The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-12-23
SUDDEN SUMMONS.
IRA N ALLEN PASSES AWAY AT
HIS MARKET STEET HOME.
A Life Spent la the In,elis ctusi Up
lifting of His Fellow Men Brought
toa CIose-First Superintendent
of Canton Schools.

lifting of His Fellow Men Brought
too CIose-Ftrs Superintendent
of Canton schools.
Az s o'clock Friday night, Ira NJ.
Allen, one of the old and respected citi-
zens Of Canton, died at his home, 1900
South Market street. For the past three
months Mr.. Allen had been in failing
health, and the end, though sudden, was
not entirely unantioipated. He had suf-
fered much with stomach troubles and
his heart was organically affected. Last
evening, DIR. Pease of Massillon, the
family physician, was present and he
noticed decided change in the aged patti
ent Symptoms Of approaching dissolu-
tion became manifest and the family was
called about the bedside. DIR. A. @.
Brant, who was summoned, was present
when the end came Both physicians at
tempted to rally the dying man, but he
was In the clutches Of death and their
efforts were unavailing. Paralysis of the
heart was the cause of his demise He was
76 years Of age.
Mr.. Allen was widely known on &C.
count OF the active life he led in this COM
munity. For the past fifteen years he
has practically been retired from bust
ness although being an officer in several
commercial companies. He was
gentleman of the old school and his
memory will be cherished 10y those who
knew him. Full Of years, all Of which
ne devoted to noble achievements, he
goes to his final resting place, leaving
the grandest ana most imperishable of
monuments--a name without a single
blemish. The white-h haired, noble woman
who has shared his joys and sorrows,
survives.
A USEFUL LIFE.
Ira NJ. Allen was born May II, 1921,
in Rensselaer, county, New York. He
was the third son Of family Of six child.
rem Of Caleb and Hulda Allen. Up to 10
years Of age he lived on farm and at
tended a common school. He then spent
two years in Skaneateles academy, n. Y,
and at the age of IS years began his career
as teacher in Ontario county, New York,
wher he remained for four years. In
1S42 he came to Stark county and taught
school Mt Kendall, which is now the
fourth ward of Massillon. In that then
small village he gathered together the
nucleus which was afterward to prove
the crude though potent beginning Of
the system of township central high
schools in Ohio. He remained in this
connection for some seven years, with
the exception of part of one year spent in
select school at Canal Dover. In 1913,
when a. McGregor took charge of the
Stark County Democrat he released his
position as instructor in the old Canton
Academy to MIR. Allen, who remained a
teacher in the academy until the organ
ization of the Canton union schools, when
he became the first superintendent of the
Canton public schools. He served three
years. In 1854 he became superintendent
of the Charity Roach school at Massillon
in which connection he remained for ten
years. For five years subsequently he
was engaged in farming. In the fall Of
1869 he was elected treasurer of Stark
county and filed the office for two terms.
From 1874 to 1873 he was variously EN-
ployed, part of the time as manager of
the Canton Press works, which occupied
the buildings now used by the Bonnot
Co. In April, 1878, he was again chosen
superintendent of the Charity Roach
school, which position he held for sew
eral years For over twelve years he
served on the county board of examiners,
and for some years, while residing in
Canton, was one of the examiners of this
city.
In May, 1914, he married Ella Olivia,
daughter of Senator John Graham, of
this county. OF five children born to
the union but three remain: Miss Flor
ence Allen, Mrs. l.. Sollmann and Miss
Ella Allen all Of this city. For over forty
years Mr.. Allen had been identified with
the educational interests Of the county
and has associated with men of emf
nent rank in the profession. Deprived in
youth of anything more than an acade-
mic course, he was almost entirely self ed
ucated. In politics he was an enthusias
tic Republican and he missed his vote
for the first time at the last election when
he was disabled by illness and could not
go to the polls. He was member Of
the First Presbyterian church.
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