J.P. Allen

Dates in office: April 12, 1897 - April 10, 1899
Born: August 1848
Died: March 21, 1922

 Major James P. Allen was born to wealthy planters in Mississippi. He was already an experienced attorney and police judge when he ran for Mayor of Oklahoma City in 1897. 

Mayor Allen worked to grow the City’s commercial and manufacturing base and motivated like-minded citizens to join him in his efforts. Realizing the need to court long-term institutions, Allen helped the City gain the Frisco Railroad, a large cotton mill, a machine shop complex, and the still-growing St. Anthony Hospital.
During Mayor Allen’s term, the City also obtained clear title to the property in which the first City Hall was established by settling a lawsuit the City filed against saloon proprietors, P.J. and J.T. Hill, known as the Hill Brothers.