John Allen (pioneer)
Encyclopedia
John Allen was an American pioneer
and a co-founder, along with Elisha Rumsey
, of the U.S. city of Ann Arbor
, Michigan
.
, on May 17, 1796. He had two sons with his first wife Mary Crawford. After Crawford's death, he married Ann J. McCue, a widow with two children. Both Crawford and McCue had large inheritances, but historical records maintain that Allen left Virginia primarily escape financial difficulties.
Allen left Virginia in fall 1823 with a herd of cattle which he intended to sell in Baltimore
. From Baltimore, he went to Buffalo, New York
, where he stayed for two months while looking for an associate. He moved on to Detroit in January 1824, where he met Elisha Rumsey
. Rumsey was also was looking for an opportunity to escape the mistakes of his past and work toward a better future.
. Initially, the name of the town was written "Annarbour", but thereafter it appeared as two words. According to Russell Bidlack's Ann Arbor's First Lady: Events in the Life of Ann I. Allen (1998), Ann Arbor was named in honor of John Allen's wife, Ann. Other writers have suggested that Ann Arbor was named for both Ann Allen (wife of Allen) and Mary Ann Rumsey (wife of Rumsey).
Allen found a new start in Ann Arbor, as well as financial success. He became an owner of several thousand acres of land in the western part of Michigan. He was directly involved in many civic duties and functions of Ann Arbor, and was largely responsible for its initial success. He promoted Ann Arbor as a great place to live, establishing its first post office in 1825, and becoming its first postmaster. He also served in other positions, including Coroner and Justice of the Peace. Having studied law with James Kingsley, he was admitted to the Bar of Washtenaw County in 1832. Before becoming a lawyer, he unsuccessfully ran for state representative. He later won a seat in the state senate, serving from 1845 to 1848. Allen and Samuel Dexter established Western Emigrant, Ann Arbor's first newspaper, which used to promote their anti-Mason views.
. He died on March 11, 1851 near San Francisco.
American pioneer
American pioneers are any of the people in American history who migrated west to join in settling and developing new areas. The term especially refers to those who were going to settle any territory which had previously not been settled or developed by European or American society, although the...
and a co-founder, along with Elisha Rumsey
Elisha Rumsey
Elisha Walker Rumsey was an American pioneer and co-founder of the U.S. city of Ann Arbor. He and John Allen founded Ann Arbor in 1824.-Early life:...
, of the U.S. city of Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Early life
John Allen, the son of a wealthy farmer, was born in Augusta County, VirginiaAugusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
, on May 17, 1796. He had two sons with his first wife Mary Crawford. After Crawford's death, he married Ann J. McCue, a widow with two children. Both Crawford and McCue had large inheritances, but historical records maintain that Allen left Virginia primarily escape financial difficulties.
Allen left Virginia in fall 1823 with a herd of cattle which he intended to sell in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. From Baltimore, he went to Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, where he stayed for two months while looking for an associate. He moved on to Detroit in January 1824, where he met Elisha Rumsey
Elisha Rumsey
Elisha Walker Rumsey was an American pioneer and co-founder of the U.S. city of Ann Arbor. He and John Allen founded Ann Arbor in 1824.-Early life:...
. Rumsey was also was looking for an opportunity to escape the mistakes of his past and work toward a better future.
Ann Arbor
In early February 1824, Allen and Rumsey left Detroit. After choosing their site, they returned to Detroit on February 14 to register their claims at the federal land office. Allen, the wealthier of the two men, purchasing 480 acres (1.9 km²) for $600. Rumsey purchased 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) for $200. They also purchased the right to have their village designated the county seat for $1,000. On May 25, the town plot was registered in Wayne CountyWayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
. Initially, the name of the town was written "Annarbour", but thereafter it appeared as two words. According to Russell Bidlack's Ann Arbor's First Lady: Events in the Life of Ann I. Allen (1998), Ann Arbor was named in honor of John Allen's wife, Ann. Other writers have suggested that Ann Arbor was named for both Ann Allen (wife of Allen) and Mary Ann Rumsey (wife of Rumsey).
Allen found a new start in Ann Arbor, as well as financial success. He became an owner of several thousand acres of land in the western part of Michigan. He was directly involved in many civic duties and functions of Ann Arbor, and was largely responsible for its initial success. He promoted Ann Arbor as a great place to live, establishing its first post office in 1825, and becoming its first postmaster. He also served in other positions, including Coroner and Justice of the Peace. Having studied law with James Kingsley, he was admitted to the Bar of Washtenaw County in 1832. Before becoming a lawyer, he unsuccessfully ran for state representative. He later won a seat in the state senate, serving from 1845 to 1848. Allen and Samuel Dexter established Western Emigrant, Ann Arbor's first newspaper, which used to promote their anti-Mason views.
Later life
Having become very influential in Ann Arbor, Allen moved to New York to better manage his financial affairs. He was unsuccessful in New York and by 1850, he had lost most of his wealth in real estate. Looking for ways to regain his fortune, he went west in 1850 to try his luck in the California Gold RushCalifornia Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. He died on March 11, 1851 near San Francisco.
External links
- John Allen on Arborwiki