VT BIO - Chittenden Co - ALLEN, John Clayton

Men of Vermont: an Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro, VT: Transcript Pub. Co., 1894, Part III, Sons 
of Vermonters, pp 4-5 (Portrait p 5)

John Clayton ALLEN, of Lincoln [Lancaster County], Nebraska, son of John H. 
ALLEN, was born 14 February 1860 in Hinesburg [Chittenden County, Vermont]. 
He received his early education at Hinesburg Academy and graduated from the 
New Haven Academy, when he associated himself with his father in the lumber 
and harness business in his native town [Hinesburg] and there continued [p 5] 
until 1881. Removing to Lincoln [Lancaster County], Nebraska in March 1881, 
he entered the wholesale grocery house of Raymond Brothers & Company, 
representing that firm in southwestern Nebraska and eastern Colorado, where 
he remained until 1886. In that year Mr. ALLEN entered into business on his 
own account at McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska, and built up one of the 
largest wholesale and retail general merchandise houses in southwestern 
Nebraska, which he continued until 1892.

Politically Mr. ALLEN has held true to his early training and is a member of 
the Republican party. He was elected a councilman in the city of McCook [Red 
Willow County, Nebraska] in the fall of 1886, and served two terms of two 
years each, being president of the council during the entire term of his 
incumbency and acting mayor for six months, resigning that office at the time 
of his election as secretary of state, and was elected over four other 
contestants with a plurality of 3,800.

In 1892 he was renominated by acclamation by the Republican state convention 
for a second term, and was elected by 21,209 plurality votes over four 
others. Mr. ALLEN has always been regarded as one of the stanchest 
Republicans and one of the best informed politicians of Nebraska, and 
naturally has a large following. He is looked upon as a representative of 
the business interests of Nebraska, and he has always enjoyed the confidence 
and support of the business men irrespective of political opinion. He is a 
member of the Willow Grove Lodge, No. 42, Knights of Pythias, McCook, 
Nebraska, and a member of the Commercial Pilgrims of America.

Mr. [John Clayton] ALLEN was united in marriage in August 1881 to Abbie 
Stapleford [submitter assumes Stapleford is a middle name, but it may be a 
previous married name] of Vermont [Fulton County], Illinois, a niece of 
ex-Attorney General C. J. DILWORTH of Nebraska. The issue of this marriage 
[of John Clayton and Abbie ALLEN] is Ralph C., born 01 September 1883.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly