Career Of John H. Allen

John Harlow Allen, who was buried in Forest Hill cemetery Saturday afternoon, had been a resident of Ann Arbor continuously for more than twenty years, and of Washtenaw County for 38 years.

He was born in Canada, August 29, 1832, and at the time of his death was nearing the end of the allotted three score years and ten. His father was Elijah Allen, who was born in the state of New York, and was a grandson of Ethan Allen of Fort Ticonderoga fame.

John H. Allen grew to manhood in Canada, where he was married March 16, 1854, to Margaret Finlayson, of Scotch ancestry. In the spring of 1864, Mr. Allen and his family moved to Washtenaw County, Michigan, and lived on a farm in the town of Pittsfield for several years. After residing there for a short time he moved to a farm in Lima township, where he lived from 1870 to 1879. He then returned to Ann Arbor and resided on Fourth avenue till 1890. After that, he lived on Miller avenue, at the western edge of the city, until the time of his death, which occurred May 8, 1902, at 5 o'clock p.m.

The sturdiness independence and honesty characteristic of his New England ancestry were marked traits of Mr. Allen's character. He "looked the whole world in the face" with a fearless eye and won success from hard conditions. His experience in the battle of life did not harden his nature against his fellowmen, but made him ever ready to lend a helping hand to those engaged in a struggle similar to what his own had been.

Of the six children born to Mr. Allen and his wife three survive him. Mrs. Henry Selleck. of Bay City, Mrs. Leroy Brown of St. Paul, Minn., and Ida B. at home. Besides these daughters he left to mourn his wife who for over 48 years had been his constant companion.

The last tew years of his life were marked by the keenest suffering, but he met death as he had met life through all his years, without fear, and the end came with perfect peace as he had wished. The funeral services were held at the home on Miller avenue, and were conducted by Rev. Dr. Crooker, pastor of the Unitarian Church, of which Mr. Allen was a trustee.