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- Brig. Gen. Lyman Allen was born December 18, 1827, in Groton, New York.
- He was married to Ann Jeannette XXX on XXXXX.
- Lived at 17 Connecticut
- Occupation: salesman, tin, iron, and copper manufacturing,
- Brig. Gen. Allen was highly involved in the free-state movement in Territorial Kansas. The northeastern Kansas was an extremely dangerous place during this time period. There were lootings, murder, arson, and many other acts of terriorism. In May of 1856, he and two other men were appointed by the people of Lawrence to "ask the Marshall to put a stop to the depravations committed by a large force of armed men in the vicinity of Lawrence." The territory became so dangerous territorial Gov. A.H. Reeder escaped from Kansas with Lyman Allen's help in early May of 1856. During the destruction of the Free-State Hotel in Lawrence by Sheriff Jones, he lost $574 in books, and on May 21, 1856, had his Sharp's Rifle taken from his home by a force of bushwackers.
- one of the earlier settlers of Douglas County and a member of the territorial council of 1857-1858. He came to Kansas on March 24, 1855
- Children: Anna, Mary Jane, Jennie, Jessie (died at 7 months), Katie (died at 10 months)
- Allen was active in the free-state movement in early Kansas and served in a variety of positions which included; member of the board of trustees of Lawrence University in 1859, a member of the Emporia Town Company in 1857, which selected the site for the town of Emporia, and the railroad convention of 1860.
- The Allen family all took part in the border troubles, including his father, Asaph, who had his house attacked by bushwackers. "When the guerillas knocked roughly at his door and demanded admittance, threatening to kill all the inmates if resistance was offered, but making the usual promise that no one should be hurt if the door was opened and prompt surrender made. Mr. Allen was quite old but full of courage and resolution. He told the guerillas to come on in if they could get in, assuring them that he was good for at least six ruffians as soon as they might enter. The bushwackers left and no others returned," according to the book, Quantrill and the Border Wars.
- Lyman had two brother who served in the militia during the Civil War. Norman Allen, who was an editor of the Lawrence Republican which was destroyed in Quantrill raid, served as a captain in the 1st Kansas Volunteer Battery. Asaph Allen Jr., served as a captain in the 9th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.
- On July 23, 1861 Allen was appointed Adjutant General.
- He served in this position until March 22, 1862.
- He died at his home in Lawrence, Kansas on November 30, 1863, two months after Quantrill's famous raid on Lawrence. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence, Kansas. His two sentence obituary in the Leavenworth Conservative, describes him as a man of "high character."
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