History of Detroit, a chronicle of its progress, its industries, its institutions, and the people of the fair City of the straits, / by Paul Leake ... [Vol. 3]

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HISTORY OF DETROIT

after which he passed some time in the south where he associated himself with progressive movements at various points. Returning to Plymouth he thereafter continued as a valued and influential factor in the
promotion of those measures and enterprises through which had been
compassed the splendid advancement of this most, attractive little city.
He became prominently concerned with real estate operations, and these
included the successful handling of various properties of the estate of
his father-in-law, the late Hon. Ebenezer J. Penniman. A tract of
ninety acres owned by Mr. Penniman and adjoining Plymouth on the
west was platted by Mr. Allen as an addition to the town and was most
effectively exploited by him. He not only sold many lots in this addition
but also made building improvements of excellent order. He erected
many fine residences which he sold on contract, and by this means he
built up the entire west section of the town, thereby developing one of
the most beautiful residence districts in this part of Wayne county.
Nothing that touched the material, social and governmental welfare
of Plymouth failed to enlist the earnest support of Mr. Allen and he was
recognized as one of the most progressive and influential of its citizens,
as well as one eminently entitled to the unreserved confidence and esteem
reposed in him in his native county. He had no predilection for public
office, but his sense of civic pride and duty prompted him to serve for
some time as a member of the village council, in which he was a stanch
advocate of progressive policies, but of conservative administration of
municipal affairs. He was unswerving in his allegiance to the Republican party and was well fortified in his political convictions and opinions. In addition to the varied interests of financial order in his home
village, where he was a director of the Plymouth Savings Bank, he was a
stockholder in the Buick Motor Company, at Flint, this state, as well
as being a director, and he was also a stockholder in the Dime Savings
Bank and the Scotten-Dillon Tobacco Company of Detroit. He also
had other large financial interests and was known as a business man
of marked initiative and executive ability.
In the Masonic fraternity Mr. Allen completed the circle of both the
York and Scottish Rites, in the former of which his ancient-craft
affiliation was with the Plymouth Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and
his maximum with Detroit Commandery, No. 1, Knights Templars, while
in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite he received the thirty-second
degree in Michigan Sovereign Consistory, in Detroit, where he also held
membership in Moslem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is survived by two brothers, David
and Charles, both of whom reside in Plymouth, and by an adopted
sister, Nellie, who is the wife of A. M. Boice, of Lansing, this state. The
death of Mr. Allen was an irreparable loss to his home town and
county, where his circle of friends was coincident with that of his acquaintances and where he was ever instant in the promotion of those
things which tend to conserve the general welfare, his whole hearted
interests in the advancement of his native place having found most
practical and beneficent expression and having been potent in the furtherance of its material and civic prosperity.
On the 18th day of August, 1896, was solemnized the marriage o?
Mr. Allen to Miss Katherine Penniman, who was likewise born and
reared in Plymouth and who is a daughter of the late Hon. Ebenezer
J. Penniman. Mrs. Allen is a popular and valued factor in the leading
social activities of her native village and county and occupies the
beautiful old homestead in the western part of Plymouth that was
erected by her father nearly half a century ago, the atmosphere of which
has ever been one of peace, prosperity and gracious hospitality. Mr. and
Mrs. Allen had no children.