Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Mallory, Allen F ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 5:06 pm Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900 Allen F. Mallory If those who claim that fortune has favored certain individuals above others will but investigate the cause of success and failure, it will be found that the former is largely due to the improvement of opportunity, the latter to the neglect of it. Fortunate environments encompass nearly every man at some stage in his career, but the strong man and the successful man is he who realizes that the proper moment has come, that the present and not the future holds his opportunity. The man who makes use of the Now and not the To Be is the one who passes on the highway of life others who started out ahead of him and reaches the goal of prosperity far in advance of them. It is this quality in Mr. Mallory that has made him a leader in the business world and won him a name in connection with the hotel interests that is known throughout the state. Mr. Mallory was born in Ohio City, now West Cleveland, Ohio, on the 6th of November, 1840, opening his eyes to the light of day in the family home on Pearl street. His parents were Hiram and Phoebe (Hall) Mallory. In the “rocked- ribbed” country of Wales the family originated, the ancestry being traced back to Bigor Mallory, who came from Wales to America, locating in Connecticut. The grandfather of our subject was Isaac Mallory, a native also of that state, whence he removed to Chautauqua county, New York. Hiram Mallory, the father of Allen F., was born in Chautauqua county, and afterward removed westward to Ohio. He was eighteen years of age when he left the parental fireside and started out in life on his own account. Making his way to Cleveland, he there gained his first experience in connection with the operation of canal boats. He became the general passenger agent for the boats plying on the Ohio canal, and was holding that position when, by reason of the introduction of railroads, the canal boat business became unprofitable and was suspended. He had been a resident of Cleveland but a short time when he returned to New York, and there married Phoebe Hall, who was born in Westfield, of the Empire state, and was of English lineage. She lived only three years after her marriage. Her health failing her, Mr. Mallory took her back to her native town, hoping that she would be benefited thereby, but her death occurred in 1848. She left three children: Allen F.; Frank, of Nebraska; and Viola, now the wife of F. H. Green, of Chicago. All were born in West Cleveland, Ohio. Alter the death of his first wife the father married Jeanette Barnes, who died in Morris in 1854. In the same year he wedded Mrs. Hannah Howard, a sister of the late Judge W. Hopkins. She was the first milliner of Morris, and the old shop which she occupied is still standing, just opposite the Hotel Commercial. She is still living, her home being now in Chicago. Hiram Mallory became a resident of Morris in 1852. He had but recently met with financial reverses in Cleveland and came to this city a poor man. Not long afterward he became interested in canal-boating, which he followed up to the time of his death. He also engaged in farming and grain dealing. For several years he bought grain in the old “red warehouse” on Canal street, and was a very energetic and enterprising man. He met with several reverses in his business career, yet at the time of his death he was the possessor of a comfortable competence. His life was honorable, his disposition genial and he won the respect and friendship of all with whom he came in contact. Socially he was a Mason. His political relations were necessarily changed as new issues arose before the people, and after giving his support to the Whig party for a time he became a stanch Abolitionist. When the Republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery he joined its ranks and was one of its loyal supporters until his death, which occurred in Morris in 1872. At his death the community lost one of its best citizens, for he had been an important factor in the commercial life of the community, and was at all times loyal to the best interests of the place. Allen F. Mallory, whose name introduces this review, has had a checkered career, and yet by determined purpose he has worked his way upward and now occupies a leading position among the prominent business men of Morris. He was only eight years of age when his mother died. He spent the five succeeding years in Ohio and then came to Morris, where he received the motherly attention of his father’s third wife, a most excellent woman. His education was obtained in the public schools, but his privileges were somewhat limited, for soon after his arrival in this city he entered the printing office of the Morris Yeoman, the first paper printed in the town. After working at the trade for ten months he was taken ill, suffering an attack of typhoid fever. Upon recovery he resumed work in the office, but about six months later was again ill with the same disease. This ended his experience in connection with journalistic interests. In later life he had a third attack of typhoid fever, a most unusual occurrence, but what is more remarkable his health was not impaired beyond the time the fever lasted. On leaving the printing office Mr. Mallory secured a position in a machine shop, where he was employed for a year, after which he spent one year as a clerk in the grocery store of M. R. Keller. In the spring of 1861 he became connected with canal-boating, but when hostilities were inaugurated between the north and south he put aside all personal considerations and entered the Union service. In Chicago, in the old “Wigwam” building in which Lincoln was first nominated for the presidency, was organized, in July, 1861, the Chicago Light Artillery Company, commanded by Captain Busteed. It was this company which Mr. Mallory joined, and with his command went to Washington, District of Columbia, where they were armed and drilled; but the war department discovered some questionable conduct on the part of the officers of the Chicago Light Artillery, which, in consequence, was disbanded. The privates, however, were given the privilege of joining any convenient regiment. The First New York Infantry reached Washington at that time and the private soldiers from Grundy county, thirty-five in number, joined Battery B, First Regiment of Light Artillery, New York Volunteers. Mr. Mallory became a member of Battery B, and was mustered in as a bugler, September 9, 1861 for a term of three years. On the 22d of February, 1864, he veteranized and was again enrolled in the same battery to serve three years or during the war, being discharged at Elmira, New York, June 18, 1865, after hostilities had ceased. Robert E. Rogers, then the captain of his company, on signing his discharge, placed upon the paper the following: “Allen F. Mallory is an excellent and trustworthy soldier. He has participated in the following battles: Fair Oaks, Virginia, June 1, 1862; battles in front of Richmond, Virginia, June 1 to June 29; Peach Orchard, Virginia, June 29, 1862; Savage Station, Virginia, June 29; White Oak Swamp, June 30; Malvern Hill, July 1; Second Bull Run, August 30; Antietam, Maryland, September 17; Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 11-13, 1862; Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 1, 2, 3, 1863; Gettysburg, July 1, 2, 3, 1863; Mine Run, November 30, 1863; Wilderness, Virginia, May 5, 6, 1864; Spottsylvania Court House, May 18, 1864; North Anna River, May 23; Bethesda Church, June 1; Cold Harbor, June 3; Petersburg, June 17 to August 16; Weldon Railroad, Virginia, August 18, 19, 21, 1864; and all battles from March 28 to the surrender of Lee’s army April 9, 1865. At the battle of Gettysburg Mr. Mallory was wounded in the head. He was sent to the hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, but three months later rejoined his command. He was a valiant soldier, always loyal to the old flag and the cause it represented, and on many a southern battle-field he displayed great bravery. He was one of the organizers of the fifth Grand Army post in the United States, but on account of political struggles this post was relieved of its charter, and he is now a member of Darveaux Post, of Morris. While in the army Mr. Mallory sent money back home, and with this his father purchased a canal-boat. Upon his return in July, 1865, he took charge of the boat, which he conducted through a season and then began working in Morris. The following spring he again took charge of the boat, but in June he sold it and went to Chicago, where he engaged in the grocery business, at No. 61 Milwaukee avenue, under the firm name of A. F. Mallory & Brother. For a year he conducted that store, and then again engaged in canal-boating for a short time. In November, 1867, he purchased a grocery stock in Chicago, shipped it to Morris, and for eighteen years was one of the successful grocery merchants of this city, enjoying a large and profitable trade. On the expiration of that period he went to Kankakee, Illinois, where he purchased a hotel and conducted it four years. He still owns and manages the Hotel Commercial at Kankakee, an excellent hostelry supplied with all modern improvements. In 1889 he purchased the old Hanna & LeRoy business block in Morris, remodeled it and converted it into a modern hotel of fifty rooms. This was opened on the 31st of December, 1889. It also is called by the name of Hotel Commercial, as is the Kankakee house. Each contains fifty rooms, and both hotels are successfully managed by Mr. Mallory and his wife, who, like him, possesses excellent business ability. In this connection our subject has become known throughout the state. He has the genial disposition and kindly manner so necessary to a successful hotel proprietor, and with a sincere interest in the comfort and welfare of his guests he has so conducted his hotel as to win a large support from the traveling public. Mrs. Mallory bore the maiden name of Hanna Hopkins. She is a niece of W. T. Hopkins, by whom she was reared. Their marriage was celebrated in 1865, and they now have three living children: William H., Annie and George. Another son, Nobbie, died at the age of six years. Mrs. Mallory is a lady of great force of character, and to her able management and wise counsel Mr. Mallory contributes not a little of his success. Our subject is an active Mason. In politics he is an ardent Republican, but has never sought or desired the honors or emoluments of public office. In his business career he has met with the success which, comes as the reward of earnest purpose and well-laid plans, carefully executed. He has met with many difficulties but has overcame these by unfaltering industry, and to-day is known as one of the most substantial as well as one of the most valued citizens of Grundy county. The straightforward methods he has always followed commend him to the confidence of his fellow men, and have made him well worthy the trust reposed in him. His many excellencies of character have gained him a large circle of friends, and he well deserves honorable mention in connection with the history of Morris. Additional Comments: Source: Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy Counties Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, pages 492-496 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/mallory622nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 11.9 Kb