Charles
H. Allen was born in Mansfield, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, February 11,
1828. He received his early education in the common schools, taking
one term afterward in Condersport Academy. From here he went to Jamestown,
Chautauqua County, New York, with the idea of continuing his education.
He was compelled by illness to relinquish his desire for a higher education,
a spinal curvature producing such serious nervous disturbance that physicians
pronounced in necessary that he should give up all mental labor.
Here he entered a workshop, and learned a trade. Being of a strong
mechanical turn, he rapidly acquired skill in the various departments,
and was soon an expert cutler. His taste for mechanics has followed
him all through his life, and a “workshop” has been his principal place
of amusement.
From
his place in the shop he was unexpectedly called to finish a term of school,
the teacher—a former teacher of his—being compelled to resign because of
ill health. Mr. Allen taught his first school here, at the early
age of fifteen. With no though of becoming a teacher, he returned
to the workshop at the end of the term, and resumed what he thought would
be his life work. But it was ordered otherwise. His success
in the school-room had been so marked that he was called back to the same
school for a longer term, and at a considerable advance in the meager salary
paid. During this term of school he read Abbott’s Teacher and Page’s
Theory and Practice of Teaching, and from these learned that teaching is
anything but drudgery. From the reading of these books, followed
by “My School and Schoolmasters,” dates the beginning
of his career as a teacher.
Mr. Allen
taught in the common schools of western New York for several years, working
at his trade during vacations. During this period he attended for
one term a Regents, or Normal Class, in the Westfield Academy.
While
teaching in Busti, New York, he was, upon the recommendation of the County
Superintendent, granted a New York State certificate, a certificate granted
only upon great excellence in the art of teaching.
He was
now called to the Smethport Academy, in McKean County, Pennsylvania, where
he soon became Principal, and began the training of teachers. At
this period, also, began his institute work, which has continued all through
his life.
His health
failing, from overwork, he became a land surveyor for a few years.
He held the position of surveyor for the German colony which settled upon
the tract of land first purchased by Ole Bull for a Danish colony.
During this period he regained his health, and, in addition, “picked up”
a fair smattering of the German language.
From
Germania he was called to Westchester, Pennsylvania, to take the position
of Associate Principal of a Normal School. During the long vacation
of the Normal School he went to Wisconsin, at the invitation of Chancellor
Barnard, to take charge of several Teachers’ Institutes. Here he
was induced to remain for several months, to complete the work and aid
in compiling the proceedings. Chancellor Barnard was compelled to
resign his position and give up his work in Wisconsin, upon which event
Mr. Allen was elected agent of the Normal School Regents of the State,
and given in charge the Institute work and the supervision and examination
of the Normal classes, held then in some of the colleges, academies, and
high schools. For several years he carried on this work, holding
institutes in different parts of the State, and lecturing in almost every
hamlet. Tiring of the perpetual strain of this severe labor, he opened
a private Normal Class in the Madison High School building. At this
time, also, he was made City Superintendent of Schools. The demand
for a Normal School was clearly indicated by the patronage extended to
this Normal Class, and before the expiration of a year the Regents of the
University of Wisconsin invited Mr. Allen to take charge of a Normal Department
in the University. He accepted the invitation, and entered the University
as a Professor or Normal Instruction. To him belongs the credit of
first opening the doors of the University to women. While holding
the professorship in the University, Mr. Allen raised a company of students,
and went to Memphis as Captain of the company. His company formed
a part of the “Hundred day men,” of whom so much was said and written.
Returning, “honorably discharged,” he resumed his work, but was again compelled
to give up teaching by failing health. He resigned his position,
and spent some months in a general life insurance office in Cincinnati.
He was, however, soon called back, and made President of the first Normal
School in Wisconsin, at Platteville. Here he organized the Normal
School work of the State, and also took charge of the erection of the new
building.
A severe
attack of bronchitis compelled his again to give up his work, and hoping
for the benefits of a change of climate, he went to Portland, Oregon, where
he opened and carried on, for eight months, the Bishop Scott Grammar School,
as head master. This work was not to his liking. The climate,
however, restored his health, and he returned and worked a year as Institute
Agent in Wisconsin. While at work in an Institute there, he received
his notification of an election as Professor of Natural Science in the
Normal School at San José, California. This position he accepted,
and in a short time reported for duty. After serving one year as
Professor of Natural Science, he was elected, August 4, 1873, Principal
of the School.
Of Mr.
Allen’s work in California, both as the head of the Normal School and in
Institutes, little need be said. His educational ability may be best
estimated by a study of the growth of the School, and his method of work,
by the extracts from his reports, to be found in the body of this work.
That his duties have been various and heavy, no one can doubt. In
addition to the labor of Principal, he has had charge of the completion
of the old building, the erection of the present building, the improvement
of his grounds, and the erection of the building at Los Angeles; and the
Normal School building at Chico has had also a share of his time and attention.
The wonder
is not that, after nearly seventeen years of work in California, his health
should give way, but rather, considering the nature and amount of work
he has accomplished, that it has not give way before.
With
an experience that few men have had, Mr. Allen retires to his mountain
ranch, to enjoy the evening of a busy life.
This
sketch of the life and work of Mr. Allen cannot be more fittingly closed,
than by giving in full the official resolutions unanimously adopted by
the Board of Trustees, on accepting his resignation:
Among
the customs or rules that a refined civiliation has given us, none is imbued
with more gravity than that which is devolved upon collective bodies, both
public and private, of expressing, upon the death or retirement of a fellow
member or employé, the regard and esteem in which he is held, and
to which he is entitled by reason of his mental and moral worth, and his
faithful, valuable, and long-continued services.
This
custom is sanctioned by the most elevated sentiments that find lodgment
in the human breast; and the outward expression, while exhibiting the gratification
of conscientious duty in a worthy personal cause, is yet tinged with the
sorrow and regret of a personal loss.
The Board
of Trustees of the State Normal School, at San José, are called
upon to avail themselves of this custom, to discharge themselves of this
trust.
We have
made it our duty--pleasant in that which affects a knowledge of the past,
unpleasant in that which looks toward the narrow line dividing the past
from the future, and which shows a vacuum that can never be filled while
old associates hold a place in our memories--to say for you all what individually
we know you would say, and much better, for yourselves.
Professor
Charles H. Allen is about to leave us. His connection with the shcool
is soon to be closed. We have been compelled, sorrowfully, to accept
his resignation, on account of his continued ill health, a long abstinence
from work being imperative. In a word, he asks us for his life; and,
as physicians, who are his friends, we are obliged to present the only
prescription that will meet his case. And we do this in the sincere
and earnest hope that rest and relaxation may bring back the strength he
has lost, and that his future days may be long and happy.
For seventeen
years he has been connected with the school, sixteen as Principal; seventeen
years of faithful, conscientious, laborious work. His influence has
been deep, strong, far-reaching. By his teaching, by his management,
by his labors on the State Board of Education, by his personal advice and
counsel, and by his example, he has shaped the destinies of hundreds of
men and women, many of whom are now highly honored by the State, and are
the pillars of its present strength, and the hope of its future prosperity.
His guidance has ever been in the line of truth and right, as well as purely
intellectual application, and the power of his kindly Christian mind has
been exerted upon all whose good fate has led them, as seekers for knowledge,
within the portals of this gran educational edifice.
California--the
whole coast, in fact--owed him a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.
In view
of all these facts, it is meet that this Board should give its appropriate
and emphatic expression of its sentiments; therefore, be it
Resolved,
That in the retirement, on acount of ill health, of Professor Charles H.
Allen, the State Normal School at San José is deprived of the services
of a competent and faithful educator, a wise counselor and friend, a conscientious,
painstaking, and talented fellow laborer, and an honest, large hearted,
Christain [sic.] gentleman; that we part with him in unfeigned sorrow and
regret, not only on account of personal esteem and regard for his many
able qualities, but also by reason of the vast scope, important, and high
moral and intellectual character of the work that he has accomplished during
his connection with the school, the Board, and the educational affairs
of the State generally; that the State ought not to forget, as it assuredly
never will, one who has done such grand work in her moral and intellectual
behalf.
Resolved,
That the foregoing preamble and resolutions be spread upon the records
of the Board, and that an engrossed copy be preparted under the direction
of the
Executive Committee, and
presented to Professor Allen.
San José, California,
June 24, 1889.
Ralph Lowe,
T.H. Laine,
Ira G. Hoitt,
Committee on Resolutions.