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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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George
M. Allen There
are always valuable lessons to be gained in perusing the life histories of such
men as the late George M. Allen , one of Jasper County's most popular citizens
whose life forcibly illustrated what energy, integrity and a fixed purpose can
accomplish when animated by noble aims and correct ideals. During the years of
his residence in the county he held the unequivocal confidence and esteem of
those with whom he came into contact, for he was a man whom to know was to trust
and admire owing to his many commendable attributes of head and heart, when the
"reaper whose name is death" gathered him in its sheaves while in the
fullness of his strength and the prime of useful manhood, his irreparable loss
to the community was keenly felt by all. Mr.
Allen was born in this county on December 17, 1869, the son of James T. and
Sarah E. Allen, the father a soldier in the Civil war, having been a member of
Company G, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, and his death occurred when his son George was
thirteen years of age. Left fatherless thus early in life, it became necessary
for him to put his shoulder to the wheel, and, nothing daunted, he pushed
forward through every obstacle, proving his sterling innate mettle.
He was educated in the public schools and for two years he attended the
Western Normal College at Shenandoah, from which institution he was graduated in
1890. He was a good student and
advanced rapidly, and when he was ready to begin a career for himself he was
well equipped. Turning
his attention to the clothing business, he entered the employ of G. H. Hoyt
& Company. Later he formed a partnership with J. B. Ammons, succeeding the
first named concern, but a few years later he and Mr. Ammons dissolved
partnership, and Mr. Allen associated
himself with J. T. Pound in the same business.
He later sold his business to a Mr. Bock and in the spring of 1908 he
formed a partnership with Fred A. Jones, under the firm name of Jones &
Allen, clothiers, which partnership was continued until dissolved by the death
of Mr. Allen, on July 21, 1910. He
was regarded as one of the leading merchants of Newton, and always enjoyed a
good trade with the surrounding country as well as the city, for he was
uniformly courteous and considerate to his hundreds of patrons, all of whom were
his friends, for he believed in injecting the Golden Rule into his every-day
affairs and he therefore had not only the confidence but the good will of those
with whom he had dealings. He was a
man of good judgment, keen discernment and managed well, consequently he was
succeeding most admirably when his career was suddenly cut short by the common
fate of humanity. On
June 17, 1896, Mr. Allen was united
in marriage with Grace Hough, who survives him. She was the daughter of William
H. and Sarah E. (Bond) Hough, both natives of Virginia, born in the Shenandoah
Valley in Loudoun County, where Mr. Hough was a prominent and influential
Quaker. Mr. and Mrs. Hough were
married at Waterford, Loudoun County, Virginia, May 22, 1850, and they came to
Iowa in 1858, locating in Newton, and for a time Mr. Hough freighted goods
between that city and Grinnell. He
was a man of much native ability and he took considerable interest in political
affairs and was highly respected wherever he was known. For many years he owned
and conducted a grocery store here. He
was elected county recorder of this county on the Republican ticket for two
terms, performing the duties of that office in a most satisfactory manner.
His death occurred in Newton on April 16, 1894, when seventy-one years of
age, his birth having occurred on November 27, 1823.
He was a member of the Methodist church and a prominent worker in the
same, having united with the same soon after he came to Newton, although he had
been reared a Quaker. For many
years he was class leader in the local congregation and he also served his
church as treasurer. His wife was born on January 17, 1832, and her death
occurred in Newton on October 20, 1908. She
was a woman of the finest personal characteristics. Mrs.
Grace (Hough) Allen was born in the
house which she now occupies, on January 25, 1872, and it has been her home ever
since. All her girlhood pleasures
are connected with the place, the joys of her young wifehood, and later the
place became hallowed to her as the place wherein her devoted life companion
spent his last days on earth and also as the place from which both her beloved
parents passed into the mystic beyond, and here, too, she was led to the happy
hymeneal altar. Mrs.
Allen was graduated from the local
high school in 1890, and she has been prominent in musical affairs from
childhood. She is now a member of
the choir of the Methodist Episcopal Church; in fact, she has been singing in
this choir since she was a schoolgirl. She
has a splendid alto voice which delights all who have the pleasure of hearing
her sing. Mr. Allen
was also a singer of exceptional ability as well as a thorough musician,
and for years he was a well-known figure in the choir of the Methodist church
with his wife, and he was also a member of the Newton band.
His voice, rare and well trained, was frequently heard at funerals and
upon memorial occasions. Besides
Mrs. Allen , the following children constituted the family of Mr. and Mrs.
William H. Hough: Mrs. E. E.
McCord, Arthur and Fred, all living in Newton. Surviving
Mr. Allen, besides his wife, is a sister, Mrs. Carrie Rice, of Pueblo, Colorado,
and Roy Allen, who is in the printing business in Newton. At
the time of his death Mr. Allen was treasurer of the Methodist Church. He was a
prominent Mason, being a member of the blue lodge; he was also a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was a charter member of the Newton Hunting
and Fishing Club. He had no
children. He was a man of engaging
personality, genial, kind and generous almost to a fault, ever true to all that
was best and noblest. All who knew
him felt the personal charm of the man, for they knew him to be a man not only
of exceptional ability, but an advocate of all that meant progress in material,
civic and moral lines. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 512. |
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