The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-04-12


Charles William Allen, the Democratic
candidate for Aiderman-at-Large, is self
made man.. he has bsen a resident and
business man In this city for more than
thirty years His character is above re-
proach, and his actions as a public servant
have won for him the con id ence and ad-
miration of both parties. Mr.. Allen was
born August 4. 1880. in the town Of Chat
ham. Columbia county. New York
Joseph Allen, his grandfather. was born
In Green county, New York, aud Tough t
in the Revolutionary War. His father.
William Allen, who was born in Colum-
bia County, New York. participated in the
war OF 1912
Mr.. Alien attended the district sch ools
in Chatham until he had attained the ge
Of Fifteen and having shown liking for
architectural work his father decided to
send him to Troy to study practical car
pentry and architecture.
He remained in Troy about two years,
and having completed the course of
studies he mad undertaken, accepted an
offer 10 draw plans and superintend the
building of number of honses and a
large hotel about two miles from Rich
"
months he remained in Richmond. Then
he came North and located in New York.
In the Fall or 1855 he moved to Jersey
City and located an Office on the Heights.
In 1856 he was united in marriage to Miss
Lavenia Ackerman, a descendant of one
of the oldest Dutch families in this Stats.
The ceremony was performed in the
Grove Dutch Reformed Church by the
Rev. DR.. Mabon.
Mr.. ALIENS business brought him in
contact with the very best families in the
city at that time, and having become
very popular man he entered into politics
at the request of his friends, especially
e. Il. ". Wright and Edmund T. Carpen-
ter. In 1856 he was elected an Alderman
in old Hudson City for one term, mis- popu-
larity winning for him the almost unani-
nous vote of the people. He then moved
across the cut to Bergen, and was elected
Alderman by a handsome majority.
During the year he was in Office in Ber-
gen he went into the business of buying
property. improving it and selling it. As
soon as his term expired he was again
asked to accept the nomination, but this
time positively declined, as he could not
properly conduct his business and remain
in politics.
In the purchase and sale of land Mr.
Alien was very successful One OF his
largest purchases was from Colonel Sip.
1t consisted CT tract Of lana extending
from Bergen to West Side avenue. He
opened the street now known as High
land avenue aud the large trees which
now ornament either side Of 1t were
placed there at his expense The first
house he built on the property is now
owned by Chancellor McGilL
In 1889 Mr.. Allen was prevailed upon to
accept the nomination oil Alderman-at-
Large rendered him by the Democratic
party. Members of both parties had con-
| fidence in him and he received the en-
dorsement Of the Republican party. He
was the first Alderman-at-Large elected
under the new charter.
His appearance in the Board OF Alder
men as presiding officer at once infused
new dignity into the proceedings of that
body. The Board had been somewhat
rough and ready OF old and scenes TOOK
place in the chamber which reflected
| little credit on the city. Under Mr.. Al
| lens gavel all this was changed. 1t was
NOT then the proceedings became tame,
| for party politics continued TO run high
| in the Board and many rafting debates
have been heard Waged on the floor in
| the last two years, but IN all these con-
| tests. however eager the amenities of
parliamentary rule, have always been OBJ
| served There was personal dignity
| about the presiding officer which kept
/ the members within bounds, and they
| very soon learned to be severe and parlia-
nentary at the same time, as Henry
| Grattan once put it.
AS President of the Board OF Aldermen
Mr.. Allen became, under the charter, a
member of the Board OF Finance-the
| most important, the most conservative,
| and the most faithful branch of the city
administration here-and the experience
| Of his long career made him at once a
| leading spirit. His familiarity with bust
ness on a large scale, tina habit of
participating in large financial
| transactions enabled him TO grasp with
out delay the peculiarities Of the city's
financial affairs, and to make his counsel
| of the highest value TO his colleagues.
From the beginning he played a leading
| role In the Board, and when the late Mr..
| Bray died in the fuliness of years and in
midst of his usefulness, all eyes were
| tprned on MIR. Allen as the man to I'LL
| his place at the head OF the
Finance lCommittee, to which he was
recently appointed by President Edelstein
OF the Board.
This nomination carried with it great
opportunity. Mr.. Allen was the man TO
make the most of the opportunity. A vast
bloc of the city's bonds was on the point
of maturing. A portion was to be paid and
cancelled. but the greater part--some
| two millions OF dollars--was to be
replaced BY new loan, and in this opera
tion the credit and financial standing Of
| Jersey City were TO be yindicated
MIR. Allen devoted himself to the task.
He prepared the plan for the refunding.
| 1t has more than once been given in all
| It's details In the columns OF The JERSEY
CRY NEWS. Il was embodied in the for m
OF series Of resolutions which set forth
1 with unusualclearness the reduction id the
public burdens which the operation was
| designed to effect. and also the unusual
protection afforded to the creditors OF the
| CITY by the several sinking funds esfab-
| lislaed for tie discharge 81 the different