WI BIO - Kenosha Co - ALLEN, Charles Chester & Charles W.
The City of Kenosha and Kenosha County, WI. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 
1916, Vol II, pp 80-81

The history of Kenosha, Kenosha County, WI, would be incomplete and 
unsatisfactory were there failure to make prominent reference to the ALLEN 
family which through three generations has figured most actively in the 
promotion of manufacturing interests here. It is true that Charles Chester 
ALLEN entered upon a business already established, but in enlarging and 
developing this many a man of less resolute spirit would have failed. His 
record also proves that success is not a matter of genius and held by some, 
but is rather the outcome of clear judgment, experience and initiative. 
Charles Chester ALLEN is today [1916] at the head of the Chicago-Kenosha 
Hosiery Company, operating the largest exclusive hosiery business in the U. S.

Charles Chester ALLEN was born 19 Mar 1880 in Kenosha, Kenosha County, WI, 
the city in which he still resides, his parents being Charles W. and Ella 
(FRENCH) ALLEN. Charles W. ALLEN, also a native of Kenosha, was educated in 
the public schools here, and in 1870 was admitted to partnership with his 
father, Nathan R. ALLEN, in the firm of N. R. Allen & Son. For a 
considerable period that firm furnished employment to a large share of the 
industrial population of Kenosha. After ten years another son, Nathan, Jr., 
was admitted to partnership and the firm style was changed to N. R. Allen & 
Sons, and following the death of the senior partner in 1890 the name of N. R. 
Allen's Sons Company was assumed. The manufacturing industry of this firm 
covered a wide scope, furnishing employment to 1,000 people, and their 
tanning plant is said to have exceeded in size and importance that of any 
other establishment of similar character in the world.

On 04 Apr 1878, Charles W. ALLEN was united in marriage to Miss Ella FRENCH, 
a daughter of Alvin and Nancy (STEVENS) FRENCH. Alvin FRENCH was one of the 
honored pioneer settlers of WI, establishing his home about three miles from 
Kenosha in 1835. To Charles W. and Ella (FRENCH) ALLEN were born two sons 
and a daughter, Charles Chester, Robert W., and Gertrude E. The father, 
Charles W. ALLEN continued at the head of the large interests of the N. R. 
Allen's Sons Company until his death in 1911.

Charles Chester ALLEN pursued a public school education in Kenosha, WI, to 
the age of 18 years, and then became a student in the engineering department 
of the University of WI, where he remained for three years. His initial 
business training was received under the direction of his father, and he 
acquainted himself with every phase of the interest conducted by the family, 
serving as President of the N. R. Allen's Sons Company from 1910-1912. His 
activities cover a very wide scope, and have featured most prominently in the 
material development and upbuilding of the city of Kenosha. He is now 
identified with the Chicago-Kenosha Hosiery Company as its President, and his 
study of questions affecting the trade has resulted in well defined plans for 
the improvement, development and promotion of the business. While he is not 
actuated by any spirit of vaulting ambition, he does not hesitate to take a 
forward step when the way is open, and his initiative has enabled him to take 
the lead in instituting plans and methods which have been effectively 
resultant.

On 15 Apr 1903 Charles Chester ALLEN was married to Miss Susan Keels 
SWANDALE, of Greenville, SC, and they have three children: Charles William, 
Tupper Swandale, and Chester French. Charles Chester ALLEN is preeminently a 
business man, alert and enterprising, free from ostentation and display. On 
meeting him, one at once recognizes his reserve strength and feels that he 
would go at once to the root of matters, and not be led astray by 
dissimulation or over emphasis of a minor point.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly