William H. Allen, lumberman at Evart, was born Dec 3, 1837, in Ontario County, New York. His fathr , Albert A. Allen, was a native of the Empire State and was for some years a minister of the Methodist Church. He died in Holly, Oakland County, Michigan, Feb 9, 1882, at the age of 77 years. William's mother, Laura Oysterbanks, was born in may 1806, in Green County, New York, and is a member of teh household of her son at Evart. Three of the six children of whom she became the mother of, are living, Laura M., wife of Andrew Seeley, at Palmyra, NY; Alpheus D., book-keeper in Detroit, Michigan, and William H.
Mr. Allen began to prepare for the vocation of machinist when he was 16 years of age. In 1855 he came to Michigan, where he worked at his trade, and later conducted abstract business in the counties of Kent, Muskegon and Genesee. He was one of other wearliest to enlist in the ervice of the United States, entering he ary of he Union in April 1861, enrolling for three months under the first call for troops. He became a member of Co. F, Second Mich Vol Inf and soon after re-enlisted for three years, as a private. He fought at the first Bull Run, at Fair Oaks, Williamsburg, Yorktown, Malvern Hill in skirmishes without number and also served on detailed duty. At the end of two years, he was discharges, on account of ill health, at Philadelphia, and returned to Flint. After Working a short time at his trade, he went to Muskegon and operated in real estate and abstract business. Going thence to Big Rapids, he was employed two years as a clerk in a drug store.
In 1870, he ame to Evart and resumed his occupation of a drug clerk, which he pursued about two years, meanwhile becoming interested in lumbering in the behalf of capitallists at Muskegon, buying timber and logs. He has since been continuoulsy engaged in the same line of business. he is the owner of a residence and two lots at Evart, and of several tracts of farming land variously located in different parts of the country.
Mr. Allen was married Nov 26, 1867, in Muskegon, to Sarah J. Dale. They have two chidren, namely: William J., born Jan 1, 1870 at Big Rapids, and Bessie C. born May 5, 1881 at Evart, Mrs. Allen was born Oct 9, 1840 in Monroe County, Michigan.