My Genealogy Hound

A. V. ALLEN, proprietor of the Eagle Cornice Works, Joplin, was born in Genesee county. New York, Nov. 10, 1835. His parents, Joel and Mirab (Root) Allen were natives of Connecticut. Our subject remained in the county of his nativity until sixteen years of age. His parents then moved to Ohio, locating in Piqua county, and his father, being a mechanic, engaged at his trade. Our subject received a liberal education in the schools of New York and Ohio. He also, during boyhood, worked in the shop with his father. At the age of eighteen he went to California, stopping at Hangtown, where he worked at his trade for nearly two years. Thence to Sacramento, and shortly afterward to Nevada City, same state, where he engaged in mining. Returned to the states in the summer of 1838, and soon after went to Texas, where he engaged on the stage mail-route between Henderson and Waco, western Texas. Shortly after he disposed of interests there and went to Ohio, then back to St. Louis, and in 1861 he made another trip to California. While out West he did military duty for a time under General Connor, and afterwards engaged in mining in Montana. Returned to the states and engaged in business, first at Piqua, Ohio, then at Frankfort, Ken., and later at Omaha. Neb., where he secured a contract for roofing and heavy sheet iron work on the round houses, machine shops, etc., etc., for the U. P. Railroad. Continued there three years, then returned to Piqua, Ohio. In 1870 he came West again to St. Louis, and engaged in cornice business. Came to Joplin in July, 1872, and established his present business. Mr. Allen was married in Miami county, Ohio, in the fall of 1869, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John W. and Delia Gordon, of that county. Mrs. Allen was born in the Buckeye State in 1843. They have one child, William Gordon, born November 12, 1870. Our subject and Mrs. Allen have a splendid home on the corner of Ninth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Business on the corner of First and Main streets. Makes a specialty of cornice work, also manufactures heavy sheet iron and tin wares.