on 12 August 1850 in Indiana. He appeared in the census in 1870 in Jefferson, Miami, IN. He died from accidental shooting by brother, Allen on 12 September 1871 at the age of 21. Obituary posted on Ancestry.Com board: DISTRESSING ACCIDENT A Young Man Shot by his Brother On Saturday night Edward Skillman was shot and fatally injured by his brother Allen, at their home about three miles north-east of this city. The particulars of the sad event, as related to us by Dr. Ward are as follows: Allen Skillman, aged 14, was at home with his mother who is a widow. He had been out rather late in the evening attending to the stock and came to his room, probably after 9 o'clock. There is an outside entrance to his room and he opened the door and went in without passing through the other part of the house. Feeling around in the dark his hand came in contact with a man's arm. This frightened him a little, as he knew that his two elder brothers had gone to Peru and there should be no other men in the house. He exited out and inquired who was there. Receiving no answer he went into his mother's room, gave the alarm and the two sallied out to look for the supposed burglar, Allen taking from his room the squirrel rifle, which was loaded. Both thought they heard retreating foot steps. They went and locked the smoke house and were about ready to return into the house, when Allen cocked his gun and said he would fire it into the air and frighten the burglar if he should still be lurking around. Just at this moment his brother Edward, who had returned and put his horse in the barn, came near enough to discover that something unusual was going on. He had probably heard some of the talk between his mother and Allen, and not suspecting that the latter had his gun, resolved to frighten them still more. He climbed over the fence to avoid the noise of the gate and lay down in the yard within a few feet of the place where they stood. It. was dark. Suddenly he jumped up and screamed "booh." Foolish, fatal blunder! It was at the very instant his little brother had raised the gun to fire. Of course the little fellow was terribly frightened; he brought the gun down involuntarily, and pulled the trigger unconsciously. The deadly bullet did its fatal work, passing through Edward's right lung and lodging in the back. Drs. Ward & Higgines were called; they probed the wound, which bled freely, and did all they could for the unfortunate sufferer; but all was in vain. He was at first unconscious, but afterwards rallied and retained his perfect consciousness till the last moments. He died Sunday evening. The deceased was a noble young man, fine-looking and intelligent; he was a few weeks past 21 years of age. No blame can attach to the one who did the shooting, but he is greatly grieved by the sad calamity. Edward was buried at Courter Cemetery in Jefferson, Miami, IN.
+1280	iii.	Charles Skillman-10980.
+1281	iv.	Allen Skillman Jr.-10981.
+1282	v.	Louisa Ann "Louise" Skillman-7428.
1283	vi.	Martha Skillman was born (date unknown). There is no Martha in 1860, 1870 or 1880 U.S. Census. Source of her is unknown.