Henry Allen

Henry Allen ( – February 18, 1871) was an American pioneer and politician. He served in the United States Army before settling in Council Bluffs, where he was a postmaster. He was at the front of the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, arriving in Denver of the Kansas Territory (now the state of Colorado) in October 1858. He prospected for gold and was the first official postmaster of the Pikes Peak region. As a surveyor, he helped establish Auraria, Highland, which later came part of the city of Denver. He was a founder of a company that diverted water from the South Platte River through irrigation ditches. He held the first meeting in his cabin for what became the Auraria Masonic Lodge. He was a delegate from Auraria for the first Constitutional Convention of the Jefferson Territory. Allen and his wife lived in mining towns in Colorado, Idaho, and Montana. Due to poor health, Henry and Susan Allen moved to California, where Allen died in 1871.

Early life and United States Army Henry H. Allen was born around 1815 in Marlborough (Upper Marlboro), Maryland. His father was born outside of the United States. They lived in Council Bluffs. Kate married William Kruse. The couple died within one day of each other in August 1927 in Fairfield, Ohio. On December 9, 1857, he was appointed postmaster. He came during the early days of the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, to prospect for gold.

Allen was one of the original stockholders of Auraria and had a cabin there. On November 3, 1858, the first meeting of Masons in the gold regions was held at his cabin. Attendees included Charles Blake, George Lehow, William M. Slaughter, and Dr. Russell. Allen later became the Worshipful Master of Auraria Lodge.

Allen was a postmaster in Auraria, the first "regularly constituted postmaster" in the Pikes Peak region.

Allen prospected for gold in the mountains near the headwaters of Vasquez Creek (which became known as Clear Creek).

Later years and death He moved to Los Angeles, California, He moved due to his health about two years before his death of stomach cancer on February 18, 1871.

Susan returned to Montana and lived with her daughter. She died in March 1908 at Laurin, Montana (now a ghost town).