Alameda
County
Biographies
CYRUS
H. ALLEN, M.D.
CYRUS H. ALLEN, M.D. When ill health resulting from arduous and
self-sacrificing labors as a surgeon in the Civil war threatened to impair
Dr. Allen’s professional activities, he left his home in the east and came
to the Pacific coast in the hope that the change of climate might bring renewed
strength. In this hope he was not
disappointed. Through the stress of many
busy years he retained a degree of health that would have been impossible in
his eastern home. In the course of an
extensive practice he was accustomed to drive over the mountains from
Centerville to Livermore, a distance of twenty-five miles, for the purpose of
ministering to the needs of the sick.
During the early days he was called long distances from home. Night or day he was ready to respond to the
summons for medical aid, although in many cases he knew no remuneration was
possible. Then, as now, he was eager to
relieve suffering and the poorest patient was as sure of his thoughtful care as
the richest. Such physicians, to whom
the honor of the profession is of more value than the enriching of selves, are
the bone and sinew of a science that stands without a peer; and unto them
usually comes not only professional distinction but also, without self-seeking,
fair financial returns.
A native of North Thetford, Orange county, Vt., born September 5, 1833, Cyrus H.
Allen in early life began to prepare himself for a useful and honorable career
by securing the best education his neighborhood afforded. By means of the money secured through
teaching school six winters he was enabled to acquire an academic
education. On reaching the age of
twenty-one his father inquired as to his plans for an occupation and was told
that it was his ambition to become a physician.
The family being poor, no aid could be given him at home; hence from
boyhood he was self-supporting. During
his leisure hours and weeks when teaching school he read medicine with
Dr. Charles Clark of Montpelier and also took two courses of lectures in
the Vermont Medical College at Woodstock in 1855 and ’56. In June of 1857 he was graduated from the
medical department of the University of Vermont and at once took up
professional work in Union Village, Orange county,
Vt., where he made his home for five years.
Meanwhile he was united in marriage with Mira A. Johnston, a native
of Berlin, Vt., and of their union a son, Charles Harvey, was born
December 29, 1859. This son
followed in his father’s footsteps professionally and after having graduated
from the Cooper Medical College in 1881 was appointed an assistant surgeon in
the regular army. He died in 1888 at the
age of twenty-nine years.
During the progress of the Civil war
Dr. Allen applied for appointment as assistant surgeon. With a class of thirteen he appeared for
examination before the regularly appointed board and he was one of the three
who passed. His appointment placed him
with the Eighth Vermont Regiment in Louisiana, where he took part in the siege
of Port Hudson. Afterward he was ordered
to the Shenandoah valley in Virginia with the Nineteenth
Army Corps and soon after his arrival was assigned charge of a large hospital
at Winchester. A month later,
October 19, occurred the memorable battle of
Cedar Creek, when over four hundred wounded soldiers were brought into his
hospital. Recognition of his efficient
services in the hospital and on the field came in October, 1864, when he was
promoted to be surgeon of the Fifth Vermont Veteran Volunteers, Second
division, Sixth Army Corps. In April of
1865 he witnessed the surrender of General Lee and after a two days’ march
received word of President Lincoln’s assassination. At Danville, N.C., the news of Johnston’s
surrender was received, whereupon the Sixth Army Corps started for Washington. July 12, 1865, he was mustered out of
the service in Vermont. Resuming
professional work as a private practitioner, in the fall of 1865 he opened an
office in Lima, N.Y., but in the spring of 1867 sold out his interests there,
owing to poor health, and by way of the Isthmus came to California. After landing in San Francisco he visited
various points to find a suitable location and finally selected Centerville,
where since July of 1867 he has engaged in continuous practice. Besides property in town he owns a valuable
ranch, but, as before stated, his ambition in life has been to accomplish the
greatest possible good in his profession rather than to accumulate riches. After the death of his first wife, which
occurred October 19, 1885, he married Mrs. Mary C. Braden, who
was born in Ohio and had one son by her first marriage.
Ever
since the organization of the Republican party
Dr. Allen has been a supporter of its principles. Fraternal relations are
numerous and important, including membership in the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows; Aurora Lodge No. 22, F.&A.M., at Montpelier, Vt., where he
was made a Mason in 1864, while home on a furlough; Howard Chapter No.14,
R.A.M., at San Jose; San Jose Commandery No. 10, K.T.; and Oakland Council
No. 12, R.&S.M. Throughout
Alameda county his friends are legion, embracing not
only those who have received his professional assistance, but also the
surviving pioneers of Centerville as well as the younger generation who have
been familiar with his name since their earliest recollections.
[Inserted
by D. Toole]
Cyrus H. Allen,
M.D.
1888
Sep 5, San Francisco Chronicle, P6, San Francisco, California
Personal
Notes
Dr.
Cyrus H. Allen of Centerville is registered at the Palace.
1888
Nov 10, Oakland Tribune, P8, Oakland, California
Death
of Dr. H. C. Allen
Dr.
Charles H. Allen died at Centerville yesterday of heart trouble. He graduated from Cooper Medical Institute,
San Francisco, five years ago. He was Assistant Surgeon of the United States
in Arizona. He died at the residence of
his father, Dr. Cyrus H. Allen.
1896
Nov 19, Oakland Tribune, P19, Oakland, California
Niles
(From
the Washington Press)
A
large number of Niles ladies attended a delightful luncheon given by Mrs. C. H.
Allen, of Centreville.
1894
Dec 20, Oakland Tribune, P6, Oakland, California
Official
Board of Supervisors
Adjourned
Regular Meeting Held Monday, December 17, 1894
<snipped>
C.
H. Allen, M.D., Health Officer for Washington township,
rendered his report for the month of November, giving the number of births,
deaths, cause of death, age, sex, etc. Ordered filed.
1906
Sep 21, Oakland Tribune, P15, Oakland, California
Cyrus
H. Allen and Mary C. Allen (wife) to John E. Bigelow, SE Channing way and Mary
street, 8 173 by E 130, lots 23, 22, 21 and N 16, lot 20, block 26\4, map McGee
tract, Berkeley; $10.
1906
Oct 21, Oakland Tribune, P42, Oakland, California
Mary
C. Allen and Cyrus H. Allen (husband) to A. A. Nordyke,
N Oregon, 300 E Telegraph, Humboldt avenue, N 134.6, E to e line Leonard tract,
S 135, W 92.1-1/2, lots 15 and 16, block T, Leonard tract, Berkeley: $10.
1908
Sep 10, Evening News, P3, San Jose, California
Brevities
<snipped>
The
funeral of Dr. Cyrus H. Allen was held at Centerville on Thursday. The deceased was weell[sic] known here.
1929
May 17, Oakland Tribune, P21, Oakland, California
Pioneer
Resident of Centerville Dies
Centerville,
May 17 – Mrs. Mary Allen, about 70 years of age, prominent in civic, church and
social affairs of Washington township for the last 40 years, died at her home
here yesterday after a lingering illness.
She was a native of Ohio and came to Centerville about 40 years ago with
her husband, the late Dr. Cyrus Allen.
She is survived by one son, Robert Braden, one sister and a
brother. Funeral services are to be held
from the St. James Episcopal church, with which she was identified for many
years, Saturday afternoon.
1929
May 20, Oakland Tribune, P12, Oakland, California
Services
Held for Livermore Pioneer
Centerville,
May 20 – Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Allen, 72, for many years prominent in
the social, civic and church affairs of Washington township, were held from St.
James Episcopal church here Saturday.
Mrs. Allen came to Centerville about 40 years ago with her husband, the
late Dr. Cyrus H. Allen, and had taken an active interest in the affairs
of the community since that time. She is
survived by a son, Robert Edwards Braden, a sister, Mrs. L. E. Stead, and two
brothers, F. V. Edwards and Ezra Edwards.
She was a native of Ohio. Death
came after a lingering illness of several months.
1929
May 20, Hayward Review, P6, Hayward, California
Last
Rites for Mrs. Mary Allen
A
throng of friends of the late Mrs. Mary Celia Allen, widow of the late Dr.
Cyrus Hamilton Allen of Centerville, filled St. James Episcopal church at
Centerville Saturday afternoon to pay her the last respects of an earthly
regard. The Rev. Mr. Atwood, pastor of
the church, officiated at the services.
Large floral offerings were tokens of the affection in which the
deceased was widely held. Pallbearers
were: Louis Eggers, P. C. Hansen, Ernest Martin, George Hellwig, Ed Richmond
and W. B. Kirk. The Pratt mortuary of
Hayward was in charge of arrangements.
Inurnment at the California Chimes chapel followed the services. Mrs. Allen died last Thursday after having
lived 40 years in that community. She
was the loving mother of Robert Edwards Braden and sister of Mrs. L. E. Stead,
F. O. Edwards and Ezra Edwards. She was
born in Ohio in 1844. She was a
prominent member of the Orient chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, members of which
assisted during Saturday’s services.
1950
Jul 4, Oakland Tribune, P62, Oakland, California
Robert
E. Braden
Centerville,
July 4 – Robert Edward[sic] Braden, 76, the last of
one of Centerville’s pioneer families died at a Hayward sanitarium and will be
given final rites tomorrow. He had been
ill for several years. He was a native
of Minnesota but had resided here for many years following his graduation from
the University of California. He was the
son of the late Mary Celia Allen, first president of the Country Club of
Washington Township which she had helped to organize more than 50 years
ago. He is survived by several
cousins. Private funeral services will
be held from the St. James Episcopal Church here at 11 a.m. Inurnment will be at the California Crematory
in Oakland. Friends may view the body
today and tonight at the Garden Chapel of the Pratt-Flierl
Mortuary at 1044 C. Street, Hayward.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1013-1014. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Donna Toole.
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