William R. Allen (July 25, 1871 – October 31, 1953) was an American politician and businessman. He was a member of the

Montana House of Representatives The Montana House of Representatives is, with the Montana Senate, one of the two houses of the Montana Legislature. Composed of 100 members, the House elects its leadership every two years. Composition of the House :''67th Legislature – 2021� ...

from 1903 to 1906, and served as lieutenant governor under

Edwin L. Norris Edwin Lee Norris (August 15, 1865 – April 25, 1924) was a Democratic politician from Montana. He served as the fifth Governor of Montana. Biography Norris was born in Cumberland County, Kentucky in 1865, and graduated from the Southern Norm ...

between 1909 and 1913.

Early life and political career

William R. Allen was born in French Gulch, near

Anaconda, Montana Anaconda, county seat of Deer Lodge County, which has a consolidated city-county government, is located in southwestern Montana, United States. Located at the foot of the Anaconda Range (known locally as the "Pintlers"), the Continental Divid ...

, on July 25, 1871, to parents Cordelia Waddell Allen and William N. Allen. After his mother died, the younger Allen and his father split their time between French Gulch and a Mill Creek ranch. Allen graduated from local schools in Deer Lodge County and attended Helena Business College. Upon earning his degree in 1891, Allen helped his father run the French Gulch mine. Following his father's death in 1898, Allen began his own mining venture. In 1903, he was first elected to the Montana Legislature. That same year, Allen branched out into timber development. He won a second term in 1905, and later succeeded Benjamin F. White as lieutenant governor of Montana. He moved to Boston soon after the end of

's governorship and added real estate, fire insurance, banking, and railroads to his holdings. Allen founded the Boston and Montana Development Company in 1913, which became less profitable throughout the 1920s. That decade, Allen served as a delegate to the

Republican National Convention The Republican National Convention (RNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1856 by the United States Republican Party. They are administered by the Republican National Committee. The goal of the Repu ...

s of 1920 and 1924. In 1940, he contested the Republican primary for a seat on the United States House of Representatives, losing to Jeannette Rankin.

Personal life

Allen was first married to Elizabeth Berkin, with whom he had four children. After her death in 1917, Allen married Ethel Louis deMar. They had three children. Allen died on October 31, 1953, aged 82.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, William 1871 births 1953 deaths Republican Party members of the Montana House of Representatives Lieutenant Governors of Montana People from Anaconda, Montana