William Henry Allen Biography


	This biography appears on pages 270-271 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				WILLIAM HENRY ALLEN. 

	William Henry Allen, cashier of the Woonsocket State Bank, w-as 
born at Troy, Ohio, July 1, 1862, and is the youngest in a family of 
four children whose parents were William Henry and Margaret (Miller) 
Allen. The father was a merchant of Troy, Ohio, but died when his son 
William was but a year old. The boy was reared in his native town, 
where he received but limited educational privileges, as it was 
necessary for him to begin earning his living at an early age. He was 
afterward employed as a hotel clerk in Peoria and in Dixon, Illinois, 
in Clinton, Iowa, and at Sterling, Illinois. He came to Woonsocket in 
1894 and became clerk and manager of a clothing store. Subsequently he 
accepted the position of clerk in a bank, was advanced to the position 
of assistant cashier in the Citizens Bank and still later served as 
assistant cashier in the Citizens National Bank. In 1906 he joined 
Ellis M. Smith in organizing the Woonsocket State Bank, which opened 
its doors for business January 15, 1907, and of which he has since been 
the cashier, the success of the institution being attributable in no 
small degree to his spirit of enterprise, his administrative ability 
and his executive power. In addition to his banking interests he has 
real estate in various parts of South Dakota. He owns farm lands in 
both North and South Dakota, his holdings amounting to two thousand 
acres. From his property, therefore, he derives a substantial income 
that has made him one of the well-to-do-citizens of Woonsocket. 

	On the 17th of November, 1891, Mr. Allen was united in marriage 
to Miss Rosa J. Barth, her parents being August and Carrie (Walter) 
Barth, the former one of the earliest settlers of Woonsocket. To them 
have been born four children, namely: Walter Barth, Esther Alvine 
Marguerite, Frederica and Phoebe Rose. 

	Mr. Allen enjoys hunting and fishing and also finds recreation in 
running his automobile. His life is actuated by high and honorable 
principles and is in harmony with his record as a member of the 
Episcopal church, in which he is serving as treasurer and trustee. He 
holds membership with the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen and in the latter has filled the office of treasurer. In 
1915 he was elected treasurer of the Sanborn County Fair Association 
and he teas served as treasurer of the Coyot Club and of the Commercial 
Club. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party. That 
he has the confidence and goodwill of his fellow townsmen is plainly 
indicated in the fact that he has been city treasurer for twenty years, 
his long retention in office standing as incontrovertible proof of his 
loyalty and ability. He is a self-made man, possessing laudable 
ambition, and he persists in a well defined course until he has reached 
the goal of success. Economy, good business judgment and the ability to 
readily discriminate between the essential and the nonessential in 
business affairs have been important elements in his success, bringing 
him to the creditable place which he now occupies as a banker and 
landowner.