Harry Edgar Allen 1869-1930

ALLEN, LUKENS, LUKINS, HINES, LOGAN, CRUMP

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 9/8/2013 at 21:49:25

Supt. H.E. Allen Dies on Train Enroute Home
Had Been at Hot Springs for Treatments – Burial Here Saturday Afternoon
Harry Edgar Allen, 61, superintendent of the Dakota Division of the Rock Island at this place, died Wednesday [December 24, 1930] morning in his private car as the train on which he was returning drew into El Reno, Okla. Mr. Allen had been at Hot Springs, Ark., for treatments, going there from Sibley the week before. Mr. Allen’s health had been failing for the past few months. He went to Sibley about a month ago for care under Dr. F.P. Winkler, a personal friend.

Superintendent Here 10 Years
Mr. Allen took up his duties as superintendent here ten years ago, coming to Estherville from Fairbury, Nebr., where he had held a similar position on the Nebraska division. He had advanced steadily in the Rock Island service during the 26 years he had been with the system. Born at Hamilton, Mo., Dec. 14, 1869, he had been in railroad business all of his mature years. He lived with his parents at Hamilton and attended the public schools there, but on Feb. 1, 1886 he entered the service of the Santa Fe railroad in the maintenance of way department. He filled various positions with the Santa Fe until he was promoted on Jan. 1, 1899 to roadmaster on the Oklahoma division with headquarters at Arkansas City, Kansas. Feb. 1, 1903 he was appointed superintendent of construction and while in this position of superintended the construction of the line known as the eastern Oklahoma branch of the Santa Fe. This work was completed June 1, 1904 at which time Mr. Allen resigned from the service of that road to accept a position with the Fort Worth and Denver City railroad as general roadmaster. On September 1, of the same year he resigned the enter the service of the Rock Island as roadmaster of the Missouri division, headquarters at Washington, Ia. Feb. 1, 1905 he was appointed trainmaster of the St. Louis division with headquarters at Eldon, Missouri, becoming assistant superintendent of the Oklahoma division April 1, 1906, and was promoted to superintendent of the Amarillo division, Oct. 10, 1906. From February 1, 1910, to July 1, 1914, Mr. Allen held the position of superintendent on the Trinity and Brazos Valley railroads returning to the Rock Island as superintendent of the Louisiana division, July 1, 1914. He was later made superintendent of the Nebraska division at Fairbury on Nov. 1, 1915. He came to Estherville as superintendent on May 1, 1921.

Mrs. Allen [Molly Esther Lukens] and their only son Lloyd were with Mr. Allen at Hot Springs and were with him at his passing. There are two granddaughters surviving, Mrs. J. Hines and Molly Allen of Watertown, two brothers M.J. Allen of Wichita, Kansas and F.E. Allen of Guthrie, Oklahoma, and two sisters, Ola Logan of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Leta Crump of Anadarko, Okla. F.E. Allen attended the funeral.

Every courtesy was extended to Mr. Allen by the officials of the second district, some officer accompanying him over every part of the railroad from Hot Springs to El Reno, Okla., many of them old friends and he passed away admidst familiary surroundings on the railroad that had meant so much to him in life.

Highly Esteemed Over System
Mr. Allen was known and liked over the entire system for his outspoken sincerity. He had come up from the ranks to his position of responsibility and knew his men and their work. He had but recently demitted from membership in the Masonic orders and had hundreds of friends among the Masons, and in Estherville who will grieve with the family in his passing.

Mr. Allen’s body was brought to Estherville Friday and Saturday morning was taken from the Sternborg Funeral home to the church where it lay in state from eleven o’clock until time for the services.

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at two o’clock from the Presbyterian church in charge of Rev. A.G. Bailey. Mr. T. Straw, welfare worker for the Rock Island gave an extended talk at the service, telling of the relationship in general between the company and its employees and more particularly of the high esteem in which Mr. Allen was held by all officials and employees of the railroad. He was a close friend of Mr. Allen and stated that in his association with him he never found a man more loyal to the Rock Island railroad or more considerate of the employees under his supervision.

His tribute to the mothers, wives and sisters of the employees was touching and beautiful. At one time there was not a dry eye in the great audience. Mr. Straw’s address was not doubt one of the most eloquent and touching ever delivered at a funeral in this city and his eulogy of Mr. Allen was a splendid tribute to a fine railroad official.

Interment was made at Oak Hill cemetery.

Officials Attend Funeral
Those attending the funeral from out of town were: T. Straw, welfare worker, from Moline, Illinois; C.E. Green, assistant to the Vice President, Chicago; H.L. Reed general manager, J.J. Breheny, general superintendent, L.J. Hughes, engineer maintenance of way, T.W. McCarthy, superintendent of motive power, Des Moines, B.H. Smith, master mechanic, Horton, Kansas, J.G. Ashman, R.F. Wright and wife of Iowa Falls, and A.W. Little of Sioux Falls, Joe Coles of Dows, J.R. Perkins from Sibley, G.H. Buseman of Pipestone, Minnesota and Dave Burnam of Des Moines. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, December 31, 1930)