HENRY J. ALLEN

HENRY JUSTIN ALLEN, editor and publisher of the Wichita Beacon, a leading member of the newspaper fraternity of Kansas, is a native of the Keystone state, born at Corry, Pa., in September, 1869. The Allen family was founded in America by John Allen, the grandfather of Henry J., who came to the United States from the north of Scotland and settled near Corry, Pa., in 1820. He was one of the pioneer farmers of that region. His son, John, jr., married Rebecca E. Goodwin, and four children were born to them—Elizabeth, the wife of G. W. Andrews, of Thomas, Okla.; Henry J., the subject of this sketch; Cora, wife of Edward F. Sheldon, of Ottawa, Kan.; and La Verne, a farmer at McAlester, Okla. At the outbreak of the Civil War John Allen, jr., enlisted in company I, Ninth New York cavalry, and served until mustered out of the service at the grand review held in Washington after peace had been declared. After leaving the army Mr. Allen came to Kansas in the fall of 1865, settling on land at Riverdale, Clay county, where he lived until he retired and removed to Clifton, Kan., where he now resides with his wife.

Henry J. Allen was reared on his father's farm. He attended the public schools of Clay and Osage counties, but was ambitious, and learned the barber's trade, which he followed, thus earning enough money to attend Baker University. He belonged to the class of 1890, but did not graduate. However, in 1893 the university conferred upon him the degree of master of arts. While in college he became interested in newspaper work and was a member of the editorial staff of the college paper. In 1891 Mr. Allen was given the management of the Salina Republican, owned by Hon. J. L. Bristow. Three years later this property was sold, and Mr. Allen bought the Manhattan Nationalist, which he edited and published a year before disposing of it. Soon after this he and Mr. Bristow bought the Ottawa Herald and the Salina Republican, changing the name of the latter to the Salina Journal. Mr. Allen was editor and manager of both publications until 1907, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Bristow taking the Salina Journal and Mr. Allen the Ottawa Herald. The following year he disposed of the Herald and purchased the Wichita Beacon, of which he has since been the editor and manager. In all his business ventures Mr. Allen has been remarkably successful. In 1910 he promoted the building of the first Kansas skyscraper, "the Beacon Building," which cost $435,000, and is the largest office building in the state. In politics Mr. Allen is a stanch Republican, having served as private secretary to Governor Stanley, who appointed him president of the Board of Charities during his second term in office. Under Governor Bailey Mr. Allen served in a like capacity. He has twice been a candidate for Congress in the second Kansas district, but was defeated, once by Mr. Bowersock and later by Charles F. Scott.

While in college Mr. Allen was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Knight Templar, and a member of Midian Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Wichita, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Wichita Commercial Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Country and Riverside clubs, the American Newspaper Association, and an honorary member of the National Press Club. October 19, 1891, Mr. Allen married Elsie J., daughter of Frederick Nuzman, a retired lumber and hardware merchant of Circleville, Kan. Mrs. Allen is a graduate of Baker University in the class of 1890.

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