John Mills Allen

John Mills Allen (July 8, 1846 – October 30, 1917), known as "Private John" Allen, was an American lawyer and Confederate soldier during the American Civil War. He was also a member of the United States House of Representatives from Mississippi for eight consecutive terms from 1885 to 1901.

Biography Early life Allen was born in Tishomingo County, Mississippi on July 8, 1846. He was the son of David M. Allen (1810–1875), a planter from Henry County, Virginia, and his wife, Sallie A. (Spencer) Allen (1815– ? ), also born in Henry County. John's older brother, Robert, served in the Mississippi Legislature in the 1870s.

Allen attended common schools, enlisted as a private in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War (1861–1865), and served throughout the war. Allen also attended Cumberland School of Law in Lebanon, Tennessee, and graduated from the law department of the University of Mississippi in 1870. Allen was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Allen served as district attorney for the first judicial district of Mississippi from 1875 to 1879. In 1880, he was elected county prosecuting attorney.

Allen served as chairman of the Committee of Expenditures in the Department of Justice during the 52nd United States Congress (March 4, 1891 – March 4, 1893), and of the Committee on Levees and Improvements of the Mississippi River during the 53rd United States Congress (March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1895).

Allen became known during his time in the House for the entertaining, tongue-in-cheek style in which he delivered speeches on serious subjects. He advocated the construction of a national fish hatchery in Tupelo, and on February 20, 1901, delivered his eloquent "Fish Hatchery Speech" before calling for the establishment of the hatchery and stating with mock seriousness that "Fish will travel overland for miles to get into the water we have at Tupelo. . .thousands and millions of unborn fish are clamoring to this Congress today for an opportunity to be hatched at the Tupelo hatchery." The speech has been described as "the most spontaneous burst of wit and humor ever heard on the floors of Congress." He was interred in Glenwood Cemetery in Tupelo.

Commemoration

In 1982 the Tupelo National Fish Hatchery was renamed the Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery in honor of Allen.