Absalom Shade Allan, one of the leading merchants and citizens of Clifford, and reeve of this village, is a native of Waterloo county, Ontario, and was born near Preston, November 26, 1843. His father, Alexander Allan, was an advocate in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland; married Ann Davidson, sister of the late John Davidson, of Galt; came to Canada in the spring of the year our subject was born; was for several years superintendent of schools for Wellington district, and died in 1855.
Our subject attended the common school at Preston for several years, and afterwards gave four years to study in the grammar school at Elora; finished his education at the normal school, Toronto, where he obtained a first-class certificate, teaching meanwhile one year during this period, at the village of Alma. He then entered as bookkeeper the establishment of J. M. Fraser, of Elora, where he remained four years.
In 1868, Mr. Allan came to Clifford; went into trade as a partner in the firm of Geo.
McDonald and Co., in 1869, afterwards in the firm of Allan and Biggar, and for the last four years has been alone in general merchandise, being a straightforward, popular man.
He was appointed a commissioner for taking affidavits in 1874, and a justice o. f the peace in 1877; was the first reeve of the village, when it was incorporated in 1874; served two consecutive years, and after being out three years, is again (1879), holding the same office. As the head of the municipality of the village, he looks well to its interests, no other man in the place having its welfare more at heart.
He is a member of Knox Presbyterian church, an elder and the treasurer of the same, and an earnest christian worker. At one period he superintended the Sunday school of his church in the village, and now holds the same position in a mission school in the country. He is a strong temperance man, and an untiring advocate of total abstinence principles. Mr. Allan is a Reformer; very liberal. in his political views, but a strong advocate of the claims of his political confreres when they are up for office, and is treasurer of the West Riding Reform Association.
He is Past Master of the Clifford Lodge of Free Masons, and an Odd Fellow.
The wife of Mr. Allan was Kate, second daughter of Noah Bullock, deceased, of Clifford, their marriage being dated June 9, 1871.