Pie Allen
| John Brackett "Pie" Allen | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Tucson, Arizona | |
|
In office 1875–1877 |
|
| Preceded by | Estevan Ochoa |
| Succeeded by | James H. Toole |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
October 22, 1818 Maine |
| Died | June 13, 1899 (aged 80) Tucson, Arizona |
| Cause of death | cancer |
| Residence | Tucson, Arizona |
John Brackett "Pie" Allen (October 22, 1818 – June 13, 1899) was an American prospector, businessman, and politician. Unsuccessful in his efforts as a prospector, he earned his nickname baking pies for settlers and soldiers in Arizona Territory. His business success made him a prominent territorial citizen and he served three terms in the Arizona Territorial Legislature, two terms as Mayor of Tucson, Arizona Territory, and was appointed Arizona Territorial Treasurer for six years.
Allen was born in Maine on October 22, 1818, and educated in Boston, Massachusetts. He moved to the American West as part of the California Gold Rush, arriving in Colorado City, Arizona Territory (now Yuma) in 1857. From there he moved to Gila City to work in the placer fields before arriving in Tucson in 1858.
Upon his arrival in Tucson, Allen gave up his ambition of striking it rich by finding gold. Instead, he began baking pies with dried apples and selling them to the local townsfolk and soldiers for a dollar a pie. His pies proved to be quite popular and profits from the endeavor allowed him to open a general store. His skill as a baker also earned him the nickname "Pie".
Following his initial success, Allen opened stores in Tubac and Maricopa Wells. Additionally, he branched out into farming and ranching activities. On July 27, 1864, he became the first person in Arizona Territory to file a homestead application and is credited with constructing the first buildings in Tucson's new "American" section. Later activities include operating one of Arizona's first dairy farms and he is thought to have been the first to introduce honey bees to the territory. During the reign of Maximilian I in Mexico, Allen supplied arms to the anti-royalist forces.
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