Thomas Allen (Wisconsin politician)

Thomas Scott Allen (July 26, 1825–December 12, 1905) was a printer, teacher, newspaper publisher and politician from Mineral Point, Wisconsin who served as a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was nominated and confirmed for appointment to the brevet grade of brigadier general of volunteers in 1866.

Background
Thomas Scott Allen was born in Andover, New York on July 26, 1825. He attended Oberlin College.

Public office
He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1857, replacing Democrat Richard M. Smith in representing the new 2nd Iowa County district (Mineral Point, Mifflin, Linden and Waldwick). He was succeeded by fellow Republican Levi Sterling (Sterling, like Smith, was also from Mineral Point).

Civil War
During the American Civil War, Allen served as a colonel in the 5th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was mustered out of the volunteer service on August 2, 1864. On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Allen for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.

After the war
Allen served as the state's ninth Secretary of State for two terms from January 1, 1866 to January 3, 1870. He was a Republican and served under Governor Lucius Fairchild.

Allen died at Oshkosh on December 12, 1905 and was buried at the Riverside Cemetery in Oshkosh.