Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 4. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 785.
 
EMERY ALLEN

     was for almost four decades identified with the drug trade in Corvallis,
and the years that covered his active business career chronicled his success as
the result of determined and persistent purpose and close application, so that
he is now able to live retired, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his
former toil. The width of the continent separates him from the place of his
nativity, for he was born in Ontario, Wayne county, New York, on the 30th of
December, 1832. He first opened his eyes to the light of day in a log cabin,
which was then the abode of his parents, Henry S. and Annie (Hill) Allen, both
natives of the Empire state, the former born in Washington county, in 1803, and
the latter in Wayne county, in 1805. They were married in the latter county and
there reared their family and spent the remainder of their lives. Early in the
life of Emery Allen the family went from Ontario, a small town near Rochester,
New York, to a small tract of land which the father had purchased in Wayne
county, containing a log cabin, surrounded by a few acres. The removal was made
in the winter and the first recollections of the little son were the hardships
and difficulties encountered during that season, which was an extremely severe
one. During the journey, which was made in a wagon, the father lay on a bed, for
he had suffered the loss of one leg, a tree having fallen upon it, necessitating
its amputation. Thus the brunt of the labor rested upon the mother and her
little family, who, however, bore their part nobly. On reaching their new home
the family's possessions consisted of a cow, a pig, a little corn and a few
potatoes. Some of the corn was fed to the pig until it was fat enough to
butcher, and that furnished the meat for the family during the winter. The rest
of the corn was sent to the mill, a bushel at a time on a horse, but whether the
proverbial stone was placed in the sack or not Mr. Allen does not remember÷he
was certain, however, that there was no lack of stones upon the little farm. The
snowfall was unusually heavy that winter, the snow often drifting into.the cabin
through the top of the windows and the doors, and neighbors dug a passage from
the house to the shed in order that the mother might go to milk and feed the
cow. When the father had sufficiently recovered from his accident he made
himself a wooden leg and was thus able soon to cut firewood, which grew thick
all around the cabin. Thus the parents and their five little children passed
through that terrible winter, but in the spring conditions became much better.
The father cleared his little tract and among the stumps planted an orchard
which within a few years was bearing apples as good, Mr. Allen claims, as any he
has ever seen in Oregon. As he prospered he bought more pigs and cows and also
secured some chickens. The family made their own maple sugar and exchanged
butter and eggs in payment for groceries. Thus the parents reared their family,
which ultimately numbered eight children, of whom, however, only three now
survive, namely: Alonzo, a resident of Charlotte, Michigan; Mrs. Emma Holtam, of
Ontario, New York; and Emery, of this review. The father passed away at the age
of seventy-eight years, while the mother lived to the ripe old age of eighty-six
years. They were earnest, hard-working people, and in spite of hardships and
difficulties gave their children as good opportunities as could be obtained.
     For three months during the winter seasons Emery Allen attended the
district schools in order to gain an education, and during the summer he
assisted his father in the operation of the home farm. By constant study at home
he was enabled, at twenty years of age, to take up the profession of teaching,
which he followed for two years in his home locality. During the vacation
periods he worked as a farm laborer, earning fifteen and sixteen dollars per
month, while his salary as a teacher was from eighteen to thirty-two dollars per
month. Thinking to find better opportunities west, he went to Michigan in 1855,
and, locating in Eaton county, continued teaching school until the spring of
1859. In the meantime he had heard. the call of the far west, which proved
irresistible, and, returning to New York, he bade adieu to friends and family
and embarked on the steamer Northern Light, bound for San Francisco, California.
The voyage was made via the Panama route, and upon arriving in the Golden state
Mr. Allen found employment on a ranch in the San Jose valley, where he worked
until the following spring, during which time he had been able to save three
hundred dollars. Again he set sail, his destination this time being "God's
country," to use his own terms, and in March, 1860, he arrived in Portland. On
the following day he made his way by boat up the Willamette river to Corvallis,
reaching the latter city on the same day on which a murder occurred. The
murderer was convicted and hung in June, 1860, on the flat river bottom land in
front of Mr. Allen's present residence. He was the only man ever hung in Benton
county. Mr. Allen at first rented a farm and later became the owner of four
hundred and ninety acres, which he cultivated and developed, while during the
winter months he followed his old profession of teaching school. Thus his time
was fully occupied until in February, 1866, when, on account of failing health,
he sold his farm and removed to Corvallis, where he purchased a half interest in
the drug store owned by John W. Souther. Their original location was on the
present site of the Occidental Hotel, but after two years they removed to
Fisher's block and E. Woodward purchased the interest of Mr. Souther. The
relationship between Mr. Allen and Mr. Woodward continued for thirty years, and
then, when the business was moved to the Kline building in 1899, Mr. Allen
bought out his partner and continued alone in business until succeeded by his
son John, about 1906. For thirty-nine years he was identified with the drug
trade and in that period success in large measure came to him, enabling him now
to live in retirement, enjoying all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of
life. He is the owner of a fine farm located near Philomath, Oregon, consisting
of two hundred acres valued at twenty thousand dollars, and a brick building at
the corner of Second and Adams streets, both of which are a source of a
gratifying annual income, while he is also the owner of the fine residence at
738 Third street in which he now makes his home and which he erected in 1882.
All of these are but the visible evidence of a life of indefatigable industry
and earnest endeavor, crowned by success in a substantial measure.
     It was on the 14th of December, 1862, that Mr. Allen was united in marriage
to Miss Mary Ellen Barker, who was born in Lee county, Iowa, on the 24th of
January, 1846. Her parents, Clement and Christina (Henkle) Barker, were pioneers
of Iowa and in 1853 crossed the plains to Oregon as a part of the Henkle train.
Mrs. Barker was a daughter of Jacob Henkle, who brought all of his children to
this state, and the representatives of the name are numerous and prominent in
the Willamette valley. For many years they have held a family reunion on the 1st
of October of each year. Mrs. Allen's parents are now deceased, the father
passing away in Washington and the mother at the home of our subject. Mr. and
Mrs. Allen have become the parents of six children as follows: Alonzo W., a
druggist of Portland; Ira E., who is employed in the capacity of bookkeeper in
Portland; Henry C., a resident of Portland, who has been in the government
employ for the last ten years; Anna, who married Eldred Kuizenga of Bakersfield,
California; John F., residing in Corvallis, who is the president of the
Commercial Club of this city, and his father's successor in the drug business;
and Edna, the wife of Charles Shenefield, of Portland. On the 14th of December,
1912, Mr. and Mrs. Allen will celebrate their golden anniversary, having
traveled life's journey happily together for a half century.
     Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Allen has stanchly
supported the republican party, having voted for Fremont and all party
candidates since that time, while at present he is serving as president of the
Taft Club of Corvallis. He served as a member of the city council for a few
years, but otherwise has held no public office. He was elected county surveyor
but did not qualify and has been offered the nomination for state senator but
has always declined, preferring to render his service in a private capacity,
although deeply interested in the welfare of the party and doing everything in
his power to further its influence. Fraternally he is identified with the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to all of its various branches. He
has watched the growth of Corvallis from an early day, witnessing the
organization of many of its important institutions, and has ever felt great
interest and pride in the work of development and improvement, doing all in his
power as a business man or private citizen to further the general up-building.
He has been a subscriber for the Oregonian for fifty-one years, of which fact
mention was made in that paper in its fiftieth anniversary publication. Oregon
numbers him among its representative and valued adopted sons, and he has the
esteem and respect of all who know him.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2008 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.