Norman Douglas Allen came to San Bernardino County thirty-four years ago. He was then a young
man of twenty-six, was married, and brought his wife and several children to the West. Mr. Allen as a youth
had learned to cope with circumstances that combined poverty and privation. He has always been a
worker, dependent upon his industry and self reliance, and that industry he has effectively used in some of
the real substantial development of the country around Ontario and Upland.
Mr. Allen was born in Parma, Jackson County, Michigan, August 4, 1861, son of Norman and Ellen
(Thompson) Allen. His father was a native of Massachusetts and his mother of Michigan. When he was six
years old his mother died, and six years later he was left an orphan by the death of his father. His father
had been married three times, and Norman was one of the three sons of the last marriage. When Norman
Allen was a small child his father moved out to Kansas and homesteaded. He was an educated man,
taught school on the prairies of Kansas, and had studied law, though he never practiced that profession.
For two years he was justice of the peace and supervisor. He died in Kansas.
Norman Douglas Allen after the death of his father lived with his uncle, Almon Allen, and had limited
educational advantages, and when he married, at the age of twenty-two, provided for his family and home
by farming and farm work. After he had been married some four years he came to California, reaching
Ontario the last day of December, 1887. This country had made little progress in development up to that
time. Mr. Allen engaged in such work as a new country provides, and he leveled and planted many acres
of orchard, cared for orchards for other owners, and also helped construct some of the country's
highways. For a time he had charge of the city's rock crusher. Twenty-four years ago he bought the land
where he now lives, and on which he erected a cheap house. This was replaced eleven years ago with a
modern and artistic home. Mr. Allen in his career has been energetic, honest and a thoroughly reliable
type of the pioneer. He has reared a family of children that is a credit to him .and the community. He has
never aspired to public office, and his greatest enthusiasm is for the wild life of the mountains. When
duties permit he has sought sport and recreation in the hunting of deer, and is familiar with all their haunts.
On August 4, 1883, Mr. Allen married Lena Scheurer, a native of Illinois. Ten children have been born
to their union: Walter C., born in Kansas September 4, 1884, is a successful business man at Upland,
owning a transfer and trading outfit. He is married and has four living children. George L., born September
11, 1885, also in Kansas, is manager of the Los Angeles Linen Supply Company. He is married and has
four sons and one daughter. Herman, born in Kansas November 8, 1887, died at Upland July 28, 1908.
Ella, born November 15, 1889, in California, is the wife of Hugh McLean, a prosperous show merchant at
Upland, and they have three children. Fred M., born June 25, 1891, is a box maker at Ontario. He is
married and has two children. Mrs. Eva M. Sachs, born October 8, 1895, is the wife of a carpenter and
contractor, and they have one son. Norman M., born May 15, 1897, was trained at Camp Kearney, San
Diego, with Company A of the 16th Ammunition Train, but did not get overseas. He is married and has a
daughter and lives at Ontario. Howard C., born August 12, 1899, was in the selective service and had
orders to proceed to Texas the day the armistice was signed. He is married. The two younger children are
Christina, born April 23, 1902, now attending the Chaffey High School, and Edna May, born August 20,
1904, also in high school.