Biography of G. Frank Allen, Gainesville, Alachua County, FL

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Transcribed from:  The History of Florida:  Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol II, page 26, 1923.

ALLEN, G. FRANK.  So typically American has been the career of one of Gainesville's prominent 
citizens, G. FRANK ALLEN, vice president and general manager of the Tampa-Jacksonville Railroad,
and an important factor in many other large enterprises, that the story is well worth the 
telling, being both interesting and inspiring.  Mr. ALLEN was born at Savannah, Georgia, 
April 17, 1891.  His parents were GEORGE F. and MARY LILLIAN (ENGLISH) ALLEN, the latter of 
whom died in his early boyhood.  His father was born at Savannah in 1864, for over a quarter 
of a century was a printer and valued employee on the Savannah Morning News, and died in that 
city in 1916.

G. FRANK ALLEN was reared by his grandmother.  His educational advantages in boyhood were 
rather limited as far as schooling went, but an industrious habit, quick intelligence and 
independent spirit early advanced his fortunes and his thirteenth birthday found him employed 
as a messenger by the Atlanta Coast Line Railroad Company.  He became telephone operator, 
attended a night school, and after that was made a clerk in the yardmaster's office.  His 
industry and efficiency came to the attention of A. D. MENDES, then general superintendent 
of the Georgia Coast & Piedmont Railroad, who secured the young man as clerk and stenographer 
in his office at Darien, Georgia.

Later Mr. ALLEN accepted a clerkship in the wholesale hardware house of J. D. Weed & Company 
at Savannah, but soon returned to his former railroad position.  He then spent two years, 
1910 and 1911, at St. Mary's College, Belmont, Gaston County, North Carolina, where he took 
a complete course on business administration, finance and bookkeeping, and graduated from 
that school on June 15, 1911, as master accountant.  In the meanwhile A. P. (sic) MENDES had 
become vice president of the Tampa & Jacksonville Railroad Company, and on July 22, 1911, 
Mr. ALLEN accompanied him to Gainesville.  The confidence inspired was represented by his 
appointment at that time as assistant treasurer and auditor of the road, which was further
emphasized in July, 1918, when he was made vice president and general manager.  Mr. ALLEN 
enjoys the distinction of being the youngest man in railroad history in the United Sates to 
hold such positions.  He is further identified with enterprises of large importance, being 
a stockholder and director of his railroad company, a stockholder in the Florida Bank and 
Trust Company of Gainesville, owns a farm near this city, and since 1919 has been sales 
manager for the Gainesville Farmers' Union.  This co-operative association grows cucumbers,
beans, lettuce and cabbages on an extensive scale, and Mr. ALLEN has sold many thousands of
dollars worth of produce for them.  

Mr. ALLEN married at Gainesville, on November 6, 1915, Miss BUELAH TOUSEY, who was born at 
Bronson, Levy County, Florida.  Her father, CLAY TOUSEY, is engaged in the grocery business
at Gainesville.  Mr. And Mrs. ALLEN have two little daughters, SARAH LILLIAN and BUELAH 
JOSEPHINE.  Mr. ALLEN belongs to St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, while Mrs. ALLEN belongs 
to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

In addition to being one of the progressive business men of Gainesville Mr. ALLEN is otherwise 
active.  He is an ex-Exalted ruler of Gainesville Lodge of Elks No. 990, of which he was 
secretary for four years, is secretary of the Rotary Club and member of the Board of Directors, 
was the first president of the Alachua County Motor Club, is a member of the Advertising 
Club and of the Merchants Association, and being an enthusiastic golfer, belongs to the 
Gainesville Golf and Country Clubs.

Mr. ALLEN's success in his undertakings has been notable, and that his own efforts have been 
the contributing cause but increases the respect and confidence placed in him.  It may not
be out of place to add that the thought arises, in seeing his keen enjoyment of his well 
ordered home, that in such a sympathetic atmosphere may be developed the spirit that makes 
men strong for their battle with the world.