Background

Allen, Byron Gilchrist was born on September 13, 1901 in Lauren, Iowa, United States. Son of Joseph Holmes and Grace (Gilchrist) Allen.

Education

Bachelor of Science, Iowa State College, 1924.

Career

Farmer in state, South Dakota, 1924-1926. Farm owner, manager Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, since 1940. Superintendent Iowa Division Old Age Assistance, 1934-1939.

Minnesota commissioner agriculture, until 1961. Assistant to the United States secretary of agriculture Washington, 1961-1988. Member Iowa House of Representatives from Pocahontas Company, 1927-1932.

Secretary State Senate Iowa, 1933-1934. Secretary to Senator Smith W. Brookhart of Iowa, 1932. Democratic candidate for Congress, Iowa, 1940.

Nominee for governor, Minnesota, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, 1944. Democratic national committeeman, Minnesota, 1948-1955. Nominee for Minnesota State Senate, 1946, 50.

Delegate Democratic National Conventions, 1944, 52, chairman Minnesota Delegation, 1944. Head Agricultural Speakers Bureau Democratic National Committee, 1940. Trustee Minnesota Foundation for Political Education.

Achievements

• Byron Gilchrist Allen has been listed as a noteworthy assistant secretary of agriculture by Marquis Who's Who.

Works

• Other Work

  • Editor, public Pocahontas Democrat, 1926-1931. Contributor social science, farm cooperative political science publications.

Membership

Member Mason Lodge, Phi Delta Theta, Delta Sigma Rho.

Connections

Married Elsa Ellanora Erickson, December 18, 1928. Children: Virginia Allen Flemming, Joseph (deceased), Eric.

Father:

Joseph Holmes Allen

Mother:

Grace (Gilchrist) Allen

Spouse:

Elsa Ellanora Erickson

child:

Virginia Allen Flemming Allen

child:

Eric. G. Allen

child:

Joseph Allen (deceased)