- ELIJAH C. ALLEN, one of the most prominent business men of
Beloit, was born on the 27th of
- August, 1809, in Belchertown, Mass., and is a son of Chester
and Mary Ann (RICE) ALLEN, the former a descendant of an old
English family, who emigrated to this country in an early day.
They were the parents of eight children, namely: Harriet, who
married Jerry MILLER, and died in Jenksville, Mass., about 1853;
Elijah C., of our sketch; Abner D., who is living in Beloit;
Elizabeth, widow of Samuel JOHNSON, of Beloit; Sophronia, who
is living in Ware, Mass., is the widow of John CONEY; the Rev.
Samuel H., a graduate of Amherst College and of a theological
seminary of New York City, was for twenty years pastor of the
church at Windsor Locks, and is now living in Hartford, Conn.;
Mary is the wife of Ebenezer BROWN, a prominent hardware merchant
of Palmer Depot, Mass.; one died in infancy. In his political
sentiments Chester ALLEN was a Whig, while religiously, he and
his wife were members of the Congregational Church. They were
honest, upright people, who received the respect of all. Mr.
ALLEN died in Ware, Mass., in 1861, and his wife departed this
life in the same place in 1866.
- Our subject was educated in the common schools of his native
State, and when fourteen years of
- age went with his family to Springfield, Mass., where he
learned the trade of a brick-mason. At the age of seventeen years
he entered the cotton-mills at Chicopee, where he remained for
three years, receiving $8 per month. He entered with the full
determination to learn the process of manufacturing cotton goods,
and beginning in the lowest position worked his way up, until
he was appointed superintendent of the mill. After three years
he went to Jenksville and obtained the position of second assistant
in the weaving room, and after six months' work he took charge
of a weaving room, and for five years was overseer of that department.
Going to Holyoke he was there employed as superintendent of the
spinning and weaving room, his wages at first being $1.50 per
day; then for seven years he received $2.08 per day, which at
that time was considered a large amount. He next began business
for himself at West Covington, Mass., manufacturing cotton goods,
but after two years removed to Conway, where he followed the
same vocation for sixteen years. At the expiration of that time
he sold out and was employed as superintendent for three years
in a large woolen-mill at the same place.
- Mr. ALLEN came to Beloit in 1857, and embarked in the livery
business on Bridge street, where
- he continued for two years, when he removed to what is now
Allen's Block, on School street. In 1863 he removed his stock
to Chicago, and located on the corner of Fifth avenue and LaSalle
street. In 1868 he erected what is known as Allen's Block at
a cost of $15,000. The same year he built a block on the northwest
corner of Cottage Grove and Oakland boulevard, Chicago, at a
cost of $20,000. He has also erected two dwelling houses in Beloit,
at a cost of $7,000, and is the owner of a fine farm in Illinois,
adjoining Beloit, which comprises 112 acres and is valued at
$1,200.
- In 1832, in Springfield, Mass., Mr. ALLEN was joined in wedlock
with Miss Lucinda B. BABBIT,
- a native of Ware, Mass., born in 1814. Their union has been
blessed with one son, Charles W., of Chicago, who married Jennie
HUN, and has two children - Lillian B. and Birdie. He is a man
of good business qualifications and has been engaged with some
of the largest wholesale tobacco firms of the city. He was first
engaged with Spaulding & Merrick for five years, when he
sold out and the company of Allen & Ellis was organized.
In 1871, during the great fire, their works were burned to the
ground, causing a loss of $20,000, but Charles immediately went
to Cincinnati, where he again embarked in the same business,
and within ten days was shipping goods to Chicago. In 1882 he
purchased the interest of his partner in Cincinnati and removed
his business to the corner of Monroe and Canal streets, Chicago,
where he continued until 1886, when on account of the bad management
of his partner and the decline in tobacco he was forced to suspend
business.
- Mr. ALLEN, our subject, is a man of more than ordinary ability;
shrewd, yet thoroughly honest, he
- has by good management and close attention to business accumulated
a fortune. In early life he was a Whig, and in 1840 cast his
ballot for William Henry Harrison. At the organization of the
Republican party he joined its ranks and has since been one of
its firm supporters.
-
- Taken from "Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock
County Wis." (c)1889, p. 376-377.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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