California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


WILLIAM T. ALLEN. As a successful rancher William T. Allen is doing much to advance the 
agricultural interests of the community about Bakersfield, his forty-acre ranch being located 
just seven miles west of that city. Empty handed he came to Kern county less than ten years 
ago, and with indefatigable energy and perseverance has already established himself among 
the men whose efforts have counted in the battle of life. A native of Kenton county, Ky., he 
was born September 1, 1853, the representative of an old colonial family, and one in which the 
pioneer element had no little place. The grandfather, Hugh Allen, was a native of Virginia and 
was one of the first to cross the mountains into Kentucky, in time establishing himself as an 
extensive farmer and the owner of a large number of slaves in Woodford count}-, where he 
lived to an advanced age. He married Hannah Trumbull, who belonged to the family which 
numbered Governor Trumbull of Ohio among its members. Carey T. Allen, their son and the 
father of W. T. Allen, of this review, was born in Kentucky and spent his entire life in that state 
as a farmer, meeting with great success in all his operations, but losing his fortune in later life 
through security debts. He died at the age of fifty-six years. His wife, formerly Charlotte 
Cleveland, was born in Kentucky in 1818 and died in 1878, with the exception of a few years in 
Indiana, having spent her entire life in her native state. She was a member of the Baptist 
Church. 

Of the ten children born to his parents William T. Allen was the sixth in order of birth. He 
remained at home on the farm until earlv manhood. when he married and entered into an 
independent life as a fanner and dairyman. In 1894 he came west to California, where he 
rented property for four or five years, when he purchased the forty acres which now 
constitutes his home, located on section 23, township 29, range 26, east, his postoffice being 
Rosedale. This has become a very valuable piece of property, the land being devoted to the 
cultivation of alfalfa and grapes, besides which he has a water franchise. In addition to 
managing his ranch he moves houses and makes considerable money in that way. December 
20, 1881, he was united in marriage with his second cousin, Elizabeth Allen, who was born and 
reared in Kentucky, the daughter of James Trumbull and Louisa (Robertson) Allen. The father 
was born in Kentucky in 1828, and is now storekeeper and gauger for the government in 
Kentucky, being hale and hearty, though past seventy-five years. Politically he is a Republican. 
His wife was a native of New York, her parents being emigrants from Scotland, and he is still 
living at the age of seventy-two years. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Allen were born two children, namely : Hugh S., now a student in the State University at 
Berkeley, taking a course in mining engineering ; and Louisa Robertson, who is attending the 
high school of Bakersfield. Politically Mr. Allen is a Democrat and in the interests of his party and 
the general public as well has served for many years as school trustee. Both himself and wife 
are members of the Congregational Church at Rosedale, and both take an active interest in the 
church and Sunday school. The life of Mr. Allen has been such as to call forth the esteem and 
respect of all with whom he has come in contact, all honoring him for his energy and 
perseverance and evident business ability, and for the unswerving integrity which has 
characterized all his dealings. He is often chosen to fill responsible posts as he well represents 
the best interests of the people.