NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG5341.AM: George Augustus Allen, 1846-1931
Papers: 1871-1939, n.d.; mostly 1909-1917
Clay Center, Clay County, Neb.: Postmaster, district court clerk
Size: 0.5 cu.ft.; 1 box
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Born on September 3, 1846 in Toledo, Ohio, George Augustus Allen joined the Union cavalry at age 16 and served with the 7th Indiana Cavalry during the Civil War. He also served under General Custer during the Rio Grande campaign and was mustered out of service in 1866. After leaving the army, he entered La Grange Normal School in Indiana, and upon graduation, taught school for two years. He married Alice Fuller of Brushy Prairie, Indiana on December 2, 1871.
In 1873 the Allens moved to Nebraska and homesteaded near Clay Center in Clay County, where over the years, George served as chairman of the Republican State Committee, clerk of the district court, and as postmaster. All twelve of their children were born at Clay Center. The Allen children included Theodore M., born April 29, 1874; Frank, born February 26, 1876; Margaret, born October 18, 1878; Ozoro, born June 20, 1880; Susie L., born March 2, 1882; Thomas E., born December 3, 1883; Alida L., born November 4, 1885; Martha A., born January 2, 1887; Ephream D., born October 17, 1889; Florence A., born June 27, 1893; Mina G., born June 11, 1895; and George A. Allen, Jr., born August 30, 1897.
In November of 1917, George Allen and the majority of his family moved to the Coachella Valley in southern California where he became one of the early pioneers of the date industry. George Allen was an ardent Mason, having been a member of the Clay Center Lodge #39, A.F. & A.M., a member of the Scottish Rite Masons and Knights Templar of Hastings, Nebraska, and a member of the Coachella Valley Masonic lodge. George A. Allen died at his home in Coachella Valley, California on March 31, 1931. Alice Fuller Allen died on December 16, 1938.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection consists of various papers documenting the life and career of George A. Allen. Included in the collection are diaries, correspondence, military papers, biographical information, and various other miscellaneous items. The majority of the materials in the collection date from 1909-1920. The diaries in the collection are fairly detailed and give information about the Allen family as well as George’s work at the post office and as district court clerk. The diaries also include information about meetings at the Masonic lodge and various other community events.
The correspondence consists of personal letters mostly written from George Allen to various friends and family members. Also included in the collection are documents relating to George’s military pension, various certificates, and biographical information about George and Alice Allen. One folder contains family notes compiled by the daughter of George’s youngest daughter, Mina. A scrapbook containing newspaper clippings about the history of Clay County, Nebraska and a folder of miscellaneous items including railroad passes and a George Norris rally flyer round out the remainder of the collection.
Note: See the photo component [RG5341.PH] for photographs of George Allen and the Allen Family. The NSHS Library also contains the publication, “Allen family history, 1788-1988: memoirs, diaries, letters,” compiled by Esther Allen.
DESCRIPTION
Box 1
Folder
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- Diaries, 1909-1911
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- Diary, 1917
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- Correspondence, 1871-1909
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- Correspondence, 1914-1916
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- Correspondence, 1917, n.d.
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- Military pension documents, 1909-1913
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- Certificates
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- Biographical information, clippings, etc.
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- Mina Allen interview notes by Mina’s daughter Josephine
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- Scrapbook, “History of Clay County, Nebraska,” (clippings from 1912-1917)
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- Miscellaneous
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- Account book, 1879-1889
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- Misc. letters, typescripts, etc.
ADDED ENTRIES:
Allen Family
Allen, Alice (Fuller), 1854-1938
Allen, George Augustus, 1846-1931
Clay Center (Neb.) — History
Clay County (Neb.) — History
Coachella Valley (Calif.) — History
Revised 04-02-2008 TMM/jl/gm
Revised TMM 06-24-2013