Fonds F0075 - Hugh Allen fonds

Hugh Wright Allen, 1889-1972, born in Stella, Ontario, was educated as a school teacher and employed as a chemist before deciding to come west. In 1911 he married Mable Sills, and they moved to the Beaverlodge district of Alberta's Peace River country, where they farmed. In the 1926 provincial election he was elected as United Farmers of Alberta member for Peace River. A major concern of this constituency was the construction of new railway lines to develop the north. Allen remained in office until 1935, the last two years as Minister of Lands, Mines and Municipal Affairs. He then began a new career in the Peace's agro-economic development. Through his efforts, the Alberta Livestock Cooperative was formed in 1940 and he served as the first president. From 1946 to 1964 he was on the board of directors of the United Grain Growers. In 1964 he sold the farm and retired to Grande Prairie with his second wife, the former Mrs. Lulu Sherk Edgerton. He was inducted into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1967.