730
HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
children. The only member of this family living at Carpentersville is Mrs. Charles I. Wilber.
EDWARD R. ALLEN (deceased), merchant and banker, Aurora, Ill. born at Cortland, N. Y., Nov. 7, 1819, reared at home, and trained to be a druggist at Lockport, same State, first came west in 1839 and was in the drug business in Chicago until 1841, when he removed to Aurora, engaging here very extensively in merchandising. For many years he was closely associated in various important mercantile enterprises, and with the late L. D. Brady set up what soon became the banking house of Brady, Allen & Hawkins, and later still the First National Bank of Aurora. Until his retirement Mr. Allen was a most active business character and of wide influence. Many enterprises of moment were helped by him, and he was a leading spirit in anything that sought to promote the public welfare. While Aurora was still a village he was a trustee of the town, in after years being City Alderman, Mayor and State Senator. He was personally and intimately acquainted with Abraham Lincoln, and by appointment of President Polk was the second Postmaster of Aurora. He died o in Aurora, August 22, 1897. His first wife was Alice Carr, whose family is famous in Kane County. She died, leaving one son. His second wife, Miss Mary A. Gates, born at Stowe, Mass., during the Civil War, took high rank as a patriotic woman, and in the local Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society did much to help the "boys at the front." She died May 16, 1865. Mr. Allen's children living in 1903 are: Mrs. Lottie (Allen) Mack. Aurora; Frank G., Moline. Ill., and Mrs. Anna (Allen) Staudt, Aurora. Edward C. Allen, the eldest son, born and reared in Aurora, became a noted manufacturer after being in the coal business at Aurora some years with his father, and in the United States Railway Mail Service, and was connected with the Moline Plow Company. He bought land near Huron, S. D., and when his failing health became serious he retired into seclusion. He was born Sept. 3, 1849, and died in Huron July 4, 1893. Arvilla, his wife, was a daughter of Ansel Hayward, a pioneer farmer of Kane County. Frank G., second son of Edward R. Allen, born in Aurora Feb. 14, 1858, graduated from the University of Michigan in 1880, became a lawyer and was admitted to the bar. After two years of practice he became interested in the Moline Plow Company, of which he is now Vice-President and General Manager. He is also interested in other Moline enterprises. He married Miss Minnie F. Stephens, of Moline, in 1882.
FRANK E. ALLEN, Deputy County Recorder, Elgin, Kane County, Ill., was born at Oriskany Falls, N. Y., May 6, 1856, the son of F. J. and Oriana (Henderson) Allen; obtained his education at Colgate Academy, Hamilton, N. Y., graduating from that institution in the class of 1874; came to Illinois in 1876, establishing his home in Elgin, where he was engaged in the dry-goods trade for several years afterwards as head of the firm of Allen Bros.; later became chief adjuster of fire losses for the Union Insurance Company of Philadelphia, being employed in this capacity until 1897, when he resigned to accept the official position which he now holds; has served two terms as a member of the City Council of Elgin. Fraternally Mr. Allen is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Elks. He was married in 1882 to Miss Frances V. Plant, of Elgin.
MARTIN V. ALLEN (deceased), merchant and soldier, Aurora, Ill., was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., Nov. 6, 1832, son of Reuben and Nancy Allen. In 1845 the family came to Illinois by way of the lakes in a sailing vessel, and located at Shatabona, DeKalb County, where Mr. Allen was reared on the farm. He enlisted, Aug. 12, 1862, in the One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and Sept. 2, following, was mustered into the service as First Lieutenant of Company E of this regiment. His promotion to Captain was made March 9, 1863, and he was in command of this company until Aug. 16, 1864, when he received a gunshot wound in the shoulder at Atlanta. This wound proved so disabling that he was compelled to leave the service, being discharged Jan. 22, 1865. In the course of his military experience he participated in the battles at Resaca, Cass-ville, Dallas, New Hope Church, Price Mountain, Kenesaw, Marietta, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta. As an officer and a soldier he had an enviable record, and was highly regarded by his comrades in arms. After his return from the army Captain Allen was elected Superintendent of Schools of DeKalb County, a position he filled from 1865 to 1869. In 1875 he established him-
