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- 12309-86 George Littleton ALLEN, 29, merchant, Arthur Twp, Mount Forest, s/o Alex ALLEN & Ann THOMPSON, married Maggie Jane WATSON, 22, Mount Forest, same, d/o Alex WATSON & Jessie GREGOR, witn: Alex H. ALLEN of Mount Forest & Ada LOWES of Drayton,
- 1945 JULY 26 OBITUARY - From the MOUNT FOREST CONFEDERATE - MOUNT FOREST, ONTARIO
In the death on July 17, of George L. Allen at the home of his daughter Mrs. G. M. Brown, at Renforth, New Brunswick, Mount Forest lost a kindly gentleman and a public spirited citizen who, through a long life, worthily served his home community and was always zealous of its best interests. Keenly interested in people he found pleasure in making new friends and in reminiscing with old ones. He had a fine memory and during his months of ill health put in writing some of his recollections of the early days in Arthur Township, the last installment of which appeared in these columns last week.
Born at Riverstown in 1857, the eldest son of Alexander Allen and his wife Anne Thompson, who settled there in 1856 on arrival in Canada from Mount Shannon, Ireland. George L. Allen grew up and attended school at Riverstown, later he attended high school in Mount Forest and then taught for a number of years at Wagram and at the Tollgate school in his native Arthur [Twp]. Deciding to take up a business career he entered the mercantile business as a clerk in a general store and served in it for seven years. He then bought a grocery business which two years later he sold to J. S. Ireland and bought a boot and shoe business which for twenty years he conducted in partnership with his brother T. Allen, who then took it over and Mr. G. L. Allen became interested in a private bank that was later absorbed by the Dominion Bank which retained Mr. Allen as branch manager until he retired into private life.
During these busy years he was married to Maggie Watson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Watson, Mount Forest, and their home became a happy center for social and musical events until the death of Mrs. Allen in December, 1928.
Mr. Allen always took a leading part in the work of St. Paul's Anglican Church, as teacher and superintendent of the Sunday School for seventeen years, as people's warden and rector's warden and as lay delegate to the Synod.
He also took an active part in municipal affairs, was a member if the Town Council from 1896 - 1899, and in 1911 was appointed Town Treasurer, an office he held for 26 years. He was a member of the Board of Trade from its inception and chairman for 11 or 12 years; he was police magistrate for a considerable time and had also served on the school board.
An active member of the Orange Lodge and a past County master for Grey, Mr. Allen was also a firm Conservative in politics and was well informed on questions of the day. He was an officer of the North Wellington Conservative Association for many years and a number of times was chosen delegate to attend national conventions of his party, the last notable occasion being the Winnipeg convention a few years ago.
Sports also had a share in Mr. Allen's activities. When a young man he was a member of the famous Lorne Lacrosse team of that time. In later years he became a member of the Ontario Lacrosse Association executive and after (words missing) president of the Association for a term. In the earlier days Mr. Allen, while still a student was a lieutenant of the first cadet unit in Mount Forest and he held the same rank afterwards in the Wellington Rifles.
A curler and interested in hockey, he also was a charter member of the Mount Forest Lawn Bowling Club and its secretary for twenty consecutive years, he was widely known at Ontario tournaments and equally so in tournaments in Florida where for several years he spent the winter months. He also was a member of rinks chosen to play visiting teams from Great Britain and South Africa on several occasions.
Mr. Allen's interest in the welfare of the Louise Marshall Hospital is well known. As chairman of the Board of Directors for the past eighteen years he gave liberally of his time and his energies in promoting its position in the community and he lived to see his efforts well rewarded.
He is survived by an only child, Jessie, Mrs. G. M, Brown of Renforth N. B., two grandsons, Lieut. William G. Brown, overseas, and Allen Brown, Toronto, and a great-grandson at present at Renforth. Two sisters and four brothers also survive: Mrs. Alfred Hutchinson, town; Mrs. A. G. Hill, Cleveland, Dr. Alex Allen, Toronto; W. (Rube), Dr. Chas. D., and Thompson Allen, Florida.
The funeral took place on Friday afternoon from St. Paul's Church, Mount Forest, the rector, Rev. R. W. Wenham, conducting the service, assisted by a former rector, Rev. A. E. Slack, of Westdale, Hamilton, who gave the address. The church was filled with relatives and friends gathered to pay their last respects to one so intimately connected with the church and community. Mrs. Allen Hutchinson presided at the organ and the choir was augmented by voices from other churches in town. Both clergymen paid tribute to Mr. Allen's services to his church and to his community. The life he lived was a friendly one and helpful to many. He will be missed in many spheres of activities.
The pall bearers were: T. E. Speirs, E. B. Yule, 1. N. Scott, H. Skales, E. E. Penwarden and S. Buchanan. The many beautiful floral tributes were carried by A. A. Smith, R. M. Grant, T. H. Ellis, Dr. Geo. Beacom, H. R. Hawthorne, H. A. Ross.
Amongst those in attendance from out of town were: Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Brown, Renforth, N. B., and son Allen of Toronto; Mr. and Mrs. James Thompson and Miss Lois of Stratford; Dr. A. H. Allen, Toronto; Roward and Malcolm Colcleugh, Buffalo N. Y.; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Allen, Niagara Falls, N. Y.; Mr. and Mrs. John Thompson, Southampton; Mrs. Brown, sr., son, Mr. Brown, Toronto, and daughter Mrs. Helen Brown Whitney, Kitchener; Waiter Buschlen, Rixon Rafter, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Pinder, Arthur; Lewis Menary, M. P., Grand Valley; D. Sinclair, Harriston; Dr. Geo. Beacom, Listowel; Max Steinberg, R. T. McMullen, Toronto.
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Singing Our Family Song
1857 - 1945 (88 years)
