Merced County Biographies
Ref: Pages 847-848
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 7/21/2009
JOHN T. ALLEN
The name of John T. Allen is well known to the citizens of Merced County and is synonymous with prosperity, thrift, honesty and integrity. From 1891 to 1918 he engaged in farming on a sixty-eight-acre ranch under the Miller & Lux canal. This property he sold in 1918 and put the money into an apartment house in Gustine and since that time has made his home in town. In 1922 he purchased seventy acres eight miles southwwest of town and is developing it to walnuts; he has installed a six-inch pump with a sixteen h.p. gas engine for power, thus insuring an abundance of water for irrigation.
A native of California, John T. Allen was born at Sacramento on July 9, 1868, a son of John and Alice (Carroll) Allen, natives of Iowa and Montreal, Canada, respectively, the latter of Scotch descent. His father came across the plains to California and the mother via the Panama route; and they were married in Sacramento. John Allen, the father, was a teamster, hauling supplies to Shingle Springs, Sonora, San Andreas and other mining towns in early days; later in life he engaged in stock-raising and farming, first in Contra Costa County, and then in San Joaquin County near Banta. In the fall of 1881 the family moved to Merced County and located about eighteen miles south of Hill's Ferry, whre the father homesteaded a quarter section of land upon which he farmed the balance of his life, passing away at the age of eighty-two years; the mother passed away at her home in Oakland, Cal., aged eighty-one years. Five children were born of this union, namely: John T., our subject; James J., deceased; Alice, wife of Joseph Pfitzer; Barbara, married Antone Pfitzer; and Mrs. Ella Parker.
John T. Allen attended the Occidental Grammar School in Merced County and was with his parents until 1891, when he leased a farm on his own account. He soon purchased a half section of land in the Cottonwood district and with his brother James J. as partner, engaged in farming; after the dissolution of the partnership, Mr. Allen purchased thirty acres under the Miller & Lux canal, subsequently thirty-eight acres were added and farming was carried on with good results. In 1918 he sold out and moved to the city of Gustine, where he built an eight-apartment building.
At Oakland, Cal., October 21, 1896, Mr. Allen was married to Miss Clara Belle De Mont, born at San Leandro, Cal., daughter of George and Caroline (Potter) De Mont, both natives of Michigan; her father is of French descent and accompanied his parents to California during the gold rush of 1860; the mother came to California when five years old and the parents were married in Oakland. In 1881 the De Mont family removed to Dutch Corners, Stanislaus County, and there farmed a quarter section of land; here the father spent the balance of his life, retiring about eighteen years ago. He and his wife now make their home at San Leandro, aged seventy-four and seventy-two years, respectively. There were eight children in the De Mont family: Joseph; Mary and John, twins; Clara Belle, the wife of our subject; Carrie; Claudia; Vivian; and Byron, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are the parents of two daughters: Jeanette, Mrs. F.F. Latta, who has two daughters, Monna Star, and Nedra Marie; Elma, Mrs. T.S. Latta, who has two children, Verne Claire and John Thomas. Mr. Allen is a Democrat in politics and has served as trustee of the Gustine High School; with his wife he is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Gustine.
History of
MERCED COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1925
Merced County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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