Stephen H. Allen

Stephen H. Allen, farmer, section 36, Burdell Township, was born Feb 22, 1818, in Kentshire, Eng. At the age of 16 he entered the British sailing service and became a sailor on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. During the 20 years in which he was a seaman, he was engaged 12 years as a marine, and in the naval military service during the war with china in 1840-1, and was on the coast of Africa five years, engaged in the capture of slave vessels. He sailed on all the seas and oceans of the Eastern continent and visited all the European nations that had a seaboard.

He came to the port of New York in 1852, where he was soon after married to Eliza Conway. They have had seven children: William E. was born Feb. 15, 1853; Joseph P., Nov. 1, 1855; Edward E., Sept. 26, 1861; Stephen, Feb. 22, 1862. Stephen H. (1st) John and Mary are deceased. Mrs. Allen was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, Dec. 5, 1832, and lived in her native country until her marriage.

After that event Mr. Allen established a mercantile business in Brooklyn, and also operated as a ship-rigger, carrying on both branches of business until 1859, the year of his removal to the West. He located first in Chicago, where he resided three years. Among his experiences in the Garden City were two disasterous fires, which involved heavy loss and inconvenience. He came thence to Plymouth, Ind., where he was variously employed four years. He removed his family in 1874 to Kalamazoo, where he left them and came to Osceola County. He located a homestead claim of 80 acres, on which he made some improvements and returned to Kalamazoo. The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad was then in process of construction, and he became an employee of the corporation, and worked on the line until it reached the vicinity of his home, where he brought his family for the first time. There the first opening in that part of the county was made at a time when Reed City was but little more than begun, and Cadillac had no existence, either in fact or fancy. His place is now nearly all improved and has suitable and good farm belongings. Mr. Allen continued to work on the line of railraod as it extended north until it reached Rapid River, when he returned to his farm labor.

He is a Democrat in political persuasion, and is an Episcopalian in Church connection; Mrs. Allen is a Catholic. He has been Justice of the Peace nine years and held the various school offices.

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