My Genealogy Hound

EDWARD A. ALLEN, a prominent merchant of Huntington, was born in Dalton, Mass., August 1, 1847, son of Henry M. and Electa C. (Davis) Allen. Mr. Allen’s father was a native of Cummington, Mass., where he grew to manhood. Later he moved to Dalton, where he followed agriculture as an occupation. On March 21, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company B, Nineteenth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, and served through the Civil War, receiving his discharge from the service in 1865. He died in Chester, Mass. His wife was the mother of four children, as follows: Fidelia, whose husband, Albert A. Griswold, of Dalton, was killed at the siege of Port Hudson, and who died, leaving one son, Frank A., who married Lucy Herring, and resides in Holyoke; Caroline C., who married Dr. Loomis, a practising physician of Springfield, Mass.; George H., who married Ellen Pendleton, and is engaged in farming in Russell, having one son, named George; and Edward A., the subject of this sketch.

Edward A. Allen commenced life for himself at the age of fifteen, when he came to Huntington, and was employed in a bedstead manufactory for eighteen months. He then worked in the paper-mill for a year, after which he was employed by S. T. Lyman in the hardware business for nine years. While here, he learned the trade of a tinner. In 1872 Mr. Allen established himself in business at his present store, and has since conducted a successful trade in hardware, tinware, ranges, etc., besides doing considerable work as a practical plumber. For the past six years he has also been engaged in the undertaking business, and later he made an investment in real estate located in Huntington that promises a satisfactory return. He is an energetic and able business man, and his enterprise has met with merited success.

Mr. Allen is an active supporter of the Republican party. He is Deputy Sheriff for Hampshire and Hampden Counties, and has been Constable for several years. He has been a Trustee of the Whiting Street Fund for the past six years. In Masonry he has advanced to the Commandery, and he is a member in good standing of the Red Men and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

On May 15, 1865, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Josepha M. Stanton, who was born in Huntington, September 29, 1846, daughter of Joseph Stanton, Jr., a prosperous farmer of that town. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have two children, namely: Harry Edward, who was born February 24, 1874; and Grace S., who was born February 9, 1879. Both parents are members of the Baptist congregation, and are actively interested in church work.