John Kirby Allen (1810 – August 15, 1838), was a co-founder of the city of
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
and a former member of the
Republic of Texas House of Representatives. He was born in Canaseraga Village, New York (the present day hamlet of Sullivan in the Town of
Sullivan, New York
Sullivan is a town in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 15,339 at the 2010 census. The town is named after General John Sullivan.
The Town of Sullivan is located in the northwestern corner of the county.
History ...
).
He never married. He died of
congestive fever on August 15, 1838, and was buried at
Founders Memorial Cemetery in Houston, Texas.
Early years
When he was seven years old, John took his first job, as a
bellboy
A bellhop (North America), or hotel porter (international), is a hotel employee who helps patrons with their luggage while checking in or out. Bellhops often wear a uniform (see bell-boy hat), like certain other page boys or doormen. This occupa ...
in a hotel in Orrville (present day
DeWitt, New York
DeWitt is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town's population was 26,074. The town is named after Major Moses DeWitt, a judge and soldier. An eastern suburb of Syracuse, DeWitt also is "the site of ...
).
Three years later, he started working as a clerk in a retail shop. At sixteen, he formed a partnership with a friend operating a hat store at
Chittenango, New York
Chittenango is a village located in Madison County, New York, United States. The village is in the southern part of the Town of Sullivan. The population was 5,081 at the 2010 census. Chittenango is the birthplace of L. Frank Baum, author of ''T ...
, where his brother,
Augustus Chapman Allen, was professor of mathematics. In 1827, John cashed in his interest in the hat store and followed his brother to New York City, where they were investors in H. and H. Canfield Company until 1832. The brothers then moved to Texas.
In Texas
The Allen brothers arrived first in
Galveston, Texas
Galveston ( ) is a coastal resort city and port off the Southeast Texas coast on Galveston Island and Pelican Island in the U.S. state of Texas. The community of , with a population of 47,743 in 2010, is the county seat of surrounding Galvesto ...
and then moved to the small town of
Saint Augustine
Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Af ...
. In 1833, John Allen and his brother associated with a group of entrepreneurs in
Nacogdoches
Nacogdoches ( ) is a small city in East Texas and the county seat of Nacogdoches County, Texas, United States. The 2020 U.S. census recorded the city's population at 32,147. Nacogdoches is a sister city of the smaller, similarly named Natchitoch ...
and started operating a business as land speculators.
During the Texas Revolution
Instead of joining the army when the
Texas Revolution started, John and his brother engaged in the business of keeping supply channels open. At their own expense they outfitted a ship, the ''
Brutus
Marcus Junius Brutus (; ; 85 BC – 23 October 42 BC), often referred to simply as Brutus, was a Roman politician, orator, and the most famous of the assassins of Julius Caesar. After being adopted by a relative, he used the name Quintus Serv ...
'', for the purpose of protecting the Texas coast and assisting troops and supplies from the United States to arrive safely in Texas.
Nevertheless, some members of the Texas provisional government objected to the Allen brothers' activities, and there were rumors that they were engaged in privateering. In January 1836, they sold the ''Brutus'' to the Texas Navy, and it became only the second ship in the fledgling Texas navy.
John and
Augustus Chapman Allen continued to raise money and operate as receivers and dispensers of supplies and funds for the war effort without charge. In spite of the brothers' services, gossip and censure were aimed at the Allens because they were not in the armed services.
In politics
On August 30, 1836, John Kirby Allen's candidacy for Representative of
Nacogdoches County
Nacogdoches County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 64,653. Its county seat is Nacogdoches.
The Nacogdoches, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Nacogdoches County.
N ...
to the first
Congress of the Republic of Texas : ''For the current Texas legislative body, see Texas Legislature.''
The Congress of the Republic of Texas was the national legislature of the Republic of Texas established by the Constitution of the Republic of Texas in 1836. It was a bicameral l ...
was announced in the ''
Telegraph and Texas Register
''Telegraph and Texas Register'' (1835–1877) was the second permanent newspaper in Texas. Originally conceived as the ''Telegraph and Texas Planter'', the newspaper was renamed shortly before it began publication, to reflect its new mission ...
''. He was elected in September, and officially began his term on October 3. There, he served on the president's staff with the rank of major. It was during this political service that John and his brother Augustus founded the city of Houston. He also continued to operate a shipping business during this time, along with his partner,
James Pinckney Henderson
James Pinckney Henderson (March 31, 1808 – June 4, 1858) was an American and Republic of Texas lawyer, politician, and soldier, and the first governor of the State of Texas.
Early years
He was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina, on March 31, 1 ...
.
In Congress, John Allen successfully lobbied to have the newly founded city of Houston named as the capital of the Republic. This gave Houston the boost it needed to survive its first years of initial development.
On April 13, 1838, Allen was elected to the board of directors to the Galveston City Company, which was a stock company chartered by the Republic of Texas to found the
City of Galveston.
Legacy
Several Houston landmarks, including
Allen Parkway
Allen Parkway is an arterial road west of Downtown Houston, Texas. It has a distance of approximately 2.3 miles (3.7 km), running from Interstate 45 west to Shepherd Drive, where it becomes Kirby Drive. Originally known as Buffalo Parkway, ...
, Allen Center as well as
Allen's Landing
Allen's Landing is the officially recognized birthplace of the city of Houston, Texas, United States, the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the United States. Located in Downtown Houston between the Main Street and Fannin Street viadu ...
Park, immortalize the name of the city's founders.
He is buried at
Founders Memorial Cemetery along with his mother and father as well as most of his siblings.
[Davis, Rod.]
Houston's really good idea Bus tour celebrates communities that forged a city.
''San Antonio Express-News
The ''San Antonio Express-News'' is a daily newspaper in San Antonio, Texas. It is owned by the Hearst Corporation and has offices in San Antonio and Austin, Texas. The ''Express-News'' is the third largest newspaper in the state of Texas, with ...
''. Sunday August 3, 2003. Travel 1M. Retrieved on February 11, 2012.
References
External links
*
Founders Memorial Parkat The Political Graveyard
at Texas Heritage Society
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, John Kirby
American city founders
History of Houston
1810 births
1838 deaths
Republic of Texas politicians
1st Congress of the Republic of Texas
Politicians from Houston
People from Sullivan, New York
People from Onondaga County, New York