Edward Payson ALLEN, Congress, MI (1839-1909)

ALLEN Edward Payson , a Representative from Michigan; born in Sharon, Washtenaw County, Mich., October 28, 1839; attended the district and select schools; was graduated from the State normal school in 1864; enlisted and helped to raise a company for the Twenty-ninth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry; commissioned first lieutenant in September 1864 and later, captain; mustered out with his regiment in September 1865; was graduated from the law school of Michigan University at Ann Arbor in March 1867; was admitted to the bar; commenced practice in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County; assistant assessor of internal revenue in 1869; prosecuting attorney of Washtenaw County in 1872; alderman of Ypsilanti 1872-1874; elected to the Michigan house of representatives in 1876 and again in 1878, at which time he was elected speaker pro tempore; mayor of Ypsilanti in 1880; appointed United States Indian agent for Michigan in August 1882 and served until December 1885; elected as a Republican to the Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses (March 4, 1887-March 3, 1891); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1890 to the Fifty-second Congress; resumed the practice of law; member of the State board of agriculture 1897-1903; again mayor of Ypsilanti in 1899 and 1900; member of the State soldiers' home board 1903-1909; died in Ypsilanti, Mich., November 25, 1909; interment in Highland Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present