More about N. H. Allen

The following biographical sketch comes from "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon : Containing a History of Oregon From the Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time" by Rev. H. K. Hines. The Lewis Publishing Company, 1893.

N. H. ALLEN, one of the leading business men of Albany, Oregon, was born in Ontario county, New York, in 1837, son of Stephen and Martha (Gennn) Allen, also natives of the Empire State. His father was a carriage manufacturer. In 1840 he moved to Jefferson county, Wisconsin, and opened a small manufactory, which he conducted until the spring of 1862. At that time he started for California, but was destined never to reach the Golden State. While on the plains near Fort Laramie, he died of cholera.

N. H. Allen received his early education in Wisconsin, and completed his studies in Chicago. At the age of nineteen he was employed as bookkeeper in that city, being thus engaged two years. He then opened a grocery store, afterward did a dry-goods business and was engaged in speculation until 1871. In the memorable fire of that year he suffered great financial loss, and subsequently closed up his business affairs and started for Pacific coast. He arrived in Albany, Oregon, in August, 1874, and has since been identified with the interests of this city. He purchased of L. Martin a half interest in the old saw and planing mill, at the foot of Montgomery street, which they operated about seven years, bringing logs from the Cascade mountains. They kept from thirty to fifty men employed in the mountains cutting logs, and not only supplied their own mill, but also furnished logs for other mills below, thus doing an extensive business. Mr. Allen sold his interest in the mill in 1881, but subsequently purchased the entire property and still owns it. In 1881 Messrs. Allen & Martin engaged in the dry-goods business in Albany. At the end of two years Mr. Martin retired, and Mr. Allen continued the business alone until 1887, when he sold a half interest to W. F. Read, and the following year M.. Read bought the other half. Since then Mr. Allen has devoted his time to the management of his electric light system, which he established March 29, 1887. Securing water-power, erecting buildings, and commencing operations with one Schuyler arc and one Westinghouse incandescent machine, he pushed his enterprise forward, and wired the town for thirty-five arc and 325 sixteen-candle power incandescent lights, demonstrating the practicability of the project. He sold stock and in July, 1889, incorporated as the Albany Electric Light-Power & Telephone Company. The business has increased to such proportions that he has already doubled his capacity and in the near future will add machinery to meet the increasing demands. Mr. Allen retains a controlling interest in the company and acts as secretary and manager. He was one of the organizers of the Albany Milling & Mining Company, in which he fills the office of vice-president.

Of his private life it should be stated that Mr. Allen was married in Chicago, in 1873, to Miss Mary N. Hanawalt, a native of Iowa. They have four children: Edna, Mamie, Frank and Alma. He built his residence corner of Sixth and Baker streets, in 1880, and besides this owns other valuable property in Albany, and has 200 acres of timber land near Brownsville.

Mr. Allen is a Knight Templar, A. F. & A. M., and a member of the K. of P. and the A. O. U. W. Politics and public office are not in his line, but in business, enterprise and development, he is among the "hustlers” of the city.