Nathan Elmer Allen

Nathan Elmer Allen, who is a young engineer of unusual excellence, as may be judged from the fact that he has attained to the responsible position of chief of the fine steel steamer L. C. Waldo, by force of his own merit, is a son of Samuel S. and Nora (Britton) Allen, and was born in Jefferson county, Wis., on March 9, 1866. His father, who was born in England, came to the United States about the year 1856, locating in Jefferson county, Wis., later removing to Idaho, where he died. The mother is now living in Dodge Center, Minn., with a family of two sons.

Nathan E. Allen acquired his public-school education in Lake Mills, Wis., attending until he was fourteen years of age, after which he worked two years at the barber's trade. In the spring of 1882 he went to Milwaukee and shipped as fireman in the lake barge Hilton, operating between Milwaukee and Manistee. The next season he fired the tug Annie L. Smith. In 1884 he shipped as fireman in the steamer Idea, and in 1885 he fired various steamers; and, taking out engineer's papers the next spring, he was appointed second engineer. In 1886 he was made second in the steamer Huron City with Capt. James Bennet. His next berth was on the steamer Marshall F. Butters as second, remaining with her until July, 1890. Mr. Allen was then appointed second engineer of the passenger steamer Flint & Pere Marquette No. 4, retaining that office two years. In the spring of 1893 he entered the employ of the Roby Transit Company, as assistant engineer of the steamer George W. Roby, Capt. John W. Duddleson being in command. After three years Mr. Allen was transferred to the steamer L. C. Waldo as second, and, after serving in that capacity two seasons, he was promoted in the spring of 1898 to be chief engineer. He has always had a good success with the machinery under his charge, and is deserving of the confidence and esteem in which he is held by the officers and the captain with whom he sails.

Socially Mr. Allen is a Master Mason, member of Covenant Lodge, Chicago, and is a member of the Marine Engineer's Beneficial Association. He makes his home in Chicago.

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Volume I

This version of Volume II is based, with permission, on the work of the great volunteers at the Marine Captains Biographies site. To them goes the credit for reorganizing the content into some coherent order. The biographies in the original volume are in essentially random order.

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.