John Allen: Michigan’s Pioneer Promoter

Name/Title

John Allen: Michigan’s Pioneer Promoter

Entry/Object ID

2019.35.153

Description

John Allen was born in Augusta County, Virginia in 1796, son of James Allen Jr. and Elizabeth Tate. He married Polly Crawford (1798-1819) in 1815, and remarried Ann Isabella (Barry) McCue in 1821. He moved to New York and later settled in Michigan. Descendants live in Virginia, Michigan and Wisconsin. John Allen was described in a 1906 Washtenaw County history as, "a man of exceedingly hopeful disposition." In similar language, Orlando Stephenson, in his 1927 history of Ann Arbor called him a "man of dreams." Some of his dreams were more successful than others. He was early recognized as a co-founder and driving force behind the settlement at Ann Arbor. Allen was also involved in many other Michigan settlements including Mason in Van Buren County (which later became Lawrence), Spring Arbor, South Haven, Grand Haven and Richmond in Allegan County.

Cataloged By

Slusar, Vern

Acquisition

Accession

2019.35

Lexicon

Search Terms

Allen, John, -- 1796-1851., Pioneers -- Michigan -- Biography., Landowners -- Michigan -- Biography., Michigan Territory -- History., Ann Arbor (Mich.) -- History.

Book Details

Author

Lane, Kit 1939-2024

Publisher

Pavilion Press

Place Published

City

Douglas

State/Province

Michigan

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Date Published

1988

Call No.

920 LAN

Notes

185, [39] p. : ill. ; 22 cm.

Location

Shelf

Library

Create Date

May 3, 2021

Update Date

February 13, 2024