John H Allen | HistoryForge

Year	Name	Relation to Head	Address	Age	Race	POB	Marriage	Occupation
1870	Allen, John H			22	Black	Delaware		Laborer
1880	Allen, John H	Boarder	42 Fourth St	32	Black	Pennsylvania	Married	Laborer
1900	Allen, John	Boarder	208 S Meadow St	52	Black	Pennsylvania	Married	Janitor
1910	Allen, John	Head	409 Madison St	46	Black	Pennsylvania	Widowed	Janitor

Name	Age	Race	POB	Occupation
Allen, Thomas	48	Black	Virginia	Meth Clergyman
Allen, Rachel J	40	Black	Virginia	None
Allen, Thomas A	16	Black	New York	None
Allen, Martena	19	Black	New Jersey	None
Allen, Charles H	1	Black	New York	None
Hamilton, Charles	18	Black	Virginia	Barber

Name	Relation to Head	Address	Age	Race	POB	Marriage	Occupation
Shaw, Charles S	Head	42 Fourth St	36	Black	New York	Married	Yardman
Shaw, Alice M	Wife	42 Fourth St	27	Black	New York	Married	Housekeeping
Shaw, Catharine	Mother	42 Fourth St	77	Black	Massachusetts	Widowed	Housekeeping
Shaw, Charles	Nephew	42 Fourth St	12	Black	New York	Single	At School
Shaw, Josephine	Niece	42 Fourth St	4	Black	New York	Single	None

Name	Relation to Head	Address	Age	Race	POB	Marriage	Occupation
Frisker, Lucy	Head	208 S Meadow St	54	Black	Pennsylvania	Married	None
Frisker, Mary	Daughter	208 S Meadow St	34	Black	Pennsylvania	Single	Domestic Servant

Earliest reference in the city directory, 1872, Allen John, laborer, h. 89 W Green.

J. Frances Lennon, compiler and publisher, Ithaca and Tompkins County Business Directory, Ithaca, NY: Ithaca Democrat Steam Print, 1872, 16.

1872

“[John H.] ‘Ginger’ Allen, as he is more familiarly known, came to Ithaca with his father in the fall of 1866, and worked on the first building started for Cornell University….He was born in Seneca Falls on December 3, 1841…
‘Ginger’ Allen is recalled as having been a versatile athlete. He was not a professional boxer although he had studied that sport since he was a boy. He has boxed with R.H. Treman and instructed him in the manly art of self defense. About 33 years ago when Allen was then in his prime as an athlete he was considered the best amateur boxer for his weight and an expert skater as well.”

"'Ginger' Allen, Oldest Colored Citizen Here, Was Noted as a Boxer" Ithaca Journal, April 7, 1924, 7.

1924

"John H. Allen, 81, more familiarly known as 'Ginger' Allen and for many years a well-known character about town, died at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon, October 7, after a long illness....
He is survived by two sons, William and John Allen of Morristown, N.J....
'Ginger' Allen was formerly a pugilist, having had an unusual ring career in his younger days. He came to Ithaca some 30 years ago and for several years was in the employ of R.H. Treman as coachman. He trained several Ithacans in pugilism and other athletics during his younger days.
Mr. Allen retired from active work several years ago and lived alone in a room run the Cornell Library building. It was his daily pastime to visit all of his friends in the business section and many interesting phases of his life were told during these visits."

"J.H. 'Ginger' Allen Dead; Was Genial Well-Known Ithaca," Ithaca Journal, October 8, 1928, 5. https://ithacajournal.newspapers.com/image/254484858/?match=1&terms=%22ginger%20allen%22

John H. "Ginger" Allen, 1842-1928
Son of Rev. Thomas N. Allen and Rachael Jane Allen
Brother of Thomas Allen

Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188024091/john-h-allen