Mayne Laura Allen was one of four children born to Nelson Henry Allen (1837-1897) of Ontario County, New York and Mary Hanawain (1854-1899) of Wapello County, Iowa who married in Chicago in 1873, then came West to Oregon, arriving in August, 1874. Mayme was the second child blessed to her parents, born in 1877. She also had a younger brother, Frank Nelson Allen, born in April of 1882 and a younger sister, Alma L. Allen, born in Feb. of 1890. Mayme did well in her studies and went on to college where she majored in Music and received her degree. Her father had retired early due to heart problems, but was well to do, being the controlling stock holder of the Albany Electric Light Company, which he created in 1887. He was one of the organizers of the Oregon Milling and Mining Co., as Vice President. He also owned land out of town, 200 acres near Brownsville. He built the family residence back in 1880 and owned other valuable property in Albany. He was a Knight Templar, A.F. & A.M., a member of Knights of Pythias and A.O.U.W. I am afraid all of his business and social affairs were all too much for him, in the end, for he died suddenly six days before his 60th birthday from a heart attack. His wife and children were grief stricken. A large obituary, (from which I was able to obtain much of his business information) was written up in the Oregon Daily Statesman, a Salem newspaper, as well as, I'm certain, the Albany Democrat Herald. As Mr. Allen was a member of the Masonic Order, he was buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Albany, Oregon. It was left for his wife to deal with all of the financial matters, which must have seemed overwhelming to a grieving widow, although she was only 45 yrs of age, still rather young. However, whether it was due to stress, accident, illness or grief, Mayme's mother died just one year and 20 days after her husband, leaving it up to Mayme to care for her two younger siblings, Alma Lois, age 9 yrs., and Frank Nelson, age 17 yrs. Mayme was 18 yrs. and 7 months, and teaching full time. She was a gifted Music teacher with a reputation for her fine voice and music abilities. The love of her life was (and had been for some time) William "Will" Chester Burkhart, who was 6 yrs. her senior, and who had graduated from Oregon College (later to become Oregon State University), as a pharmacist. He went into partnership with George L. Blackman and J.P.Wallace, buying out O.C. Mc Farland in October, 1895. He was now part owner of the Hodges & McFarland Drug Store for the purpose of "selling at retail and wholesale drugs, medicine, fancy goods, cigars, paints, oils, etc." Each partner would receive a salary each month. The business did well and Will set aside money each month for the house he would eventually build for himself and his bride. Mayme and Will were finally able to marry on Sept 12, 1905 in a lavish ceremony in Albany, and moved into a small home for a while. Then the large barn that had been built so many years ago was finally taken down and their home was built for them in 1910. It was built with pocket doors, wooden floors, a fireplace and bookcases. They never had children, but did travel and brought back roses from England and France, as well as other flowers and tree starts. Will passed away on Dec 3rd, 1936, one week after his 65th birthday. He was buried at the Masonic Cemetery with full honors befitting a Mason in good standing for many years. Mayme developed pneumonia and died after only three days, six months before her 63rd birthday, on March 16th, 1940. She was buried next to her beloved husband, together in death as they were in life, in God's glorious Paradise.

Will Burkhart was the brother of my maternal great grandmother, Nellie Olivia Burkhart Hall. He was my grand uncle and Mayme was my grand aunt.
By Kathie L. Webb Blair