Civil Engineer
Centurion, 1847–1850s
Born 10 May 1802 in Schenectady, New York
Died 31 December 1889 in Montrose, New Jersey
Buried Rosedale Cemetery
, Orange, New Jersey
Proposed by Francis W. Edmonds
Elected 3 April 1847 at age forty-four
Archivist’s Note: Brother of George F. Allen; father of Horatio M. Allen. His memorial exists only in a manuscript version in the Century Association’s bound collection of monthly and annual meeting minutes. It was read by the club secretary at the annual members meeting but not published in the 1890 yearbook because of the realization that the Horatio M. Allen who was on the membership rolls was the son of the decedent and still living. The elder Horatio Allen, who had died in 1889 and is the subject of the memorial, had been elected in 1847 but did not appear in any extant printed membership rosters after 1855.
Century Memorial
Horatio Allen was the James Watt of America. He was a contemporary and friend of Stephenson, the inventor of the railway locomotive, and was the first man to run one in this country. He shared with the great English engineer by reason of his inventions and improvements on railway and marine engines, a well-earned reputation and the credit is due to one who confers great practical benefit upon mankind.
He was one of the survivors of the ill-fated steamship Arctic in that disaster which wrecked the fortunes of the line and brought sorrow to the homes of so many well-known families in this city.
He was an earnest student in various branches of science, especially of astronomy, and spent the last years of his life in the studious retirement.
He was an honor to the country and to the city which was the scene of his labors.
Henry E. Howland
Annual Meeting Minutes, 11 Jan 1890
