The Biographical Dictionary of America/Allin, Roger

ALLIN, Roger, governor of North Dakota, was born at Bradworthy, Eng., Dec. 18, 1848. When he was quite young his parents settled at Oshawa, Canada, and there his boyhood was spent. He was educated in the common schools and high school of Oshawa, and in 1868 he went to Michigan, where he occupied himself in farming until 1878, when he removed to North Dakota, buying a tract of land from the government. Becoming a citizen of the United States, he identified himself with the Republican party, and when the organization known as the Farmers' Alliance was formed, he was, for a number of years, one of its most active leaders. In 1886 he was elected to the territorial council and re-elected in 1888; and in May, 1889, was chosen a member of the constitutional convention for North Dakota, and was active in securing the incorporation of the prohibition law into the constitution. The same year he was elected by the Republicans to represent the 3rd senatorial district in the first State senate, and in 1890 he was chosen lieutenant-governor. In 1894 he was nominated by acclamation for the governorship of North Dakota, was elected, and filled the office 1895-7.