Samuel Allen, a farmer of the town of Galway, Saratoga county, New York, married Catherine Cole. They continued their residence in Saratoga county until 1855, when they removed to Fulton county, which was their residence until death. Children:
- John C., see forward;
- Sarah, married John R. Berry, who afterwards associated with her brother, John C. Allen, in glove manufacture;
- Lucy E., unmarried;
- Rebecca, married Amatus R. Bellows, and had a daughter Beulah;
- Clara, married James Billings;
- Mary, married Timothy Davenport, and had Allen and Marion.
(II) John C., son of Samuel and Catherine (Cole) Allen, was born in the town of Galway, Saratoga county, New York, January 27, 1838, died at Gloversville, New York, July 30, 1909. He was educated in the Galway schools, and was a resident there until he reached his seventeenth year, when the family residence was removed to Gloversville, New York. For several years after locating in Gloversville, he learned the process of tanning leather and the manufacture of gloves, and became thoroughly familiar with every detail of these industries. He had become possessed also of some capital, and in 1813, in company with John R. Berry, began the manufacture of gloves under the firm name of Berry & Allen, succeeding to a business established in 1846. This was a most successful enterprise, and continued until the death of Mr. Berry in 1890, when Mr. Allen became the sole owner and continued the business. In 1900 he admitted his son, Harry John Allen, as partner, and the firm became J. C. Allen & Son. This firm became one of the largest glove-making concerns of Fulton county, and continued as J. C. Allen & Son until the death of the father, when it became an incorporation, under the name of J. C. Allen & Sons. Mr. Allen possessed special aptitude for business life, had intense powers of application, good executive ability, coupled with courage and an indomitable will. He won a success in life that was well deserved. He stood high among his brother manufacturers in the trade, who chose him president of the Fulton County Glove Manufacturers' Association, of which organization he was always an active, interested member. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Fulton County National Bank, and was a valuable member of that board. Business interests, while carefully managed, did not make up the sum total of his activities. His deep interest in church and Sunday-school work, the public schools, the public library and other Gloversville public institutions, was one of his prominent characteristics. Public-spirited to an unusual degree, nothing that tended to promote the common good failed of his support. His love of music was a marked trait, and to him is largely due the introduction of musical instruction in the public schools. He served in the public library as a member of the board of directors, and was always a warm friend of the free library. He was one of the original members of the First Presbyterian Church of Gloversville, which he served for twenty-five years as ruling elder. His interest in the Sunday-school was equally marked and continued all through life. He never grew old, save in years, but retained his youthful spirit, and probably enjoyed the friendship of more young people than any man of his years in the city. His tastes were domestic, and in home and family he found his chief delight. He married, February 8, 1871, Genevieve L. Seaver, born in Galway, Saratoga county, New York, April 19, 1847, daughter of A. J. W. Seaver, born September 25, 1807, son of Josiah Seaver, of Galway, New York. Josiah Seaver was the owner of a farm of two hundred acres in Galway, which he cultivated all his active years. He and his wife were active Methodists, and lived the quiet lives of the well-to-do farmers of their period. A. J. W. Seaver married Sophia Ann Fuller, born May 14, 1808, daughter of Gideon Fuller, born May 19, 1780, and his wife, Christina Stearns, born August 27, 1785. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller had seven children:
- Alonzo, born September 3, 1803;
- Orancie, August 10, 1806;
- Sophia Ann, married A. J. W. Seaver;
- Harvey, born March 19, 1811;
- Mercy, August 19, 1819;
- David, June 28, 1823;
- Mary, November 16, 1825.
A. J. W. and Sophia Ann (Fuller) Seaver had five children:
- John Willis, born April 28, 1835; married Mary D. Ball (both deceased); they left children, residents of Newark, New Jersey: Nathaniel, Jennie, Lizzie, Isaac, John.
- Sarah Ann, born November 19, 1837; married John Taylor (deceased); they removed to Grass Lake, Michigan, where their children yet reside: William, Laura, Jennie, Frederick, Nellie.
- Charles Henry, born January 10, 1839; married Eulalia Hayes; children: Cora, Florence, Lorene, Jessie. This family resides at Jackson, Michigan.
- Mary Jane, born December 10, 1843; married Sherwood Haggart: children:
- Mary S., born November 18, 1870;
- George S., March 2, 1877.
- Genevieve L., married John C. Allen, whom she survives, a resident of Gloversville, where her entire life since her marriage has been spent; she is a member of the Presbyterian church, and interested in church and charitable work.
Children of Mr. and Mrs. Allen:
- Katherine S., born January 15, 1872; married, June 3, 1902, Charles I. Coombes, of Johnstown. New York, born May 14, 1871.
- Harry John, see forward.
- Genevieve, born February 12, 1876.
- Richard Berry, November 6, 1878, of the firm of J. C. Allen & Sons.
- Howard Washington, February 22, 1882.
- Susan Doty, December 12, 1883; married, June 8, 1909, Ralph Prescott Beardsley, and has a daughter Genevieve, born June 3, 1910.
- Samuel Gardner, November 12, 1885, of the firm of J. C. Allen & Sons.
(III) Harry John, eldest son of John C. and Genevieve L. (Seaver) Allen, was born in Gloversville, New York, October 29, 1873. He was educated in the public schools and at Peekskill Military Academy. In 1894 he began working in the glove factory of his father, who in 1900 admitted him to a partnership, and re-named the firm J. C. Allen & Son. After the death of Mr. Allen, senior, the business was incorporated as the J. C. Allen & Sons, with Harry J. Allen as president. In this capacity he continues the business that was established by Berry & Allen, and now one of the leading industrial plants of Gloversville. He is director of Fulton County National Bank. Mr. Allen inherits the family love and talent for music, and has devoted a great amount of time to voice culture and instrumental music. For many years he had been director of the choir of the First Presbyterian Church, one of the best musical organizations of the city, now (1910) director of choir of Congregational church. He is a trustee of the public library, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Eccentric and Automobile clubs, and an interested, public-spirited citizen of his native town. Politically he is a Republican. He married, June 7, 1900, Marie Louise, born October 2, 1875, daughter of Samuel Harvey and Jane Elizabeth (Everit) Shotwell, of Gloversville, New York. Child:
- John C. Allen (2), born July 29, 1908.