Allen P. Lovejoy Explained

Allen P. Lovejoy
State Senate:Wisconsin
District:17
Term Start:1887
Term End:1890
Birth Date:21 March 1825
Birth Place:Wayne, Maine
Death Place:Janesville, Wisconsin
Party:Republican
Occupation:Lumber merchant and manufacturer

Allen Perry Lovejoy was a Wisconsin politician, lumber merchant and manufacturer from Janesville, Wisconsin.

Biography

Lovejoy was born Allen Perry Lovejoy on March 20, 1825, in Wayne, Maine, and raised on the family farm. He attended Wesleyan Seminary, now Kents Hill School, and for a year at the age of eighteen he taught school. In 1844 he took up an apprenticeship in the carpenter and building trade, and in 1850 he moved to Janesville, eventually expanding his contractor business into lumber retailing and manufacturing, with extensive raw timber holdings in Wisconsin and Michigan. Among the business leadership positions he held were president of the Harris Manufacturing Company, vice-president of the Janesville Machine Company, president of the New McLean Manufacturing Company, director of the First National Bank, director of the State Lumber Company, and vice-president of the Merrill Lumber Company.

On May 29, 1880, he married Julia Stow of New Haven, Connecticut. They had four children: Allen, Henry, Julia and Webster (who died as an infant). Julia Lovejoy was a well-known citizen of Janesville and lived to 103. She founded the first kindergarten in Janesville, helped found the city's first hospital, and was active in the movement for women's suffrage.[1] Allen Lovejoy was the second cousin of Owen Lovejoy and Elijah Parish Lovejoy, the famous abolitionists from Illinois. They shared the same great-grandfather, Hezekiah Lovejoy.

His former home, now part of what are known as the Lovejoy and Merrill-Nowlan Houses, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2]

Political career

Lovejoy was a Republican. He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1879. In 1881 he was elected mayor of Janesville. From 1887 to 1890, he served in the Wisconsin State Senate.[3]

References

Attributions

Notes and References

  1. News: Mrs. Lovejoy, 103, Dead At Janesville . The Milwaukee Journal . April 18, 1953 .
  2. Web site: Lovejoy and Merrill-Nowlan Houses - Janesville, WI. Waymarking.com. 2013-06-01.
  3. Web site: Dictionary of Wisconsin History . September 12, 2013.