Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 763 - 764 

CHARLES H. ALLEN is one of the enterprising, energetic and industrious citizens of Wichita, who have done so much toward promoting the growth of the city and developing its various business interests. He came here June 3, 1872, and established himself in business as a harness-maker. By his industrious application to his work and good management, he built up a trade, keeping from four to twenty men in his employ all the time. He is at present living in retirement on the proceeds of a good income.

            Mr. Allen is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth occurring in Somerset County, Feb. 16, 1835. He is the son of Hugh and Martha (Hood) Allen, natives of Pennsylvania. The year following the birth of their son, our subject, they moved to LaSalle County, Ill., and there made their home till death, the father actively engaging in his vocation as farmer. He was an honest man, of sound judgment, and by persistent toil gained a comfortable competency. To him and his good wife were born four children, two of whom are now living -- Charles H., and Docia, now Mrs. Spiller.

            Our subject remained in the home of his parents until he was ten years of age. His early education was obtained under difficulties, as he only attended school a part of three winters, and then had to walk two and one-half miles across bleak, wind-swept, snowy prairies. At the extremely youthful age of ten years he went out into the world alone to commence the hard hand-to-hand conflict with life, which early developed in him a manly, self-reliant character. After leaving the shelter of his boyhood home he traveled over Illinois and Iowa, working at such employments as he could obtain. When sixteen years old he commenced driving stage and carrying the United States mail in Illinois. He also drove stage and carried the United States mail through Iowa for a number of years. Finally he returned to Illinois, and at Peoria established himself in the livery business, which he followed for the next three years. In 1858 he made a new departure, and coming to Leavenworth, in this State, took charge of the stage line on the Santa Fe Road to New Mexico. That was during the exciting times of the terrible struggle between the free State people and the pro-slavery men for the possession of the Territory of Kansas. Leavenworth was then a city of but a very few years' growth, and presented the rough, unfinished appearance common to all frontier towns. In 1861 he gave up his position as superintendent of the stage line, and took charge of a livery stable in Leavenworth until 1864. In that year he turned his attention to freighting across the plains to Denver and New Mexico, and was thus occupied until 1870, when he retired from that business, having in the meantime made quite a sum of money. The ensuing year he managed a large stock farm, situated six miles from Leavenworth. He then gave that up and came to Wichita, where he has since made his residence. When he first came to the city he bought a lot on Topeka avenue, and there built a house in which he lived for seven years. He then disposed of it very profitably, and purchased a residence on Water street, in which he remained for two years, and then removed to his present home. He has made several investments in real estate, which have resulted very advantageously. He is now the owner of some valuable lots in the south part of the city in Kelsch's Addition.

            Mr. Allen was married, in 1863, to Miss Joanna Glassbrook, a native of New York, and daughter of George and Rachel (Phillips) Glassbrook, natives of Maine. Mr. Glassbrook was a cooper, and followed that occupation through life. To him and his wife were born three children, only two of whom are now living -- Mrs. Allen, and Amanda, now Mrs. Cissne. To our subject has been born one child, Maud.

            Mr. Allen's wide experience and shrewd common sense have been important factors in his success as a business man. He has been an intelligent observer of men and events, and his life on the great plains was filled with many striking incidents and scenes characteristic of Western life far from the centers of civilization more than a quarter of a century ago, and illustrative of the wonderful development of the country since that time. In politics our subject is a stanch Democrat. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.

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