The Biographical Dictionary of America/Allen, Edward P.

ALLEN, Edward P., representative, was born at Sharon, Washtenaw county, Mich., Oct. 28, 1839. Until his twentieth year his time was divided between farm labor in summer and attending and teaching school in winter. In 1864 he was graduated from the state normal school, going thence to Vassar, Mich., where for three months he taught the Union school. In June, 1864, he joined 29th Michigan infantry, and in September of the same year was made first-lieutenant. Before the close of the war he was promoted to a captaincy. He afterwards took up the study of law, and in 1867 was graduated from the Ann Arbor law school, and began the practice of his profession in co-partnership with the Hon. B. M. Cutcheon, in Ypsilanti. The latter removing to Detroit. Mr. Allen continued his practice alone. In 1876 he was sent to the lower house of the state legislature, and again in 1878, and during the latter term served as speaker. In 1880 he was elected mayor of the city, and from 1882 until 1885 he acted as U. S. Indian agent for Michigan. He was elected to the fiftieth and re-elected to the fifty-first congresses.