California Genealogy and History Archives
Biographies
of
San Bernardino County and Riverside County
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NORMAN
DOUGLAS ALLEN came to San Bernardino County thirty-four years
ago. He was then a young man of twenty-six, was married, and brought his
wife and several children to the West. Mr. Allen as a youth had learned
to cope with circumstances that combined poverty and privation. He has
always been a worker, dependent upon his industry and self reliance, and
that industry he has effectively used in some of the real substantial
development of the country around Ontario and Upland. Mr. Allen was born in
Parma, Jackson County, Michigan, August 4, 1861, son of Norman and Ellen
(Thompson) Allen. His father was a native of Massachusetts and his
mother of Michigan. When he was six years old his mother died, and six
years later he was left an orphan by the death of his father. His father
had been married three times, and Norman was one of the three sons of
the last marriage. When Norman Allen was a small child his father moved
out to Kansas and homesteaded. He was an educated man, taught school on
the prairies of Kansas, and had studied law, though he never practiced
that profession. For two years he was justice of the peace and
supervisor. He died in Kansas. Norman Douglas Allen after
the death of his father lived with his uncle, Almon Allen, and had
limited educational advantages, and when he married, at the age of
twenty-two, provided for his family and home by farming and farm work.
After he had been married some four years he came to California,
reaching Ontario the last day of December, 1887. This country had made
little progress in development up to that time. Mr. Allen engaged in
such work as a new country provides, and he leveled and planted many
acres of orchard, cared for orchards for other owners, and also helped
construct some of the country's highways. For a time he had charge of
the city's rock crusher. Twenty-four years ago he bought the land where
he now lives, and on which he erected a cheap house. This was replaced
eleven years ago with a modern and artistic home. Mr. Allen in his
career has been energetic, honest and a thoroughly reliable type of the
pioneer. He has reared a family of children that is a credit to him .and
the community. He has never aspired to public office, and his greatest
enthusiasm is for the wild life of the mountains. When duties permit he
has sought sport and recreation in the hunting of deer, and is familiar
with all their haunts. On August 4, 1883, Mr. Allen married Lena Scheurer, a native of Illinois. Ten children have been born to their union: Walter C. born in Kansas September 4, 1884, is a successful business man at Upland, owning a transfer and trading outfit. He is married and has four living children. George L., born September 11, 1885, also in Kansas, is manager of the Los Angeles Linen Supply Company. He is married and has four sons and one daughter. Herman, born in Kansas November 8, 1887, died at Upland July 28, 1908. Ella, born November 15, 1889, in California, is the wife of Hugh McLean, a prosperous show merchant at Upland, and they have three children. Fred M., born June 25, 1891, is a box maker at Ontario. He is married and has two children. Mrs. Eva M. Sachs, born October 8, 1895, is the wife of a carpenter and contractor, and they have one son. Norman M., born May 15, 1897, was trained at Camp Kearney, San Diego, with Company A of the 16th Ammunition Train, but did not get overseas. He is married and has a daughter and lives at Ontario. Howard C, born August 12, 1899, was in the selective service and had orders to proceed to Texas the day the armistice was signed. He is married. The two younger children are Christina, born April 23, 1902, now attending the Chaffey High School, and Edna May, born August 20, 1904, also in high school. |
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Source: Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011 |