William Francis Allen (1830-1889), son of a Unitarian minister, was born and raised in Northboro, Massachusetts. In 1854, three years after receiving a bachelor's degree from Harvard, he went to Europe for two years of travel and study. Before he earned his master's degree from Harvard in 1866, Allen's career was quite diversified and included positions as: a school administrator in Massachusetts (1856-1863); a freedmen teacher in St. Helena Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina (1863-1864); an agent for the Sanitary Commission in Helena, Arkansas (1864-1865); and a professor of ancient languages at Antioch College (1865). In 1867 he accepted a professorship at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and taught history and ancient languages there until his death. During his career, William F. Allen produced more that 900 reviews and articles and achieved national recognition in academic circles.
Allen married Margaret Andrews (1839-1924) in 1868, three years after the death of his first wife, Mary (Molly) Lambert. Born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, Margaret Andrews was also raised by Unitarian parents and, like William, was well educated. Both Margaret and her sister Jane Andrews, a highly acclaimed author, wrote stories for children. Margaret also wrote articles about children and was active in Madison civic affairs.
All four of William F. Allen's children were educated at the University of Wisconsin and pursued professional careers: Andrews (1870-1931) was an engineer; William Ware (1873-1898) was a lawyer; and Philip Loring (1879-1908) was a newspaper editor. Katherine (1865-1940), Allen's daughter by his first wife, was the only one to receive a Ph.D. She taught Latin at the University of Wisconsin.
For more detailed information about William F. Allen, consult the Dictionary of American Biography; for Andrews and Philip see Who Was Who in America, Vol. 1.
