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ALLEN, IRA WILDER, A. B., A. M,, LL. B., LL. D. - Born at Potsdarn, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., July 5, 1827.
Son of Ira and Betsy Allen. Parents on father's side English and on mother's side Welsh. Father, Ira Allen, became
a preacher of the gospel, but only after having been twice brought face to face with death, and having vowed solemnly
he would take up the work of the ministry, as for many years he had been strongly impressed it was his duty to
do. After recovering from his sickness the second time he began preaching in Potsdam, N. Y., where he labored for
nearly fifty years, beloved and honored by both the clergy and the people of all denominations, Subject of sketch
was educated in the most liberal manner. He attended the St. Lawrence Academy and Hamilton College; was post graduate
in Harvard University; studied in both the universities of Göttingen and of Berlin, in Germany, and took a
full course at the Albany Law School in New York, Dr. Allen, however, seems to have had little liking for the legal
profession, but was irresistibly attracted toward teaching. He seems to have been a natural teacher, and felt irresistibly
called to this work, Although he had made a close study of the law, and had been admitted to practice in all the
courts of the Empire State, and although he had given much attention to the study of theology, he renounced all
these fields for what to him was eminently more attractive, that of training children and youth, and working for
their highest welfare. Has been teaching from his sixteenth year up to the present time continuously, excepting
when in college, university, law school, or when traveling abroad. Dr. Allen has held many positions of the highest
honor. Was principal of Manlius Academy, N. Y., professor of mathematics, astronomy and civil engineering at Antioch
College, Ohio; head professor of the Greek language and literature in Union Christian College, Ind,; president
of Lafayette Collegiate Institute, at Lafayette, Ind., and president, as he now is, of Allen Academy, Chicago.
In religious faith, Dr. Allen is a Presbyterian, and fn politics a republican. He has lived in or near Chicago
since 1863. He is connected with the National Teachers' Association, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Archaeological
Society, and the Astronomical Society of this city. Was married in 1863 to Miss Lydia Ford, of New York, and has
three children, Ira W. Allen, Jr., A. B., A. M., the eldest, who, after teaching in Alien Academy for seven years,
is now studying theology in the University of Chicago; the second son, Homilton Ford Allen, A. B., A. M,, after
teaching in Alien Academy for five years, is now studying in the University of Berlin; Phillip Schuyler Allen,
A. B., after teaching in Allen Academy for one year, is with his brother pursuing his studies in Germany. There
are two grandsons, Ira Wilder Allen, and Thaddeus Elmore Allen.
FROM:
The Handbook of Chicago Biography
Edited by John J Flinn.
The Standard Guide Company
Chicago 1893
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