Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/444

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

president of the Psi Phi fraternity, still re- tains his membership in this body and his active interest in it. He is also still a mem- ber of the Dental College Alumni Associa- tion. After his graduation, Dr. Robinson opened offices for the practice of his chosen profession in Homney,but after a short time removed to Lynchburg, Virginia, and at the expiration of one year, established of^ces in Roanoke, where he is now in the enjoyment of a large and lucrative practice. He is a member of numerous organizations, of varied character, among them being the ones here mentioned : Roanoke Association, Southwestern Virginia Dental Society, and Mrginia State Dental Association.

Dr. Robinson commands the esteem of all with whom he is brought into contact. He has not only won the admiration of his numerous patients, but he has their confi- dence as well, and his services are in de- mand at great distances from his home. He takes a public-spirited interest in whatever concerns the welfare of the community, and in political matters affiliates with the Demo- cratic party. His fraternal membership is with Osceola Lodge, No. 47, Knights of Pythias. His office is furnished in the most modern and up-to-date manner, and every- thing that dental science knows is taken into consideration by Dr. Robinson where the comfort of his patients is concerned. Dr. Robinson is unmarried.

William Edwin Allen. \\'hile all men are free moral agents and the architects of their own fortunes, to many is given the full bene- fit of education and proper preparation be- fore being compelled to assume individual responsibility. Others have to carve their own way from youth, make their own prep- arations for life's battle and secure educa- tion while also providing for their own needs and those of others. To this latter class the name "self-made" is then applied and no better understanding can be obtained of William Edwin Allen than to regard him as a self-made man. He struggled against ad- verse circumstances to obtain an education and admission to the bar and knows inti- mately the meaning of the term "midnight oil." This struggle for an "even chance" with his fellows explains in a large degree his thoroughly democratic, sympathetic nature, which makes every man his friend and has brought him the confidence of his

fellow citizens and the high regard of both bench and bar in the counties he has served as commonwealth attorney.

William Edwin Allen is a son of Alphonso Samuel Allen and a grandson of James Allen, both of Botetourt county, Virginia. Alphonso S. Allen was born in that county in 1831, died in 1904, a farmer. He was a soldier of the Confederacy, serving in "Stonewall" Jackson's brigade and suffered all that a soldier can sufifer and live, wounds, in battle, capture and imprisonment. But the wounds healed, his ten months' im- prisonment at Point Lookout brought him naught but chagrin and sorrow that he could not be with his comrades in the field of action. After the war he returned to the farm and passed his after years at his home in Augusta county. He married Frances A. Wallace, born in Rockbridge county, \^ir- ginia, near Lexington, in 1832, died in 1894, daughter of Jesse D. Wallace. There in the fertile valley of the North river the Wal- laces were long seated and there her youth was spent nearby the two famous Virginia institutions, Washington College, now Washington and Lee University, and Vir- ginia Military Institute, founded in 1839, seven years after her birth. Here, too, are buried the great soldiers. General Robert E. Lee and "Stonewall" Jackson, under whose command her husband marched, fought and suflered, as did his brothers, David and Bartram S. Allen, the latter giving up his life early in the war.

Children of Alphonso S. and Frances A. Allen : William Edwin, of further mention ; Charles Ware, born at Rockbridge county. Virginia, in 1863, now a member of the law firm, Allen & Walsh, of Charlottesville, of which he is ex-mayor ; Walter G., born in Augusta county, Virginia; Emma C. now deceased, married James F. Harlan.

W^illiam Edwin Allen, of Covington, Vir- ginia, was born in Augusta county, Virginia. June, 1861. His early and preparatory edu- cation was obtained in the public schools of Charlottesville. Virginia, after which he was for a time student in the law depart- ment of the University of Mrginia. He could not remain at the university to com- plete his course and it was not until he was twenty-seven years of age that he was ad- mitted to the Virginia bar. During this in- terim he engaged in mercantile business in his own name, studving at night and at all