Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Allen, Robert L 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com December 3, 2007, 4:10 am

Author: Past & Present, 1907

Robert L. Allen, who died at his home in Joliet, January 12, 1907, was for 
many years one of Joliet's most prominent citizens. He was a son of Edmund and 
Elizabeth (Shoemaker) Allen and was born in Joliet December 14, 1847. His 
father was a native of Broome county, New York, where his birth occurred May 
21, 1814. He acquired an excellent education in the schools of his native 
county and in 1835, on attaining his majority, made his way westward to 
Joliet, then a little village of but small commercial or industrial 
importance. He, however, took his place as a prominent business man in the 
town and for many years figured in connection with its public interests. In 
1842 he married Miss Elizabeth Shoemaker, a, native of New York, and in 1844 
they removed to Wilmington, which was thereafter their home. Mrs. Allen died 
October 20, 1854, and Mr. Allen on the 10th of January, 1892. Robert L. Allen 
was educated in the schools of Wilmington and upon arriving at years of 
maturity he entered into partnership with his father in the lumber trade, in 
which he continued for ten years. In 1878 he removed to Joliet and embarked in 
the ice business, thus becoming a factor in commercial circles in the county 
seat. For several years he was engaged in the crockery trade, meeting with 
good success in that venture. In the fall of 1869 Mr. Allen was united in 
marriage to Miss Adelaide G. McDougal, the daughter of James T. McDougal, for 
many years one of the most prominent and substantial citizens of Joliet, who 
was postmaster of the town during the administration of Presidents Taylor and 
Fillmore. When the old Merchants & Drovers Bank was organized in 1850 Mr. 
McDougal was elected its cashier, a position which he ably filled with the 
utmost fidelity until his death, which occurred on the 19th of May, 1862. Mr. 
Allen was well known and prominent in political circles as a stalwart advocate 
of democratic principles. In 1884, when Mr. Cleveland was elected president, 
he was appointed postmaster of Joliet, a position which he held for four 
years, and in 1892, when John P. Altgeld was elected governor of the state, 
Mr. Allen was appointed warden of the penitentiary, an office he also filled 
for four years, when he retired, while later he received the appointment of 
general manager of the Economy Light & Powder Company, retaining that position 
up to the time of his death. At his demise Mr. Allen left beside his wife two 
children: Edmund L., of Joliet; and James, a teller in a Decatur bank. He was 
also survived by his brother, Edmund A. Allen, of the E. A. Allen Lumber 
Company of Chicago, and a sister, Miss Elizabeth Allen, of Wilmington. Robert 
L. Allen was prominent both in political and business circles in Joliet for 
many years. He was an active leader in the democratic party and a most 
excellent manager in all he undertook. A man of the strictest honor and 
fidelity, he retained in an eminent degree the confidence and esteem of all. 
His management of the penitentiary was highly approved by all the officials, 
while his service in the many years in which he controlled the interests of 
the Economy Light & Power Company can hardly be equaled for efficiency, 
capability and faithfulness. 

Additional Comments:
Past and Present of Will County, Illinois, by W. W. Stevens, President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907.

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