David C. Allen

File contributed for use on the Polk County GenWeb by: Nancy Rayburn. Originally posted on Jnauary 28, 2008 by Odell Robinson; reposted April 10, 2017. Transcribed from: The History of Florida: Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1923, Vol. III, page 8.

ALLEN, DAVID C. Among the railway officials whose duties make them residents of Lakeland, one who for many years has been in the service of the Atlantic Coast Line System is DAVID C. ALLEN, general yard master at Lakeland. Mr. ALLEN began railroading when a boy, and has had successive promotions and responsibility and is still a comparatively young man.

He was born in Columbus County, North Carolina, August 11, 1877, son of DAVID C. and JENNIE (ROBINSON) ALLEN. His father, a native of North Carolina, gained a successful position as a lawyer. He represented his county in the Legislature several times. He enlisted as a private in the Confederate army, and by merit was promoted to the rank of colonel. After the war he followed farming and the practice of law and died when about seventy-three years of age. His wife was born in Columbus County and lived to the age of about seventy. Their four sons and six daughters are still living and all married but one.

The fourth child and second son, DAVID C. ALLEN, was reared in Columbus County, educated in public schools there, and began railroading in the capacity of baggage agent for the Seaboard Air Line. Later he entered the train service as a flagman, and after about fifteen months was promoted to conductor and was both freight and passenger conductor on the Seaboard Air Line. He was with that road about five years, and for the past fifteen years has been in the service of the Atlantic Coast Line.

Mr. ALLEN was transferred to Lakeland, Florida, in 1912 as yard master, and for the past eight years has been general yard master. He has performed those duties longer than any other man in that capacity at Lakeland.

In 1904 he married Miss EDITH WILLIAMS at Shelby, North Carolina. They have four children, MILDRED, DAVID C., Jr., EVELINE and EDITH E.