William F. Allen (Delaware)

William F. Allen
William F. Allen
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives ; from Delaware's At-large district
	In office; January 3, 1937 –January 3, 1939
Preceded by	J. George Stewart
Succeeded by	George S. Williams
Member of the Delaware Senate
	In office; 1925-1929
Personal details
Born	January 19, 1883; Bridgeville, Delaware
Died	June 14, 1946 (aged 63); Lewes, Delaware
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Addie M. Davis
Residence	Seaford, Delaware
Occupation	businessman

Last updated May 05, 2019

William Franklin "Lovebird" Allen (January 19, 1883 – June 14, 1946) was an American businessman and politician. He was a Democratic member of the Delaware General Assembly and the United States House of Representatives.

The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. Tracing its heritage back to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison's Democratic-Republican Party, the modern-day Democratic Party was founded around 1828 by supporters of Andrew Jackson, making it the world's oldest active political party.

The Delaware General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is a bicameral legislature composed of the Delaware Senate with 21 senators and the Delaware House of Representatives with 41 representatives. It meets at Legislative Hall in Dover, Delaware, convening on the second Tuesday of January of odd-numbered years, with a second session of the same Assembly convening likewise in even-numbered years. Normally the sessions are required to adjourn by the last day of June of the same calendar year. However the Governor can call a special session of the legislature at any time.

The United States House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they compose the legislature of the United States.

Early life and family

Allen was born in Bridgeville, Delaware, son of William Franklin (Frank) Allen and Mollie (Smith) Allen. He moved to Seaford, Sussex County, Delaware with his family in 1889, and then to Laurel, Delaware in 1903. He married Addie M. Davis on April 16, 1905 and they had three children, Robert, Franklin, and Doris. They belonged to the Methodist Church.

Bridgeville is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population is 2,048, an increase of 42.6% from the previous decade. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Laurel is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. The population was 3,708 at the 2010 census. Laurel is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. It once hosted the Laurel Blue Hens of the Eastern Shore Baseball League.

After completing school in 1902, Allen worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad as an agent, telegrapher, and train dispatcher. In 1922, he returned to Seaford, Delaware, began a real estate business, and also formed a business buying and selling fruit and produce along the Delmarva Peninsula. In 1927, Allen diversified his businesses, and founded the Allen Petroleum Corporation and the Allen Package Company.

The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad that was established in 1846 and was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was so named because it was established in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Political career

Allen was a public school commissioner in Seaford from 1920 until 1924, and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1920.

Seaford is a city located along the Nanticoke River in Sussex County, Delaware. According to the 2010 Census Bureau figures, the population of the city is 6,928, an increase of 3.4% from the 2000 census. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Allen was elected to the State Senate in 1924. He served in the Senate from 1925 to 1929, serving as President pro tempore in 1927^[1]

A strong supporter of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, Allen was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1936, defeating incumbent Republican U.S. Representative J. George Stewart. Allen lost his bid for a second term in 1938 to Republican George S. Williams, a businessman from Millsboro, Delaware. During his term, Allen was a member of the Democratic majority in the 75th Congress and served from January 3, 1937 until January 3, 1939, during the second administration of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Millsboro is a town in Sussex County, Delaware. The Town is ranked #1 out of the 25 Sussex County cities for number of residential building permits issued - a leading indicator of population growth. The Town is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Subsequently, he resumed his work in the oil and gasoline distribution business. In 1940, he challenged both major parties and ran for the U.S. Senate as an Independent "Liberal Democrat," but received only a small number of votes.

Death

Allen died at Lewes and is interred at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Seaford, Delaware.^[2]

Electoral history

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. Members of the Delaware General Assembly take office the second Tuesday of January. The State Senate has a four-year term. U.S. Representatives take office January 3 and have a two-year term.

Public Offices
Office	Type	Location	Began office	Ended office	notes
State Senator	Legislature	Dover	January 13, 1925	January 8, 1929
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	January 3, 1937	January 3, 1939

United States Congressional service
Dates	Congress	Chamber	Majority	President	Committees	Class/District
1937–1939	75th	U.S. House	Democratic	Franklin D. Roosevelt		at-large

Election results
Year	Office	Subject	Party	Votes	%	Opponent	Party	Votes	%
1936	U.S. Representative	William F. Allen	Democratic	65,485	52%	J. George Stewart	Republican	55,664	44%
1938	U.S. Representative	William F. Allen	Democratic	46,989	43%	George S. Williams	Republican	60,661	56%

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References

↑ "Allen, William Franklin, (1883 - 1946)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
↑ "William Franklin". Find A Grave. Retrieved September 12, 2012.

External links

Places with more information

Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161
University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by J. George Stewart	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware's at-large congressional district 1937–1939	Succeeded by George S. Williams

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[1] "Allen, William Franklin, (1883 - 1946)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved September 6, 2012.

[2] "William Franklin". Find A Grave. Retrieved September 12, 2012.