San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JAMES LEONARD ALLEN
The owner of an alfalfa ranch
comprising 162 acres on the Muller Road, Roberts Island, James
Leonard Allen was born near Hannibal, Missouri, April 27, 1867, a son of
William H. and Catherine (Triplett) Allen, both natives of Missouri. The grandparents on both sides were pioneers
of Marion County, Missouri, coming there in the early days and homesteading the
virgin soil, the Allen family of German ancestry coming from Kentucky, while
the Triplett’s were of Scotch descent and early settlers of Virginia. James L. remained on the home farm until he
was twenty-two, when he went to the lumber camps of Puget Sound, Washington,
and eastern Oregon, remaining there until 1890, when he embarked for San
Francisco, coming directly from there to Turlock, where he first found
employment with the Turlock Irrigation District, then went to work on the
Hickman ranch at Hickman for one season.
The following four years were spent as foreman on the large Patterson
ranch on the Merced River. In 1895 Mr.
Allen bought a tract of 240 acres near Snelling and by subsequent purchase
added to it until he had 720 acres which he devoted to grain farming, meeting
with success. He continued here until
1912, when he had an opportunity to dispose of his holdings at a good
profit. He then removed to Merced and
leased the Central Hotel, conducting it for two years. In 1914 he came with his family to Roberts
Island and purchased the tract of land that is now his home. At the time of his purchase the prospect was
far from attractive, but through careful planning and hard work, he now has the
ranch in alfalfa and under irrigation. Mr.
Allen markets his hay independently and over a period of six years he has
received from $12 to $25 per ton. Mr.
Allen’s ranch is in the Woods Irrigation District and he has taken an active
part in its development.
Mr. Allen’s marriage, which occurred
at Snelling, California, November 30, 1902, united him with Miss Elizabeth
Grubb, a native of Madisonville, Monroe County, Tennessee, and the daughter of
Daniel H. and Sarah (Carson) Grubb, honored pioneers who were for many years
residents of Snelling. Mr. and Mrs.
Allen are the parents of one son, Lorin C. Allen,
attending Stockton College of Business.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1566. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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