BIOGRAPHIES:  Col. William H. ALLEN, Menomonie, Dunn County, WI

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Col. William H. Allen, lumberman, Menomonie.  Oliver Allen, the great-
grandfather of our subject, was a native of Maine, of English descent, the 
first of the family to come to this country being George Allen, who settled 
in Massachusetts in 1635.  Rufus, son of Oliver, was born in Maine, and 
died there on his farm, from an internal injury received in a fall, and 
left a large family.  Of his sons, Charles L. was born near Industry, Me., 
formerly known as Allen's Mills.  He removed to Lawrence, Mass., where he 
was a mill-wright by occupation.  He built mills at Detroit, Saginaw and 
Port Austin, Mich., which mills were, at that time, the largest in the 
state.  He engaged in the lumber business for three years at Saginaw, then 
went to Byron, Mich., where he was engaged in the flour and saw-mill 
business about ten years.  He died in August, 1880, in McKean county, Pa., 
aged seventy-two years.  He owned considerable land in McKean county, a 
part of which proved to be valuable oil land.  He was a man of considerable 
influence, and had the confidence of all who came in contact with him.  He 
was an active member of the Congregational church, and a leader whom the 
people felt they could trust in all thngs.  He married Abigail Eveleth, who 
was born in Maine.  She died in the prime of life, and was a consistent 
member of the Congregational church, and was honored and respected by all.  
Four children blessed her memory:  Emma C. H., William H., Lizzie H. and 
Charles W., none of whom survive except our subject.

William H. Allen was born in Maine, and is principally self-educated, 
although he had good school advantages in the east.  He clerked for some 
time in Michigan, but when the war clouds hovered over our country, he 
obeyed the call to arms and enlisted, August 6, 1861, in Company H, of the 
Fifth Michigan infantry, as a private.  He was promoted form time to time 
until he was in command of Company D.  He was afterward a staff officer 
under Gen. Byron R. Pierce, of Second brigade of the third division of the 
second corps, also called Gen. Hancock's corps, and while serving as such 
was brevetted for "gallant and meritorious conduct."  He participated in 
all the battles of the army of the Potomac except South Mountain and 
Antietam.  He was struck by bullets several times, but was never seriously 
wounded.  After the war he was a book-keeper and manager of the office for 
a large furniture establishment in Detroit.  He afterward engaged in the 
insurance business there till the spring of 1874, when he came to Menomonie, 
where he had secured the position of head book-keeper for the Knapp, Stout 
& Co. Company.  That fall he was attached to their land office, of which 
department he soon took charge, and has had entire charge of it ever since.  
His responsibilities have increased enourmously, but he has proven himself 
equal to all emergencies, and the office is the most complete land office 
in the west.  He married his first wife, Helen S. Barbour, in Michigan.  
She died in Menomonie, January 18, 1882, aged thirty-six years.  They had 
one child, Grace E., born August 29, 1866, who died June 9, 1880.  He 
afterward married Mrs. Fannie M. Moore, nee Manwaring, who died January 14, 
1892, leaving three children, Fred B. and Harry M., by her first husband, and 
Margaret Louise Allen, born July 20, 1890.  Col. Allen is also engaged 
extensively in the fire insurance business, and represents nine companies.

-- Transcribed from the "Historical and Biographical Album of the Chippewa
Valley Wisconsin, 1891-2," page 630