Joseph M. Allen
Joseph M. Allen, of the Allen-Roberts Company, engaged in the carpet business in Cincinnati, was born in Lebanon, Tennessee, but has been a resident of this city for more than a quarter of a century. His grandfather, Captain Jeremiah H. Allen, came from Birmingham, England, about 1800, and located in Virginia. He later came to Lebanon, Tennessee. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, served as captain of a company and was with General Jackson oat the battle of New Orleans. The father of Joseph M. Allen was born at Lebanon, Tennessee, and owned a plantation of fifteen thousand acres in the Cumberland Valley on which was a large number of slaves. He was also named Jeremiah H. and served as an officer in the War with Mexico, being colonel of the state militia. He died at Lebanon in 1883. Colonel Jeremiah H. Allen married Rebecca Ellis, daughter of Moses Ellis, a prominent and wealthy planter of Lebanon, Tennessee. To this union were born nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the seventh. The mother is still living at Nashville, Tennessee. Throughout the entire period he has been connected with the carpet trade. For a time he was associated with the George F. Otte Company and later with the L. B. Thoms Company. In 1900 he embarked in business on his own account, opening an establishment at No. 616 Race Street. Previous to this he had acted as a broker and manufacturer's agent for several years, with offices in the Bradford Building. In 1910 he combined his interests with those of the Cincinnati Lace Company under the name of the Allen-Roberts Company at Nos. 114 and 116 West Sixth Street, with Mr. Allen as president, J. C. Roberts, vice president and Treasurer and C. Smith, secretary. There are jobbers and retailers of carpets, rugs and lace curtains and are the middle western agents for the Wilton Brussels Carpet Company of Philadelphia. They employ about twenty people and the business is increasing along gratifying lines, its steady and substantial growth arguing well for the future.
In June, 1888, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Mae Wernke and they have three children: Helen, Beulah and Joseph M., Jr. The family home is on Walnut Hills and its reputation for hospitality is well merited. Mrs. Allen is the daughter of Henry and Mary Wenke, who came from German in the 30's , where he engaged in the undertaking business. His wife died in 1903. Mr. Allen has always taken a great interest in the Masonic fraternity and is a past master of Cincinnati Lodge, a past commander of Hanselman Commandery and chief raban of the Syrian Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He has also attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and he belongs likewise to the Knights of Pythias fraternity. For the furtherance of trade relations and the advancement of Cincinnati's business center he has become identified with the Business Men's Club and the Merchants Manufacturing Association. While connected with the carpet trade for twenty-six years, he has been in business for himself only since 1900 but in that period has demonstrated his power to successfully manage important trade interests. His labors have been crowned with prosperity and he is now one of the substantial residents of Cincinnati.
From Cincinnati, The Queen City, Volume III, by Rev. Charles Frederic Goss, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1912