from The Fitchburg Sentinel,

VICTIM OF DROPSY:
Ethan Allen of Millbury Dies at City Hospital

Ethan Allen, one of Millbury’s oldest veterans of the Civil War, and member of George A. Custer post, G.A.R. Millbury, died at City Hospital yesterday morning, aged 72 years and 3 days. Death was due to dropsy and he had been sick for six years, being confined to his home on Summer St., Millbury, most of the time, and was taken to the hospital a few weeks ago.

Mr. Allen was born in Millbury, Jan. 14, 1842, and most of his life was passed here. He was one of the first in town to respond to the call for men in the early days of the Civil War and served three full years in A Co., 15th Massachusetts Regiment, made up of Worcester County men. His first battle was at Ball’s Bluff Va., where with many others, he was obliged to plunge into the Potomac River and swim to the other side when the Union forces met defeat. From first to last, he was in every battle that his regiment was engaged in during the war, including Gettysburg.

At the close of the war, instead of returning home immediately, he re-enlisted and served nearly a year near Washington, making a total of almost four years of army life, which is record of service unequaled by any other veteran of the war in Millbury. He was a machinist by trade, but during the last years he was able to work, he was a night watchman at the local engine house of the Boston & Albany railroad.
He is survived by his widow, one daughter, Miss Addie Allen, and one son, George Allen, both at home.
The funeral was at the house, Summer Street, Monday afternoon and Rev. H. E. Chapman, pastor of the Baptist Church, officiated. George R. Cleveland sang two selections. The burial service of the Grand Army was read by Commander, A. G. Livermore and Chaplain, E. E. Hurd. The post attended in a body and the woman’s relief was also represented by a delegation.

There were floral tributes from both organizations and the Allen-Davis bible class of the Baptists Church. The burial was in Central Cemetery and the bearers were Harry W. Gould, Harry Nugent, John Rennells and Fred Joslin.