The biographical encyclopœdia of Ohio of the nineteenth century:

20.IOJRAPHICAL
iRUDEN, I-ION. ANDREW J., Lawyer, was born,
cq |l January I9th, iSI8, in Cincinnati, and was the
fifth of seven children, whose parents were Ebe inezer and Mary Pruden, the maiden name of the
latter having been Leonard. Both the latter were
natives of Morristown, New Jersey, and went to
reside in Cincinnati in I8So8. In those early times there
were lno rapid modes of transit, and they only reached the
city of their subsequent residence by lumbering coach and
slow flat-boat. Ebenezer Pruden followed through life t he
occupation of a brick-mason, and became a master mechanic
of no inconsiderable reputation. Some of the finest private
and public buildings ill Cincinnati are adoined by the specimens of his skill and ingenuity. He died in I863, at the
age of eighty-seven years, just two years after the decease
of his partner, who had reached the age of eighty-one. The
education of Andrew was obtained in the common schools
of Cincinnati, and by assiduity he made rapid progress in
his studies. In I835 he commenced work on a farm in
Warren county, Ohio, owned by his father, and spent two
years upon it. Returning to Cincinnati he entered Woodward College, and pursued the various studies in its curriculum for two years, and then commenced to read law with
David Van Matre, for the practice of which he had a lon.ging ambition. This new field of scientific thought occupied
his attention closely, and when in December, I84I, two
years after his commencement of the study, he was admitted
to the bar, he was in the possession of a much profouider
knowledge of its theory than that which has been won by
students of longer years. He commenced practice immediately upon his admission, and with but little intermission
this has claimed his sole attention and ability ever since.
In I846 he was elected member of the Cincinnati City
Councils, and was four times successively re-elected, going
out with the close of the year I849. In October of this year
hlie was by his constituents sent to the State Legislature, and
in this capacity rendered conspicuous service in the interests
of the city and commonwealth. In the fall of I85o he- was
chosen Prosecuting Attorney of Hamilton county, Ohio, and
by a re-election in 1852 served in this office until January,
I855, during which time he succeeded in making for himself as fine a record as any man that had ever held that position, and went out of office very popular. In the fall of
I1854 the Knowr-!'\otbiiig party bad carried the city of -Cincinnlati, Ohio, by a majority of over 5000 votes, when the
Democratic party had small hopes of success, but thought
if they could get their late Prosecuting Attorney to accept
the nomination that his name would be a tower of strength
to them, and he might be elected; therefore he was nomi- thynvrialthttmhaanoechcordatpo
nated to the office of Police Judge of the City of Cincinnati,
together with James J. Fatren for Mayor, and they were
accordingly elected by a handsome majority. His fine judli-haevrbedepyitrteinalrlgosmtes
cial record on this bench secured his re-electionl in 1857,EaluntnwihteScnPrsyeinCuc,bwa
and in this capacity he completed his labors in 1859. From
his retirement from the bench until November, I86o, he was
prominently identified in laboers connected with the construction of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, and
upon the completion of this service resumed his practice,
which has since exclusively confined his attention. I-He was
married, August i9th, I84I, to Mary A. Powell, by whom
he is the father of six children. His life has been one of
great mental and physical activity. His record for acute
analyzation and cogent reasoning is scarcely surpassed by
that of any other jurist. He has been from an early age a
member of the Presbyterian Church, and, like his father,
has adhered to the principles of sterling Democracy. As a
City Councilman he was chiefly instrumental in securing
the muchi-needed change from the soft limestone to the
present boulder system of grading the streets of Cincinnati.
To his labors in no small degree is due the erection of the
House of Refuge, the Hamilton County'Infirmary, and
numerous other public institutions. He is a man of extensive social and political influence, and is highly esteemed by
his fellow-citizens.
85 ILEN, WILLIAM HI., lately a Wholesale Jeweler,
cnwas b orn in Do u glas, Massachusetts, November
ioth, I813, and is of English extraction. When
but three years of age his parents removed to
Providence, and in the common schools of Rhode
Island he received his education. He first served
a regular apprenticeship in learning to manufacture highback combs for ladies. In I833 the fashion was changed,
so that such combs were generally discarded, and, consequently, the manufacturing establishments of such ornaments
were ruined, and Mr. Allen, found the trade he had been so
long in acquiring was of no value whatever. In 1835, being
a young man, he resolved to go West; and at once started
on his long, and at that time tedious, journey. When he
had reached Cleveland he found that he had exhausted his
funds, but with the exercise of his " Yankee wit " succeeded
in reaching Cincinnati, Ohio, where he became permanently
located. In I836 he joined his elder brother, Caleb, in
manufacturing silver wai-e-this being the first manulufacturing
establishment of the kind in the West. By their great industry, punctuality and devotion to their work, their business rapidly increased, and they became in a very short time
wholesale manufacturers and dealers in silver jeuwelry. This
business, which opened so auspiciously, was guarded by the
zeal and honies~ty peculiar to, the best religious people of
New England; and although these two brothers continued
in their wholesale business until I872-thirty-six yearsthey never in all that time bad a note, check or draft protested. No purer or more conscientious business men have
ever resided in the " Queen City of the West." Mr. Allen
has ever been deeply interested in all religious matters.
Early uniting with the Second Presbyterian Church, be was
elected a member of the Board of Trustees in I865, and
continued to serve till i869. On November 2oth, I,6o, he
ENCYCLOPAEDIA.