The Biographical Dictionary of America/Allen, Charles Frederic

ALLEN, Charles Frederic, clergyman and educator, was born in Norridgewock, Maine, Jan. 28, 1816; son of William and Hannah (Titcomb) Allen; grandson of William, and a descendant in the ninth generation of Samuel Allen, who in 1630 immigrated to Massachusetts, coming from Durham county, England. Charles Frederick was graduated at Bowdoin in 1839; was instructor at Kent's Hill seminary, 1839-'43; a minister in the Maine Methodist Episcopal conference, 1843-'72, during which time he served as secretary of the conference for seven years, and as delegate to the General conference of 1864, 1868 and 1880. He was the first president of the Maine state college of agricultural and mechanic arts, 1872-'79, and again in the Methodist ministry, 1879-'99, serving three years as presiding elder. He received the degree of D.D. from Bowdoin and from Wesleyan university in 1872. He was a member of the committee to revise the Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal church. His son, Charles Morse Allen (Wesleyan, 1882), was a teacher of natural sciences at Wyoming seminary, Pa., 1882-'89, and became a professor of chemistry in Pratt institute, Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1889; and his son, William Albert, Maine state college, 1874, was a civil engineer Maine Central railroad, 1874-'79, and chief engineer, M.C.R.R., 1878-'96, and was killed by accident, March 21, 1896, while inspecting a bridge at Lewiston, Maine. Charles F. Allen died at Portland, Maine, Feb. 9, 1899.