Excerpt from Chicago, Vol. 5: Its History and Its Builders; A Century of Marvelous Growth

The youngest'of the nine children in his father's family, Samuel W. Allerton of this review was but seven years of age when his father failed in business and was a lad of twelve when he began providing for his own support. He remained 1n Amenia until fourteen years of age and in 1842 went to Yates county with his parents, giving them the benefit of his services until they were able to buy the-wayne county farm. He then joined his brother Henry in renting a farm on which they made fifteen hundred dollars, which they gave in partial payment for the farm in Wayne county, assuming an indebtedness of three thousand dol lars. In the cultivation of a rented farm Mr. Allerton saved thirty-two him dred dollars and then went to Newark, where he worked with his brothers on their farm and also traded in live stock to some extent. On his return from Albany, New York, where he had' sold cattle, it was found that he and his brother were the possessors of three thousand dollars in cash and a farm clear of all indebted ness. They divided their interests, Mr. Allerton taking the cash and starting out for himself, his brother advising him: Make a name and character for your self and you are sure to win. This advice he has ever followed and it has been the substance of his admonition to young men since that time. At the end of his first independent venture - the sale of cattle in New York - his sales amounted to seven hundred dollars. With characteristic energy and determination, however, he continued in business and later when he made a shipment of live stock to New York there was such a shortage of cattle on the market there that his sales netted him three thousand dollars.

It was about that time that Mr. Allerton heard and heeded the call of the west and for a year thereafter engaged in raising and_ feeding cattle in Fulton county, Illinois, but like hundreds of, others, he was the victim of the financial panic which swept over the country at that time. This and ill health occasioned his return to the east and with his brother he engaged in merchandising for a short time in Newark, New York, but felt that the limits and possibilities in such an undertaking were too narrow. Disposing of his interest in the store and bor rowing five thousand dollars-he returned to Fulton county, and in March, 1860, removed to Chicago, from which point he has since conducted his operations. At the same time he made further preparations for having a home in the city by his marriage at Peoria, to Miss Paduella M. Thompson, a daughter of Astor C. Thompson, of Fulton county. They became the parents of a daughter and son Kate Bennett, who was born June 10, 1863, and on the 14th of October, 1885, became the Wife of Dr. Francis, Sidney Tapin. Following his death she married Hugo R. Johnson. The son, Robert Henry, born March 20, 1873, is supervising extensive property interests. Following the death of his first wife Mr. Allerton wedded her sister, Agnes C. Thompson, on the 15th of March, 1882, and their home on Prairie avenue has ever been the center of a cultured society circle.

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