Greenfield, (Ma.) Gazette and Courier January 20, 1912 obituary

Death of Oscar C. Allen
Oscar Capon Allen died Wednesday morning at 3 o'clock at his home on Conway street after an illness of a number of weeks. Mr. Allen was a popular hotel keeper in Western Massachusetts for 40 years and was well known to the traveling public public.
He was born in Franklin, O., March 8, 1837, son of John and Elizabeth Allen, and his parents moved to Greenfield when he was a child. In September, 1867, he married Louise Chaplin Smith in Bernardston.
A short time before his marriage Mr. allen conducted a shoe store in Sanborn's block, Main street, after which he conducted a similar store in Bernardston. He began his hotel career in what was known as the old New England house in Bernardston, burned a number of years ago.For many years after leaving Bernardston Mr. Allen was prominent in the hotel business in the hotel business in Greenfield. He first conducted the Els Elm house and later became proprietor of the American house, now the Devens. From this place he went to Athol and conducted the Pequoig house until a few years ago, when he went to Cambridge and engaged in other business. Last summer he retired and returned to Greenfield.
He was an honorary member of Republican Lodge of Masons in Greenfield, member of the Athol Commandry, Knights Templars and a member of Melha temple, order of the Mystic Shrine at Springfield.
He leaves his widow and a daughter, Mrs. Adam Wolfskill of this place, a son, J. Lucius Allen of New York, and a stepdaughter, Mrs. Frank E. Marsh of Greenfield, and five sisters, Mrs. C. Emerson Ballou, Mrs. Isaac C. Barton, Mrs. Merrick P. Slate, Greenfield, Mrs. Edwin C. Burrows and Mrs. Adelbert Atherton of Bernardston. The funeral was held at the home at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon, Rev. S. R. Maxwell officiating, using the Episcopal service and prayers from the Masonic ritual, poem by Whittier. The floral tributes included set pieces from Melha temple of Springfield, Athol Commandery, Knights Templar, and Repulican Lodge. Burial was in Federal street cemetery.

Contributor: Judy Winn Graves (47385430)