Ralph P. Allen Biography


	This biography appears on page 1233 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside
	a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at

	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm


				RALPH P. ALLEN. 

	Ralph P. Allen, an enterprising and progressive young 
agriculturist residing on section 28, Valley Springs township, 
Minnehaha county, devotes his attention to the cultivation of a tract 
of land embracing one hundred and sixty acres. His birth occurred in 
Winneshiek county, lowa, on the 14th of March, 1890, his parents being 
Frank and Susan (Banning) Allen, the former a native of Illinois. Their 
marriage was celebrated in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where they resided 
until 1890, when they came to South Dakota. Frank Allen purchased the 
present home farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Valley Springs 
township and thereon spent the remainder of his life, dying November 4, 
1911. He is still survived by his widow, who resides on the place with 
our subject. 

	Ralph P. Allen was reared under the parental roof and attended 
the district schools in the acquirement of an education. On attaining 
his majority he became associated with his father in the operation of 
the home farm and since the latter's demise has had charge of the place 
alone. Its excellent appearance bespeaks his careful management and 
bounteous harvests annually pay tribute to his well directed industry. 

	On the 2d of December, 1911, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to 
Miss Rowena Jones, her father being Thomas Jones, a prominent farmer of 
Split Rock township, Minnehaha county. To them has been born a 
daughter, Vivian Dorothy. 

	Mr. Allen gives his political allegiance to the republican party 
and is identified fraternally with the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, belonging to Valley Springs Lodge, No. 156. His wife is a 
devoted member of the Methodist church. Mr. Allen has spent practically 
his entire life in Minnehaha county and South Dakota and enjoys an 
enviable reputation as a successful young agriculturist and esteemed 
citizen.