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WAS born at Barnstable, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, May 11, 1789. His father, John Allyn, was descended from a Welsh family, who emigrated to America some two hundred years previous to the birth of our subject. His native place afforded little scope for the exercise of that inherent energy so characteristic of his later years, and at the age of fourteen he went to Boston, where he obtained a situation in a hardware store. He subsequently became salesman in the store of a leading paper-hanger of that city, and while there devoted his evenings to the acquirement of a practical knowledge of the business from one of the journeymen. By 1812 they had saved between them a sufficient sum to warrant the formation of a copartnership, and they engaged in business on their own account. He married in Boston, and there united with the Baptist Church ; but he afterward became familiar with the writings of Swedenborg and warmly embraced his doctrines, and was brought under the discipline of the Church. Upon his refusal to recant, that body pronounced the sentence of expulsion. His former pastor, Rev. Dr. Sharp, acquiesced in the decision on the ground that, under the Church rules, it could not do otherwise,. but earnestly soliciting the preservation of the close personal intimacy which had existed, and which was continued with the utmost cordiality until 1818, when Mr. Allen left Boston to explore the Western El Dorado.  He was so favorably impressed with Cincinnati that he removed his family thither the following year, and, in addition to his regular business, engaged successively and with limited success in dry-goods, pork-packing, and manufacture of nails: Several of his outside speculations, notably that of a tobacco merchant, proved unsuccessful, and he learned therefrom a useful lesson. Having finally prepared himself by a long-continued and thorough course of reading and study, he embarked in the drug business, in 1824. The terrible fire of the Winter of 1826 swept away his all ; but he was not overwhelmed by this catastrophe, and upon the ruins rose another warehouse, in which for many years the firm of Allen & Co. carried` on the drug .business in connection with paper-hanging. This firm founded the Cincinnati Laboratory, and in 1840 the business was divided, Mr. Allen taking the drug-store at Fifth and Main Streets. Some years after this he suffered from another disastrous fire, but his indomitable energy again triumphed over adversity. As the years rolled on he reaped the just reward of integrity, perseverance, and an intimate knowledge of human nature; and lived to enjoy the abundant fruits of his labors.

Marston Allen was a man of sterling integrity, decided and independent, but as unassuming as he was benevolent. He never aspired to, nor accepted,- political office, but devoted his energies to business pursuits and the promotion of those charitable objects which commended themselves to his judgment.

He was one of the originators of the Ohio Mechanics' Institute, and when it became financially embarrassed, he and Miles Greenwood, by munificent donations, saved it for its future career of usefulness. The institute proposed to recognize this spirit of true philanthropy by placing his portrait in the proscenium at Greenwood Hall; but it was only after a long and persistent solicitation that he yielded a reluctant consent, and there it stands to remind young and old of the value and durability of the lessons inculcated by pure hearts and noble lives. He was long an active member of the New Jerusalem Church, and for some years previous to his death lived in retirement at Glendale, surrounded by his family and a circle of devoted friends. He passed away, August 12, 1868, mourned alike by rich and poor. His unostentatious deeds of love are green in the memory of all who knew him, for he was honored by the great, and loved, revered, and lamented by those in the humbler walks of life.