Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Allen, William H 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 3:15 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

William H. Allen, lawyer, of Erie, is a son of S. V. R. and Sarah (Richardson) 
Allen, born in Dublin, Cheshire Co., N. H. His father is a farmer, and a 
native of Stillwater, Saratoga Co., N. Y., and was born Aug. 23, 1812, and 
resides two miles west of Erie village, on his farm. His mother was a native 
of Newton, Mass., born Feb. 14, 1803, and died at Erie, June 9, 1862. They had 
three children: William H., Colonel Samuel R., a lawyer at Little Rock, Ark., 
and Sarah A., a teacher, who resides with her father. The family removed from 
New Hampshire to Rushford, Allegany Co., N. Y., in 1846; thence to Erie, this 
county, in 1856. While at Rushford Mr. Allen attended Rushford Academy for a 
time. After coming to Illinois he farmed, taught school, worked as engineer in 
mills, studied law in the city of Rock Island, and was admitted to the Bar at 
Ottawa, Ill., April 16, 1866. Mr. Allen married Mary A. Orr, daughter of John 
and Catherine (Bleecker) Orr, and granddaughter and grand-niece of Samuel and 
William Orr, and was born in the township of Sidney, Hastings Co., Province of 
Ontario. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have seven children: William C, Samuel R., Sarah 
R., Solomon V. R., Henry W., Catherine Bleecker and John O. Allen, all minors. 
Three children, Helen, Jennie and Richard, died in infancy. Mr. Allen held the 
office of Justice of the Peace for a term, and that of Supervisor for eight 
years at different times, from 1862 to 1878; was Representative in the 
Illinois State Legislature for four years, being elected to the 31st and re-
elected to the 32d General Assembly; was author of the drainage laws, and 
promoted the passage of the principal revenue laws passed by the last 
mentioned Assembly; was largely responsible for the legislation under the 
amendment of the Constitution changing the time of election of county 
officers, afterward sustained by the Supreme Court; was Chairman of the 
Committee on Revenue; advocated and defended the ad-valorem system of 
taxation; successfully resisted the attempts that were made to deprive 
municipalities, towns and counties of their portion of taxes derived from 
railroad property, and to abolish the State Board of Equalization; his 
argument thereon was printed and published by the State pursuant to a 
resolution of the House of Representatives. He is at present in the practice 
of his profession in the counties of Whiteside, Henry and Rock Island, 
devoting his attention to all departments of law and chancery, besides 
superintending his farms in Erie and Fenton Townships. He is a Freemason, 
Knight Templar, and a Presbyterian in religious faith. He resides on his 
homestead in the village of Erie.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

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