J. W. Allen    

J.W. ALLEN, land estate agent, Coudersport, is a son of Ezra and Lydia Allen, and was born in East Smithfield, Bradford Co., Penn., in 1838. Ezra Allen was a native of Halifax, Vt., and Lydia Allen, whose maiden name was Chamberlain, was born in Worcester, Mass. J. W. Allen attended the common schools until 1848, in which year his father died. Two years later he made his home with an elder brother, remaining until twenty years of age, when, having completed his education, he removed to Missouri, where he taught school two years. During the late war he was for a time a member of the home guard, a body organized to protect themselves against attack from the secession element, but in 1861 he returned to his native place, and in 1864 he removed to Wellsboro, Tioga Co., Penn., where he became principal of Wellsboro Academy; he was also principal of the graded school for two terms. The same year, however, he removed to Coudersport, Potter Co., Penn., where he was for two years principal of the graded school. In 1866 he was elected county superintendent of schools, a position he held until 1878, since when he has been engaged in farming and in looking after the interest of the Bingham Land Estate for the agent of the trustees. He is a past master of Eulalia Lodge, No. 342, F. & A. M., and is a member of the Sons of Temperance. He is a strong temperance man, but not a third-party man. Mr. Allen married, in 1866, Miss Mary, daughter of Benjamin Bowen, of Knoxville, Tioga Co., Penn., and they were the parents of three children: John, Ezra and Laura, all at home but Ezra, who is a stenographer and typewriter in Wisconsin, and designs soon to return and enter upon a collegiate course at Bucknell College, Penn. Mrs. Allen was president of the Woman’s Temperance Union, and was a zealous worker in that cause. She was a member of the Baptist Church (which church Mr. Allen assisted in erecting, and has aided in its maintenance since, and of which he has been deacon since its organization). Mrs. Allen died of consumption September 28, 1889. Mr. Allen takes a deep interest in not only religious but also in educational matters.

History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania : with biographical selections, including their early settlement and development, a description of the historic and interesting localities, sketches of their cities, towns and villages, portraits of prominent men, biographies of representative citizens, outline history of Pennsylvania, statistics. Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1890, page 1142

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