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WEBSTER COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
PJSTON@aol.com
December 4, 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II
pg 92
Sylvester P. ALLEN, M.D., has the sterling personal characteristics, the
professional ability and the substantial practice that mark him distinctly as
one of the representative physicians and surgeons of Webster County, where he
maintains his home and professional headquarters at Webster Springs, the
county seat.
Doctor Allen was born in Doddridge County, this state, on the 20th of April,
1872, and is a son of Stephen and Mary (Frum) Allen, both representatives of
honored pioneer families of that part of Virginia which now constitutes the
State of West Virginia. Stephen Allen was born in Doddridge County, January
24, 1836, and his wife was born in Taylor County, March 16, 1838. The parents
were reared under the conditions that marked the pioneer period in the
history of what is now West Virginia, their marriage was solemnized in Taylor
County, and thereafter they established their home on a farm in Doddridge
County. In 1874 removal was made to Harrison County, and in 1880 the family
home was established in Braxton County, whence removal later was made to
Webster County, where the father continued his association with farm industry
until the time of his death. He was a republican in politics, and both he and
his wife were earnest members of the Baptist Church. Of their eight children
four are living (1922); Rebecca is the wife of Daman Ash; Samantha F. is
the wife of James W. McCray; Sylvester P., of this sketch, is the next
younger; and S.M.P. is the wife of David F. Heafner.
Sylvester P. Allen was reared to the invigorating discipline of the farm,
attended the local schools in the different counties in which the family
resided during the period of his boyhood and youth, and in the furtherance of
his higher education he entered the Central Normal College of Kentucky, in
which excellent institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of
Science. He depended entirely upon his own resources in defraying his
expenses at this college and also at the Kentucky School of Medicine at
Louisville, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1901 and
with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
On the 11th of July, 1901, Doctor Allen opened an office at Webster Springs,
and here he has since continued in the successful general practice of his
profession, in which he has shown both marked ability and a fine sense of
professional and personal stewardship. In his various activities of study
and research that have kept him in touch with advances made in medicine and
surgery he has taken an effective post-graduate course in the medical
department of the University of Louisville. He is a member of the Webster
County Medical Society and the West Virginia State Medical Society. The
doctor is a stalwart republican, and in Webster County, which is strongly
democratic, he was elected county clerk by a majority of 166 votes, he having
retained this office six years and having given a most effective
administration. In the time-honored Masonic fraternity Doctor Allen is
affiliated with and is a past master of Addison Lodge No. 116, A. F. and A.
M. at Addison, Webster County' Sutton Chapter No. 29, R. A. M., at Sutton
Commandery No. 16, Knights Templars, besides which he is a Noble of
Beni-Kedem Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Charleston and the Scottish Rite
Consistory at Wheeling. Both he and his wife are active members of the
Baptist Church in their home village.
In 1904 was solemnized the marriage of Doctor Allen and Miss Lenora Miller,
who had attended both the State Normal School at Fairmont and the University
of West Virginia and who had been a successful and popular teacher prior to
her marriage. The only child of Doctor and Mrs. Allen died in infancy.
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