A captain of industry who well merits the laurels bestowed upon him for his contribution to the expansion of local trade, is Alexander M. Allan, president of the Monterey Canning Company, Point Lobos, Monterey. He was born at Scranton, Pennsylvania, the son of Charles M. and Margaret Allan, the former a miner who had the misfortune to be killed at Nevada City, California. He was a hard-working, honest man, who gave his life, as have so many, in the pursuit of his occupation. Mrs. Allan died in 1924, and will long be Pleasantly remembered by many who knew her and enjoyed some act of kindly courtesy at her hands.
Alexander M. Allan attended the public schools of Pennsylvania, and for four years continued his studies at the University of Illinois, taking a course in civil engineering. As a boy he had learned the carpenter’s trade. In 1896 he came to California and hung out his shingle as a contractor, in both San Francisco and Oakland. In a comparatively short time he was widely known for his ability and was given commissions as far east as Chicago. Since 1900 he has made his home on the Monterey peninsula. The Monterey Canning Company, of which Mr. Allan is president, was organized in 1916, and under his able direction it has grown to its present size, being the largest cannery here. The establishment is most pleasantly situated, at one of the wonder spots in the world, and here the company operates the only abalone canning plant known to exist anywhere.
Some years ago Mr. Allan married, and his wife died, leaving three children. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, a Knight Templar and a Shriner, and is also an Elk. He is deeply interested in the welfare of his community, and Monterey is proud of what he has accomplished in his particular field.
Source: History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California : cradle of California’s history and romance : dating from the planting of the cross of Christendom upon the shores of Monterey Bay by Fr. Junipero Serra, and those intrepid adventurers who accompanied him, down to the present day. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1925.