William H. Allen

            WILLIAM H. ALLEN was born in 1842 in Glasgow, Scotland. He is the only child of George and Ann (Armstrong) Allen, both natives of Ireland. His father was killed a short time before the birth of our subject, and his mother died soon after. He was reared by a Mr. Hammons up to ten years of age, when he was thrown on his own resources, and worked in a Glasgow brewery for four years; then he engaged in John Thompson’s pottery for seven years; then nearly four years in Messrs. Wilsons’ pottery. He was then omnibus conductor for over eight years in Glasgow. About 1868, he came to America, and lived in Rye, near New York City, for three years as family coachman for a Mr. Grosbeck. He went to Glasgow, and remained a year visiting, and returned to New York, and was sexton and coachman for a Rev. Benjamin two years. He then came to Chicago, and was engaged as coachman for a Mr. Cornell, of the watch factory, for four years, and was then coachman for H.L. Davis for over four years, when he came to Hobart and engaged in the grocery business. He keeps a general confectionery, notion and tobacco store. He is a member of the F. & A.M. order, and a Republican. He was married in 1873, to Elizabeth Brighton, a native of Glasgow, Scotland. He has four children living –Harriet, George, James and Ellen.

Source: Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor. Charles Blanchard, Biographical Editor. F.A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1882, page 666.