Ernest Roland Allen was born to Parks and Minerva (Billows) Allen on Apr 10, 1867 in Ithica, Gratiot Co., Michigan. His parents were farmers and Ernest chose this to be his source of livelihood when he immigrated to Oregon in 1905 at the age of 38 years with his wife, Maria, of 12 years, who had been born in Iowa in Feb. of 1868. They had been blessed with a daughter and a son, Mildred I., b. Aug 1894, and Roland Grant, b. Oct 1896. Both children had been born in Michigan. They purchased a farm in the farming town of Tangent, which is just south of Albany in Linn County, Oregon. When Ernest came of age, his parents agreed that, due to his responsible nature, he should be given a portion of their farm, as he was soon to be a father. He had married Viola Jordan, originally of Crabtree, also in Linn County, Oregon, and she was due to have a baby in about April, 1926. Tragically, Viola died in Dec. 1925, from Eclampsia, a disorder usually occurring during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy which is characterized by convulsions, edema and elevated blood pressure. Neither mother nor child survived and were buried at Riverside Cemetery in Albany, Linn County. It took Ernest time to heal, but he would remarry to Maria and he and his wife would have a son in 1932 they named Kenneth Earnest. Kenneth was staying with his grandparents when his grandfather had a terrible accident which ended his life on a Winter's day, Jan 25, 1944; Ernest was charged by a bull that gored and crushed him - His death was immediate. Maria was devastated, requesting a cremation for her poor husband's broken body. Roland helped his mother until her life ended in 1955. Maria was then buried next to her beloved husband at Riverside Cemetery where they share a headstone.