| Notes |
- - Grandfather of N Haill
Re his middle name - N Haill says that he did not have a middle name. But when he went to dentistry school he needed a middle name and he chose 'Hildane' at random.
Alexander did not drink - confirmation and the reason for this is explained in the following excerpt from GL Allen Memoirs (Alex's brother): ... He [Alex] had another close call when he was around five. It was harvest time and he and I took the men out a lunch to the field. It was customary to have a bottle of whiskey on the field for an afternoon stimulant so when we were starting home they gave us a bottle that still had some in it to take home. I thought it would be good fun to make Alex drink so I induced him to take two or three drinks. He got so drunk he could not walk so I had to carry him on my back. He was so sick he nearly died and I am quite sure he has never tasted liquor since as he is an extreme prohibitionist.
- From notes authored by his daughter, Meta in 1964 - "Sometime after my father’s marriage, he took a postgraduate course in New York. When he became Master of Dental Surgery, he was one of only nine in Canada at that time. He was a Director of the Dental College twice and was the one who was responsible for introducing dental surgery into the college curriculum.
Of course he never missed a dental convention and at one convention, when he lived in Peterborough in the depression, he was invited to be honoured at a banquet with all these dentists who had been in practice fifty years or more. He said he had no money for that, so the dental organization sent him the wherewithal to be present.
He also invented the formula for the first local anesthetic Novocaine, but did not bother to promote it, so there was the later Novocaine.
He was a very good citizen – always interested in the affairs of the Country and was a teacher in the Sunday School, a superintendent also, and finally an Elder in the church. My mother was engaged 3 years so he could be well-established in practice. He and she both taught school during one year.
- Obituary 18 March 1948 - name of paper torn off
The funeral of a member of one of this districts families, Dr Alex H Allen, who died in Toronto on Wednesday after a short illness was held at Paisley on Saturday with interment in Stark Vale Cemetery. Relatives and old friends were in attendance. Dr Allen was the second oldest son of Alexander (Sandy) Allen and his wife, Ann Thompson, and was born at Riverstown in 1861. He attended school there and in Mount Forest taught for a number of years at the Tollgate School and then took a course at the Dental College, Toronto. He practiced his profession for many years at Paisley and Peterborough and for the last few years in Toronto. He was probably the oldest practicing dentist in Ontario. Throughout his life Dr Allen took a keen interest in political questions and public matters and was a strong champion of temperance movements. He was always happy to return on occasional visits to his home town and to meet and talk with old friends. He was one of the happiest Old Boys at last year's Reunion and took particular pleasure in the Bowling games. He was twice married. His first wife was Margaret Cheves, Clifford, who attended model school in Mount Forest. Her death took place seven years ago. He later married Margaret Kennedy who survives. Of a family of nine, two brothers, J.T. Allen and Charles Allen of Florida, and two sisters, Mrs Alfred Hutchinson, Mt Forest and Mrs A.G. Hill of Cleveland, Ohio survive. Also left to mourn his loss are his daughters Meta, Ina, May, Mrs G.E. McInnes and Mrs Grace Hyatt and ... (missing rest)
- Obituary from Paisley Advocate 23 March 1948
The remains of Dr. A.H. Allen whose death occurred in Toronto, were laid to rest in the family plot in Stark Vale Cemetery. Service at the graveside was conducted by Rev. H.C. Linstead of Knox United Church of which congregation Dr Allen had been a prominent member during his residence here. The pallbearers were: J.A. Logle, I. Shoemaker, Ross McArthur, J. Ross Laidlaw, W.T. Hopper and R. Geo. Grant. Dr. Allen was born in Mount Forest. Prior to entering Toronto university to take up the course in dental surgery, he had taught school for a few years. In 1837 Dr Allen located in Paisley remaining for 32 years before removing to Peterborough in 1919. For the past few years he has been in Toronto, and attended patients in his office until about two weeks ago, when he was taken ill with a heavy cold. He was in his 87th year, and was perhaps the oldest practicing dentist in the Province. An enthusiastic exponent of the game of lacrosse in his youth, he soon organized a club here, and eventually the team under his captainship won the district championship. In later years his recreation was lawn bowling. As a member of Knox Church he was a leader in Sunday School and young people's work. He was also a strong supporter of temperance legislation. He was a member of High Park United Church, Toronto.
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Singing Our Family Song
1861 - 1948 (86 years)
