W.A. Allen

History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana Archives,maintained by burns@asu.edu

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W.A. Allen, a dentist of Billings and one of the founders of 
the city, was born in Noble County, Ohio in 1848, a 
son of Robert T. and Rachel (Guiler) Allen.  The father was 
a cousin of Ethan Allen, of Ticonderoga fame.  Our 
subject first applied himself to the trade of gunsmith, 
afterward to the blacksmith's trade and finally, in 1877 
turned his attention to dentistry.  He completed his dental 
education under the instructions of the American 
Dental Association in Chicago.

Mr. Allen crossed the plains to the Black Hills for mining 
purposes, arriving in July 1877.  At Spearfish he 
joined a party of 250 persons.  They had a battle with 
Indians, in which seven men and one woman was killed.  
The party was diminished to 154 people and fifty wagons, 
after which Dr. Allen was chosen captain, and they 
proceeded to Bozeman.  They had encounters with Indians at 
Redwater, Hay Creek and on Belle Fourche River; at 
the latter place they killed eight Indians and the Captain 
was four times wounded while conducting the party to 
Bozeman.  During the journey he found the body of Harry J. 
Morris of Iowa who had been killed by Frank Roberts.  
Captain Allen rode 1400 miles at an expense of $90 to himself 
as a witness, and his evidence convicted Roberts, 
who was executed.  At Virginia City, Montana, our subject was 
on the ground where General Custer fought and fell 
in 1876.  He has killed many buffalo and antelope where 
Billings now stands, and has had many encounters with 
Indians while traveling on the stage between Bozeman and 
Miles City, during which time he lost a number of horses.

Mr. Allen finally began the practice of dentistry at the 
old town of Colson, but since the starting of Billings, 
in 1882, he has followed his profession in this city.  He 
built the first shingle-roof house in the valley.  In 
company with John L. Guiler, Mr. Allen owns 700 acres of 
land on Clark's fork where they have founded the town of 
Allendale, on a strictly prohibition plan.  They have 
completed a fine flouring mill at that place with roller 
process and water power, at a cost of $15,000.  The Doctor 
is largely interested in stock-raising.

He was first married in 1874 in Ohio to Josephine Houston, 
a daughter of John Houston, who died from disease 
contracted while a soldier of the late war.  Two children 
were born to that union--William O and Robert T.  
The wife and mother departed this life in 1882.

In 1887 in Fountain City Wisconsin, the Doctor was united in 
marriage with Mollie, a daughter of Hon. A. 
Finkeinburg, of that state. He represented his county in both 
branches of the Legislator.  Mr. and Mrs. Allen 
have one child, Lelah.

Our subject is one of the noted hunters of the Rockies, and 
may well be termed a mighty hunter or Nimrod of the 
West.  His trophies are numerous and his hairbreadth escapes 
many.  He has killed thirty-nine bears, many of them
grizzlies, and one weighed 1300 pounds. He can relate thrilling 
scenes by the hour.  One of his daring feats was 
made in a canoe. He sailed down the Big Horn River into the 
Yellowstone and down that river to the Missouri,the 
Sioux Indians frequently shooting at him but he returned 
them shot in return.  The Doctor's brother R.T. Allen 
came to this city in 1882 where he is now engaged in the 
practice of law.


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