Cumberland County, Maine - William Alfred 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 © 2005 by C. Wendland Caitlin's Gold Award Project, Girl Scouts USA, Rio Grande Girl Scout Council, El Paso, Texas ********************************************************************** Biography William Alfred Allen Biographical Review Cumberland County, Maine Boston Biographical Review Publishing Company 1896 Page 613-614 William Alfred Allen, proprietor of a planing-mill, manufacturer of wood mantels and stairwork, and a dealer in tiles, is actively identified with the manufacturing and business interests of Portland, of which city he has been a resident since boyhood. He was born May 8, 1849, at Falmouth, Me., son of Alfred R. and Salome (Libby) Allen. His paternal grandfather, Otis Allen, was a well- known farmer of West Gray, and served as a soldier in the Mexican War. His maternal grandfather, William Libby, also was a soldier in that war. He was a resident of Falmouth, where he reared a family. of ten children. Alfred R. Allen was born and reared in the town of Gray in this county, and continued a resident of Maine during his short life. When a comparatively young man he was killed at the explosion of the South Windham powder-mill, leaving his widow and one child, William Alfred, then six years old. The mother was a native of Falmouth, being the daughter of William Libby, a descendant of a well-known family of that place. In 1861 she removed to Portland, enabling her son to have the benefit of the excellent public-school system of this city. She has since lived in or near Portland, being now seventy-two years of age. On completing his course of study, the youth, who had a native talent for mechanical work, was apprenticed to Moses Colley, of whom he learned the carpenter's trade. At the time of the big Portland fire Mr. Allen, by reason of Mr. Colley's serious injury, was thrown out of employment, and then began learning the trade of stair building with his uncle, Joseph G. Libby. He afterward worked for Littlefield & Wilson, going thence to Massachusetts, where he followed his trade for four years, the last half of the time being foreman of the shop in which he was employed. Returning to Portland in 1875, Mr. Allen established a business of his own on a very modest scale on Preble Street, as a stair builder, his only assistant being a young apprentice. His success surpassed his expectations, his orders, before the summer was over, demanding the assistance of three men. From his first location Mr. Allen removed to Doten's mill on Cross Street, whence nine months later he went to Brackett's mill, where he was in partnership with W., H. Stone. In 1876 this mill was burned out, Mr. Allen losing everything, as he had no insurance. After the rebuilding of the mill, he, however, started again, there carrying on a flourishing business until 1886, when he built his first mill, but still continued the occupancy of the leased mill as well. In 1888 Mr. Allen completed his own mill, which was then fifty feet by eighty- seven feet, two stories in height, equipped with a twenty five horse power engine and all the latest approved machinery for working in wood, manufacturing mantels, hall work, and builder's finishings. In 1890 he met with another disastrous loss, this mill also being burned. With characteristic enterprise he at once began rebuilding, having in the course of six weeks and four days a three-story building, fifty feet by eighty-seven feet, fully equipped, with the machinery in running order. The facilities were greatly increased; and he is now the largest manufacturer of his line of goods in the city, giving constant employment to a force of twenty-five men. In 1894 Mr. Allen erected a storehouse one hundred feet by twenty-two feet, two stories in height; and in addition to his manufacturing he handles the tiling used with wood mantels, having the largest and best-assorted stock this side of Boston. He also has a sales and sample room at 424 Congress Street, corner of Temple. Mr. Allen is quite prominent in the fraternal orders, belonging to Hadattah Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; to the Eastern Star Encampment; Ivanhoe Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of which he is Past Chancellor; and to the Michigonne Tribe of Red Men, having been through all the chairs of the latter. He is much interested in aquatic sports, having a yacht of his own, and being a member of the Portland Yacht Club. During the winter season Mr. Allen and his family are at home at 76 Myrtle Street, but in the summer season they occupy their pleasant cottage on the shore. On August 13, 1867, Mr. Allen was married to Miss Kate Carle, a native of Eastport, although reared in this city. They are the parents of six children, namely: Anna B., the wife of the Rev. C. Everett Bean, a Methodist minister; William F., a law student; Emma; George E.; Harry F.; and Benjamin F. Mr. Allen attends and contributes liberally toward the support of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which Mrs. Allen belongs.