Nevada Genealogy Trails Washoe County Honorable Lemuel Allen Biography

HON. LEMUEL ALLEN, lieutenant governor of Nevada, has been a resident of the state since 1862 and has been prominently identified with the legislation of the commonwealth for many years. For nine terms he was a member of the state assembly, and during three of the last terms he was speaker and proved himself so thoroughly just in his rulings as to give fullest satisfaction to both parties. In 1902 he was the candidate of his party for lieutenant governor, and after a very able canvass was elected by a majority of 1,558.

Governor Allen is a native of Ohio, having been born in Harrison county, April 12, 1839. He comes of English and Scotch ancestry, his people being among the early settlers of Connecticut and later of New York. His grandfather, Joseph Allen, settled in the latter state at an early date. His father, Cranston Allen, was born in Oswego, New York, July 14, 1816. He married Elizabeth Hootman, a native of Ohio, and they had six children. The father now resides in Nevada, aged eighty-seven years. His wife died in 1893, aged seventy-seven years.

Governor Allen was educated and reared to manhood's estate in Iowa, attending the private log schools. When old enough he began farming and stock-raising. After his arrival in Nevada he read law and was admitted to the bar, and in addition to his farming interests he was for many years prosecuting attorney of his county, and lie then entered upon his legislative career. Until the formation of the gold standard he had been a Democrat, but, believing as he did upon the question of silver, he felt that there was no other course open to him but the promotion of the interests of the silver party, and was returned to the office of lieutenant governor by a large majority in what had been conceded a Republican state.

On March 13. 1859. he was married to Sarah Ann Peugh, a native of Ohio and a daughter of J. Peugh. of that state. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Allen, namely : Hugh Judson, a blacksmith and liveryman in Wadsworth, Nevada ; Eva May, who married E. H. Proctor and resides in Wadsworth; Charles Loren, a farmer residing near his father: Mary Daisy, at home, is her father's bookkeepers: Lemuel L.. at home on the farm; Sarah Elizabeth, who married R. T. Fortune and resides at Soda Lake: and three who died in infancy. Governor and Mrs. Allen have seven grandchildren and are very proud of their children, and most deservedly so. Governor Allen has been a highly honored member of the Masonic fraternity for sixteen years, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Eagles.

Source:
A History of the State of Nevada: Its Resources and People
By Thomas Wren, Lewis Publishing Company
Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1904
Contributed by Barbara Z.