ALLEN, Edward Payson, a Representative from Michigan; born in Sharon, Washtenaw County, Mich., October 28, 1839; attended the district and select schools; was graduated from the State normal school in 1864; enlisted and helped to raise a company for the Twenty-ninth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry; commissioned first lieutenant in September 1864 and later, captain; mustered out with his regiment in September 1865; was graduated from the law school of Michigan University at Ann Arbor in March 1867; was admitted to the bar; commenced practice in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County; assistant assessor of internal revenue in 1869; prosecuting attorney of Washtenaw County in 1872; alderman of Ypsilanti 1872-1874; elected to the Michigan house of representatives in 1876 and again in 1878, at which time he was elected speaker pro tempore; mayor of Ypsilanti in 1880; appointed United States Indian agent for Michigan in August 1882 and served until December 1885; elected as a Republican to the Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses (March 4, 1887-March 3, 1891); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1890 to the Fifty-second Congress; resumed the practice of law; member of the State board of agriculture 1897-1903; again mayor of Ypsilanti in 1899 and 1900; member of the State soldiers’ home board 1903-1909; died in Ypsilanti, Mich., November 25, 1909; interment in Highland Cemetery.
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present, contributed by A. Newell.

ALLEN, Esther Lavilla, author, born in Ithaca, N. Y., 28th May, 1834. While she was a child, her parents removed to Ypsilanti, Mich., and she was educated in the seminary of that town. In 1851 she was married, and for some years her home has been in Hillsdale, Mich. Beginning her literary career in earnest in 187o, she wrote stories, sketches and poems for prominent periodicals, her productions being widely copied. Much of her work has been devoted to temperance and missionary lines. Being a fine reader she has often read her poetical productions in public, mainly before college societies.
Contributed by Marla Snow - (American Women, Fifteen Hundred Biographies, Vol 1, Publ. 1897.)

ALLEN, John, as born in Augusta county, Virginia, May 17, 1796. His parents were James and Elizabeth (Tate) Allen, both native Virginians. Mr. Allen spent his early life in Virginia, where he received his education. In January, 1824, he come to Michigan, and, in company with E. W. Eumsey, located the site of Ann Arbor. He engaged in land speculation and at one time owned thousands of acres of land in the western part of the state, much of which was lost in the panic of 1837. In company with Samuel W. Dexter, he published for a time the Western Emigrant, the first paper in Washtenaw county. He studied law with James Kingsley, and was admitted to the bar in 1832, but gave little time to the profession. He was State Senator in 1845-6-7 and 8. He went to California in 1850 and died there March 11, 1851.
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present, contributed by Barb Z.

ALLEN, John Robins, Professor mechanical engineering; born, Milwaukee, Wis., July 23, 1869; son of James Morrill and Eliza Jane (Stanton ) Allen; educated in public schools of Milwaukee, Ann Arbor High School, University of Michigan, B. S., 1892, M. E., 1896; married at Ann Arbor, Oct. 9, 1894, (Washtenaw Co) Lola H. Conrad. Secretary L. K. Comstock Construction Co., Chicago, 1893; member firm of Ball & Allen, consulting engineers, Chicago, 1894-96; teacher mechanical engineering University of Michigan since Oct. 1896, professor, same, since 1903. One of the organizers of firm of Brush & Allen, engineers, Detroit, 1904, firm becoming Brush, Allen & Anderson, 1907. Member American Society of Ventilating Engineers, Detroit Engineering Society, National Association of Stationary Engineers (honorary), American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Democrat. Baptist. Member Phi Gamma Delta. Club: University. Recreations: Hunting and fishing. Offices: Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and 1331-1332 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit. Residence: 226 S. Ingalls Av., Ann Arbor.
Source: The Book of Detroiters by Albert Nelson Marquis 1908

ALLEN, Lewis, was born Aug. 19, 1797, at Morristown, N. J. His father moved to Seneca county, N. Y., in 1803. The county was then a wilderness. He lived in Seneca county until 1833. when he moved to Sharon, Washtenaw county. On the organization of the township in 1834, he was elected its first supervisor, which office he held repeatedly, as also that of justice of the peace. He was elected Representative to the legislature of 1839, but declined a re-nomination. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church in the adjoining village of Manchester, for many years was a ruling elder therein, and always gave much time and attention to educational and religious matters in his neighborhood. He died in Sharon on the farm where he first settled, on the 14th day of October, 1854, aged 57 years. In politics he was a Democrat
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present, contributed by Barb Z.

ALLEN, Lovatus, , was born in 1816 at Huntington, Vermont. He received a common school education and taught at eighteen. He worked summers and taught winters in his native town until 1841. He then taught in the vicinity of Deckertown, N. Y., continuously for five years. He then took an interest in a woolen factory for three years at Branchville, N. J. He came lo Michigan about 1850 and settled on a farm in York, Washtenaw county. Held various town offices and was Representative in the legislature of 1863-4. Democrat in politics.
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present, contributed by Barb Z.