grave import

Obituary

When members of The Hawk-Eye Tribe have their annual picnic this summer and when Burlington school children return to their studies next fall, a mighty good friend of theirs will be missing.
Robert Allen, who had well earned the name of "the children's friend" doed siddem;u a few ,omites after 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George H. Washburn, 721 South Seventh street, where he had resided for more than twenty years.
Mr. Allen was past 91 years old at the time of his death, was formerly active in business in Burlington and for the last ten years had served on the board of education.
He loved children; he loved to greet them on the street, to tell them stories of his travels; and he loved his work on the school board, because he knew it was for the children. And at the three picnics The Hawk-Eye Tribe has held no one received more pleasure or keener joy than Mr. Allen.
Born in Wexford, Ireland, May 11, 1833, Mr. Allen went to Liverpool, England with his parents when ten years old. where he was educated and served five years of apprenticeship in a large mercantile establishment. At the age of 21 years he emigrated to America with his parents and was engaged for two years in farming with his father in Des Moines county.
Then coming to Burlington, he became connected with the hardware firm of Ross & Whipple, later working for J. Morton & Company and continuing in the same business after the firm was sold to J.W. Grimes & Company. In 1862, Mr. Allen bought out a branch store of Grimes & Company on Jefferson street and two years later entered into a partnership withGeeorge Whipple.
The partnership continued until 1879, when Mr. Allen sold out to his partner and started the manufacture of wire mattresses. His business grew from year to year until 1887, when his concern became incorporated with a capital stockof $75,000. He continued at the head of the manufacturing business until 1893.
Mr. Allen was elected alderman in 1864, served as district collector of revenue in about 1875 and was later a member of the city council. He was elected to the school board three consecutive times, leading the ticket each time. He was head of the finance committee of the board.
Mr. Allen was married at Mt. Pleasant on November 22, 1869 to Miss Annie Clark who with three preceeded him in death many years ago. He leaves no close relatives but countless friends, most of them children, to mourn his death.
Thru his place on the board of education, E.M. Sipple, superintendent of Burlington schools, has been in close association with Mr. Allen for several years and following is the tribute he paid the venerable "friend of the children" yesterday.
"Mr. Allen was a remarkable man. He lived far beyond the usual span of life, and kept his interest to the last.
"Mr. Allen's name and "the children" seem to me to go together naturally. "The children" was an expression that fitted into practically every conversation that Mr. Allen and I had during the five years of our work together inthe public schools of Burlington. His greatest joy was in the love that children had for him. If I were asked what seemed to me to be the outstanding characteristic of Mt. Allen I should say, He loved children and they loved him. I feel that this statement carries a tribute as well as it reveals a dominanat trait of character.
"Of course, Mr. Allen was a staunch friend and consistent supporter of the public schools. He could not have had his great interest in young life without being a champion for the greatest source of power yet, developed for the young.