VAN ALLEN, Frederick Holmes 1878-1953

VAN ALLEN, HOLMES, BEVIER, SPEER

Posted By: Michael Kearney (email)
Date: 8/17/2002 at 21:46:48

The Clinton Herald Friday December 11, 1953 p. 14 Fred H. Van Allen, president and secretary of the John D. Van Allen & Son store and whose name has been linked with every major civic endeavor in Clinton for many decades, died at 7:45 a.m. today in Jane Lamb hospital. He was 75 years old. His death followed by four days that of his wife, funeral services for whom were held Wednesday. Funeral services for Mr. Van Allen will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday in the First Presbyterian church with the Rev. Bruce McCullough officiating. Rose Croix services will be conducted at the church. Burial will be in Springdale cemetery. The body reposes in the Bragonier-Fay chapel where friends may call beginning Saturday evening. In addition to furnishing untiring leadership in civic affairs and Masonic fraternal circles, Mr. Van Allen also was an ardent bowler. He was nationally recognized for his interest in this sport, being an executive director of the American Bowling Congress. He also was a life member of the Clinton Bowling association. Two of Iowa's highest Masonic honors - deputy grand master and senior grand warden of the Iowa Grand Lodge - were bestowed on Mr. Van Allen. For many years he was a member of various Grand Lodge committees. He was past master of Emulation Lodge 255, A.F. and A.M. and was a Thirty-Third degree Mason. Through the years his work in the Community Chest was particularly outstanding. He was one of the first general chairmen of the local fund raising drive and has been a member of the budget committee since the inception of the Community Federation. Mr. Van Allen's interest in Chamber of Commerce affiars dates back to 1905 when he was instrumental in reorganizing the Clinton Commercial club into the present chamber. He served several terms as president of the C. of C. and headed virtually every important committee during the last 40 years. Frederick Holmes Van Allen, was born in Chicago, Jan. 28, 1878, son of John Delbert and Alice Holmes Van Allen. He attended Clinton high school and the University of Michigan from 1897 to 1900. He became associated with his father, John D. Van Allen, in the Clinton store for about a year, then spent a year with Marshall Field and Co., in Chicago. Later he was a traveling sales representative for Lee Tweedy and Co., a wholesale dry goods company of New York City. After two years he again joined his father becoming co-partner in the business on Feb. 1, 1905. He married Carlota Bevier in Clinton, Oct. 3, 1906. In 1913 he was one of the organizers of the Clinton Coliseum Co. serving on the board of directors until the sale of the property in 1946. He was active in Liberty Loan drive in World War I, was a past president of the Central States Department Stores, Inc. He was a director of the City National bank and the Interstate Power Co. and has been president of the Clinton Mutual Plate Glass association, which his father helped organize, since 1908. Mr. Van Allen was a member of the Rotary club, member and past president of Clinton Country club, life member of Clinton county chapter, American Red Cross, serving as chapter chairman from 1918 to 1934 and was a life member of Clinton Elks lodge. He headed the group which organized Clinton Community Concert association in 1938 and since has served as president. He was a member of First Presbyterian church, having served as chairman of its board of trustees. Surviving are one son, John Bevier Van Allen, Clinton; a daughter, Mrs. George Archibald Speer, Frederick, Md.; and two grandchildren.