St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-10
BY T. NJ. NEwsoN.
article XIXIp.
PEN p1cr1.Rrs N BOOK FORM.


and Pen Pictures of old settlers, up to, and
including 1857, and then issue the first
volume in book form-over 300 pages
large type-good binding-price $500,
copy right for which has already been OBJ
tanned. A lady canyasser is now in the field
soliciting names, and if We get 600 copies
guaranteed we shall publish the work, and
ii not, we shall put the manuscript upon the
shelf and there let it rest, for it is like old
wine-it won't hurt by keeping. Thus far
our canvasser has done well, and some Of our
prominent men have been very liberal, tax
ing as high as 25 copies apiece, thus en-
couraging the work far beyond our expecta-
tons. Our articles will cover several N on tbs
yet--at least two-bcfore we shall be able to
give the public the book entire, but when we
do SO, it will be in good style and correct.
COLONEL ALvAREN ALLEN.
Mr., Allen was born in the state of New
York in 1922; located farm with his
father in Wisconsin in 1897, where he re-
manned five years: attended the high school
in Beloit during the winter, and drove team
summers to pay his way; clerked in a retail
store for two years; in a jobbing house in
Milwaukee for three years; left for Dubuque,
Iowa, and arrived at st. Paul in 1851; visited
st. Anthony; fell in love with the falls and
the country surrounding; loaned a gentle
man his team to 90 to st. Paul, for which he
received So, then the next day SO, and then
the colonel eXcamed-'W rve struckit;
livery is our business;" and Immediately
four horses and three wagons followed the
single team, and Allen was on the road to
wealth and to glory. Seeing that he had
struck lead, he then added the veterinary
practice, and in this he was as successful
as in the livery business, receiving as high
as $50 for curing a single horse in the last
stages of disease; in five years he had
stable Of fifty hoses, carriages, wagons,
harnesses, and III 1886 purchased the stage
line and mail route Of Patterson, Benson
and Ward, but subsequently sold one-half
interest to c. l.. Chase, then Secretary of tie
Territory, and they jointly secured the route
from st. Paul to st. Anthony, for 900.
In 1883, in connection with the owners of
the Northwestern Express Company, they
started the line from st. Paul to La Crosse,
and soon after consolidated thus crippling
contemplated opposition and making J. c.
Burbank manager. A party Of stage men,
however, came on to st. Paul to establish a
line, AMI after losing $75, 900, withdrew,
leaving the field to the old company.
THE ORGAN AND THE MONKEY.
Before this took place, an agent of the
company made his appearance and COM
mcnced soliciting passengers for his line,
when Colonel Allen accosted him as follows:
''Where is your hand organ and monkey!'
The agent for a moment looked dumb
founded, when he replied
81 guess you have mistaken your man."
"Oh, no, " replied the colonel; ~ can't be
mistaken; l saw you in Dubuque playing a
hand organ, with very intelligent monkey
collecting the pennies"
The agent became terribly enraged and
in very vehement language sought to con-
vince the laughing crowd that he was not
the man, but the "boys" took up the
cue, and the agent left for home, while
the pcrpctrator Of the joke made the sur
rounding hills echo with his laughter.
Mr.. Allen followed the stage business up
10 1889, when he entered railroading, which
Col Shaw's interest and lease in the Mer-
chants hotel for $40, 600; he then bought the
hotel itself of Col. Potter, for $275, OOO and
has added largely 10 its accommodations
since then.
OFFICES MIR. ALLEN HAS HELD.
Mr. Allen was the second mayor of st.
Anthony; has been alderman for four terms,
Or eight years, of the city of st. Paul, and
president of the council four years.
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS.
In early days he made a claim where Min
neapolis now is, of one hundred and sixty
acres of land, the same ground upon which
the Harvester works are now built. He sold
This claim for $1,000 worth 81 ZOO, 600;
purchased two lots ON Dayton avenue, with Il
small house, where he made it his home for
$1,000; sold the same for ST., 900: worth
$4,000; bought of Mr.. Rheil his residence
ON Dayton avenue, for Sl3 500, finished it
mp, and sold for $34, 1000; worth SIS, 900;
secured the Merchants hotel OF Mr.. Potter,
for S2I5, 900; worth now $500, 900.
COLONEL ALLEN PERSONALLY
Mr. Allen is finely proportional
man, physically cXtcriorilly strong,we built.
with head erect and with the tread of man
OF power. He has the appearance of n per-
son who had been educated at West Point,
aud could be very easily taken in a crowd,
Tor retired Major General, so imposing are
his movements is he circulates among his
guests at his hotel He is always COOL
We never saw him in a hurry, and vet he ac-
composites great deal OF labor and
runs his huge mammoth eating establish
mcnt like clock work. His features indicate
strength, power, push; and still he is the
most genial OF men, ever ready with a good
word for all, and never failing to tell an
amusing story at the proper time He is a
natural landlord, and during the eleven
years he has been at the head of the Ner-
chants, he has added hosts of friends
every year by his polite and
g,nuemauly traits Of character Men who
climb to heights Of honor or wealth. do not
usually do SO on the golden rounds of the
ladder Of uuearued prosperity, but usually
by hard labor and such has been the case
with Colonel Allen. Several times he has
been in condition 10 almost retire from the
active duties Of life but the pertdy Of man
has iutHrfered aud swept his hard earnings
into the ocean of oblivion; but believing
that there's divinity which shapes our
ends, he has boldly pushed forward, fought
brayely the battle of life, and is now on tn
top wave Of prosperity. He is positive in
bis expressions, and as public man decided
In his convictions. He never trims; he
never skulks; he never avoids responsible
ties; he scouts policy; he proclaims his SEN
iments boldly; he is far-seeing and saga
cious. In word, he is a man of strong,
rurcti ability 81 kind ,rapisl social 10, ,Ia