Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885 Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL

Transcribed by: Becky Jones

Pages 461-462

George W. Allen, deceased, came to Whiteside county in 1869, and located on section 4, of “township 20, range 6 east,” now Lyndon Township. Associated with his son, A.B. Allen, whose biography is given elsewhere, he bought 547 acres of land situated on sections 4,9 and 16, most of which was already improved. Mr. Allen was born in Skeneateles, Onondaga Co., N.Y., Oct. 22, 1801. His father was named Ethan Allen.

George W. grew to manhood in his native county, and was there married to Sophronia Besse, in 1825. She was born in Westmoreland, N.Y., March 11, 1802.

After his marriage Mr. Allen bought a tract of land in Wales, situated in the Holland Purchase, on which he resided until 1844, when he sold and came to Illinois. He drove the entire distance, conveying his family and portable property in two covered wagons drawn by four horses. He first made a location in Du Page County, removing in 1846 to Kankakee County, and settling in the township of Rockville. He bought a soldier’s warrant of 160 acres, on which he built a frame house and barn, fenced and made the usual improvements. He sold the place in 1868 for $45 per acre. He came to Lyndon in the spring of 1869, and was a citizen of that township until his death, July 21, 1884.

The first wife of Mr. Allen died in 1850, in Kankakee County. Her successor was Mary Ann Kearns, to whom Mr. Allen was married Aug. 4, 1853. The record of the children of the first marriage, five in number, is as follows: Albert B. is the oldest, and a personal account of him is given elsewhere in this volume; Sarah Ann married L. G. Tubbs, and resided for a number of years in Iowa; she died in Kankakee, while visiting in that city; Seymour J. lives in Kankakee; Mandane married Milton Bloom, who entered the military service of the United States during the Civil War, and died before the expiration of his term of enlistment. His widow lives in Lyndon Township, with her son, Bernard Bloom.

Two children were born of the second marriage, viz.: Ethan G., who lives in Tennessee; and Ada, who is the wife of W. E. Freeman, of Lyndon Township.