Allen, Kenneth, 1857-1930

Kenneth Allen (1857-1930), the oldest child of Edward Augustus Holyoke (1828-1898) and Eugenia Sophia (Teulon) Allen (1836- ), was born, on 6 April 1857, and raised in New Bedford, Mass. He remained in New Bedford until the summer of 1872, when he left to spend a year at the preparatory school of the University of Wisconsin at Madison. The following year was spent at the English and Classical School in West Newton, Mass. (where his father taught). In June 1874, Kenneth took and passed an entrance examination for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, N. Y. He graduated from RPI as a civil engineer in 1879.

While studying at Rensselaer, Kenneth also worked for the Boston Water Works, Sudbury River, Framingham, Mass., from July 1875 to August 1877. After graduation, he worked for Essex County in Lawrence, Mass., from August to September 1879, before engaging in railway engineering work in the West for the period 1879 to 1883. He held many civil engineering positions throughout his life in a variety of cities including: Philadelphia, Pa.; Kansas City, Mo.; Yonkers, N.Y.; Baltimore, Md.; Atlantic City, N.J.; New York, N.Y.; and Washington, D.C.

Kenneth married, on 11 September 1886, Rose Whitemore Switzer ( - ), of Philadelphia. They had four children. He died on 7 September 1930.

From the description of Diary, 1874. (American Antiquarian Society). WorldCat record id: 191259099