Cumberland County, Maine - Clarence E. Allen ********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: C. Wendland SilverDrusilla@aol.com Copyright (c) 2005 by C. Wendland Caitlin's Gold Award Project, Girl Scouts USA, Rio Grande Girl Scout Council, El Paso, Texas ********************************************************************** Biography Clarence E. Allen Biographical Review Cumberland County, Maine Boston Biographical Review Publishing Company 1896 Page 237 Clarence E. Allen, proprietor of the baggage transfer from the Union Station, Portland, was born in Gorham, Cumberland County, Me., April 15, 1853. He is the son of George W. and Lydia (Lambert) Allen. His grandparents were William and Maria (Chatty) Allen, of Falmouth, Me. William Allen was a well-to-do farmer in Falmouth, who lived to be seventy-six years old, his wife dying at the age of seventy-two. She was a daughter of Captain John Chatty, a soldier in the French War. Their son, George W. Allen, was born in Falmouth, January 18, 1822, and there grew to manhood. In 1849 he removed to Gorham, where for some time he was engaged in farming, returning in 1861 to Falmouth, where he is now living. He is a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in the Twenty-fifth Maine Volunteer Infantry. His wife was born December 5, 1826, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Alexander) Lambert, old residents of Falmouth. Mr. and Mrs. George W. Allen reared four children, of whom Clarence E. is the only one now living. In religious belief Mr. George W. Allen is a Baptist, while his wife is a member of the Congregational church. Clarence E. Allen attended the common schools of his native town and Westbrook Seminary, and finished his schooling with a course of study at Gray's Business College, Portland. When nineteen years of age he went to work for M. Y. Knight, a grocer on Oxford Street, in whose employ he remained four years; and he then engaged for a while in the milk business. In 1879 he went to Boston to enter the employ of the Highland Street Railway. In 1884 he returned to Portland, and engaged in the express business on a small scale; and the following year he bought out James Neal, who had the Maine Central Railroad trade. This business was then easily handled, and Mr. Allen's single horse was able to accomplish all that was necessary. After the Union Station was built, the business increased, and another firm took up the same line; but they dropped out within a year, leaving Mr. Allen in sole possession of the field. From that time to the present his trade has yearly increased, and he now owns the largest transfer business in the city. Mr. Allen is a persevering and energetic man, who knows how to use to the best advantage the capabilities that win success. He has attained prosperity through his own efforts alone, and is deserving of the success which he has achieved. October 17, 1876, he was united in marriage with Alice E. True, daughter of Calvin S. and Alice M. (Anderson) True, of Portland. They have three children - Ernest, Ethel, and Calvin. Mr. Allen is a Mason, belonging to Ancient Landmark Lodge, No. 17, A. F. & A. M., of Portland. He and his family attend St. Stephen's Church (Episcopal), to whose support he contributes. They have a pleasant home at Deering.