Charles F. Allen was born on March 4, 1869, in Chatfield, Minnesota. After beginning his career as an apprentice at the Chatfield Democrat, he moved to Rochester in 1886 to work at the Record and Union. In 1890, Allen purchased the Brookings County Press in Brookings, South Dakota, where he continued to publish. He married Julia Garvey in 1888, and they had three daughters: Norma, Doris, and Mildred. Allen served as postmaster of Brookings and held various civic roles, contributing significantly to the community’s growth.
Charles F. Allen, of Brookings, was born on March 4, 1869, at Chatfield, Minnesota. He attended the schools of this town until he was thirteen years of age, when he entered the office of the Chatfield Democrat as an apprentice, working there a couple of years except for one summer, when he worked on a farm. He went to Rochester, Minnesota, in the winter of 1886 and entered the employ of Blakely & Son as foreman of the Record and Union office, where he remained until December 1889. At that time, he went to Brookings and bought the Brookings County Press from George W. Hopp, taking possession on the first of January 1890. He is still publishing the Press, which has grown and developed into one of the best and strongest weekly papers in South Dakota, occupying what is conceded to be the finest country newspaper office building in the Northwest.
Mr. Allen was married on September 25, 1888, to Miss Julia Garvey, at Rochester, Minnesota, and they have three children, all girls, namely: Norma, aged thirteen; Doris, aged ten; and Mildred, aged six.
Mr. Allen is a member of the South Dakota Press Association; of which organization he has been president. He is also a member of the Elks, Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. On December 19, 1903, he was appointed by President Roosevelt as postmaster at Brookings. He has served as alderman and city clerk at Brookings and has been an enterprising citizen, doing much for the substantial growth of the city.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.