Biography

02/06/1835 - 12/04/1890

Corporal Robert Porter Allen (D24) Columbia, Lycoming, Montour and Sullivan Counties 1876-1878 

Early Life: 

Corporal Robert Porter Allen born February 6, 1835, Armstrong Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania; son of Charles and Rachel Porter Allen; public school education, Williamsport; Dickinson Seminary; Lafayette College, 1855; Harvard Law School, attorney; admitted, Lycoming bar, 1858; second Corporal, Woodward Guards (first responders) Civil War, 1861-1862; resumed law practice; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1876-78; member, State Democratic Executive Committee, 1883; Democratic National Convention, 1884; temporary chair, Democratic State Convention, 1885; married Ellen E. Fleming, two sons, four daughters; died, home, acute bright disease, December 4, 1890 (aged 55) Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania; interment,  Wildwood Cemetery, Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.

Early Life: 

Enlisted, mustered in, April 24, 1861, second Corporal, Woodward Guards (first responders); deployed to Hagerstown, Maryland; Williamsport, Pennsylvania; engaged the enemy at Falling Waters; Martinsburg; Bunker Hill; Charlestown, and Harpers Ferry, all in West Virginia; mustered out on July 24, 1862.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 24th district, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour and Sullivan Counties, 1876-1878; committee assignments, Canals and Inland Navigation, Congressional Reform, Judiciary General and New Counties and County Seats. 

Member, State Democratic Executive Committee, 1883; member, Democratic National Convention, 1884; temporary chair, Democrat State Convention, 1885. 

Legacy: 

Studied law under former Pennsylvania State Senator Robert Fleming; married his daughter, Ellen E. Fleming. 

Robert Doty Fleming  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. Senate Members "A" (wilkes.edu). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1878). Smull, J.A., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 656, 662-664, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 620.

Harrisburg Telegraph (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) Monday December 8, 1890, Page 1.

Robert Porter Allen (1835-1890) - Find a Grave Memorial