William H. Allen

William H. Allen, lumberman at Evart, was born Dec. 3, 1837, in ONtario Co., N.Y. His father, Albert A. Allen, was a native of the Empire State and was for some years a minister of the Methodist Church. He died in Holly, Oakland Co., Mich., Feb. 9, 1882, at 77 years of age. William's mother, Laura (Oysterbank) Allen, was born in May 1806, in Green Co., N.Y., and is a member of the household of her son at Evart. Three of six children of whom she became the mother are living, - Laura M., wife of Andrew Seeley, at Palmyra, N.Y.; Alpheus D., book-keeper in Detroit; and William H. Mr. Allen began to prepare for the vocation of machinist when he was 16 years of age. In 1855 he came to Michigan, where he worked at his trae, and later conducted abstract business in the counties of Kent, Genesee and Muskegon. He was one of the earliest to enlist in the service of the United States, sntering the army of the Union in April, 1861, enrolling for three months uner the first call for troops. He became a member of Co. F, Second Mich. Vol. Inf., and soon after re-enlisted for three years as a private. He fought at the first Bull Run, at Fair Oaks, Williamsburg, Yorktown, Malvern Hill, in skirmishes without number and also served on detailed duty. At the end of two years he was discharged, on account of ill health, at Philadelphia, and returned to Flint. After working a short time at his trade, he went to Muskegon and operated in real estate and abstract business. Going thence to Big Rapids, he was employed two years as clerk in a drug store.

In 1870 he came to Evart and resumed his occupation of drug clerk, which he pursued about two years, meanwhile, becoming interested in lumbering in the behalf of capitalists at Muskegon, buying timber and logs. He has since been continuously engaged in the same line of business. He is the owner of a residence and two lots at Evart, and of several tracts of farming land variously located in different parts of the county. Mr. Allen was married Nov. 26, 1867, in Muskegon, to Sarah J. Dale. They have two children, namely: William J., born Jan. 1, 1870, at BIg Rapids, and Bessie C., born May 5, 1881, at Evart. Mrs. Allen was born Oct. 9, 1840, in Monroe Co., Mich.

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