Allen, Hamlet “Hammie,” 1872-1941

ALLEN, MCMILLAN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/2/2022 at 10:17:08

From the Hawarden Independent, November 6, 1941:

HAMLET ALLEN DIES
Race Horse Owner, Former Local Farmer Succumbs after Operation

Hamlet Allen of Des Moines, who spent his early days on a farm southeast of Hawarden, passed away last Friday morning at Iowa City following an operation. His remains were shipped to O’Neill, Nebr., for burial. Funeral services were held at O’Neill Sunday afternoon.

Mr. Allen, who was about 65 years of age at the time of his death, was engaged in horse racing with his twin brother Ed for many years. They participated on the grand circuit and had both pacers and trotters in the best races throughout the United States. Mr. Allen attended the South Dakota fair at Huron this fall and entered horses in the races there.

He is survived by three sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Agnes Gaffney and Dougal Allen of O’Neill, Nebr.; Mrs. Chas. Ison of Alcester; Ed Allen of Des Moines; and Mrs. Margaret Millard of Falls Church, Va. Mrs. Isen is critically ill at the Hudson hospital.

Mr. and Mrs. M. J. McNally attended the funeral at O’Neill.

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From the Ireton Ledger, November 6, 1941:

Racing-Horse Owner, Early Settler, Dies

Hammie Allen, former Iretonite, died Monday morning in the State University hospital at Iowa City. He had been hospitalized six weeks prior to his death which was caused by cancer.

Mr. Allen, who was nearing 70 at the time of his death, was an early settler here and lived on a farm south east of Ireton.

In more recent years he became the owner of a string of horses and spent each summer following the races. He spent the winters in Des Moines at the home of his twin brother, Edgar, from whom he had never been separated for more than a month at a time during his entire life.

Funeral services for Mr. Allen were held Sunday at O’Neill, Neb.

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His death is also discussed in the latter part of the obituary for his sister, Susan Ison, Alton Democrat, December 19, 1941:

Hamlet Allen, her younger brother and twin of Edgar, passed away on Oct. 31st at Iowa City where he had gone for an operation. Hammie, as he was better known, lived with Ed and his wife in Des Moines where they owned and trained trotting horses, among which was the famous Single “G”. He also owned a large ranch in Holt county, Neb., where he spent part of his time. During his last illness his sister, Mrs. Gaffney, and brother Edgar, were with him to do all that loving hands could do. His remains were sent to O’Neil, Neb., for burial. Old friends here sympathize with the bereaved family.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate (informant Ed H Allen) shows him as a resident of East 30th and Grand, Des Moines; occupation, horseman; born June 12, 1872 in Iowa; parents Lemuel Allen and Margaret McMillan, both born in Canada; died in the State University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City, where he had been for 39 days, at 9:30 a.m. October 31, 1941; cause, inanition [exhaustion caused by lack of nourishment], duration 1 month; due to carcinomatosis peritoneum, duration 3 months.

His FindaGrave.com page shows him buried in O’Neill Cemetery, Holt County, Nebraska. Parents Lemuel Allen (1828-1904) and Margaret Peggy McMillian Allen (1840-1920); both are buried at Ireton, Sioux County. Eight siblings listed. There is a photo of his headstone.

The 1880 U.S. census shows the Lemuel Allen family, including 7-year-old Hamlet and Edgar, farming in Reading Township, Sioux County.

The 1930 census shows him renting quarters on the Des Moines fairgrounds (as are his neighbors), with his brother Edgar and a roomer living with him; he and Edgar are horse trainers and their roomer is a groom.