Edwards, Rev. Jonathan. "An Illustrated History of Spokane County, State of Washington." San Francisco: W. H. Lever, 1900. p. 323. JOSEPH S. ALLEN receiver of the Yakima Investment Company, a pioneer of 1881, is a native of Crawfordsville, Indiana, born December 6, 1849. In 1864 he moved with his parents to Rochester, Minnesota. He attended the Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Indiana, read law in the office of Steams & Start, and was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one. In 1871 he moved to Olympia, Washington, and opened a law office with his brother, John B., ex-United States senator. He continued in practice there until 1881, when he retired on account of ill health, moved to Spokane and bought a fine three-hundred-and-twenty-acre farm near the city. Three years later he moved into town and again began practice, the firm name being Allen & Hoover. In 1885 his brother, H. E., was admitted to the partnership and the firm became Allen, Hoover & Allen. The next year Mr. Hoover withdrew, and was succeeded by Mr.Adolph Munter, and in 1888 Mr. Allen was again forced to retire on account of ill health. He spent three years in California recuperating, but in 1891 returned to Spokane county, locating at Rochester Heights, where he owns one hundred and twenty acres of land and has a magnificent home. In 1894, without any solicitation or previous knowledge on his part, he was appointed by Governor McGraw a member of the capitol building committee, upon which he served until 1897. In 1895, he, with George McDonald and the late Paul Schultz, were appointed by Judge Hanford receivers for the Yakima Investment Company. Mr. Allen has been sole receiver since 1898, although this is the largest irrigation company in the northwest. Mr. Allen is a man of splendid legal and executive abilities, and in spite of ill health has attained prominence both in his profession and in the affairs of the state. He was married in Oakland, California. November 5, 1878, to Miss Mary Furlow, a native of Rochester, Minnesota. They have five children. Mary J.. Joseph S., Jr., Paul V.. Madeline E. and Mildred I. Mr. Allen is a member of the First Presbyterian church of Spokane, also John A. Logan Camp, S. of V. ************************ Transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project in August 2007 by Diana Smith. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individuals featured in the biographies.