JOHN W. ALLEN was born in Greene county, Illinois, on Aug. 10, 1861, and is a son of J. T. and Jane Allen, residents of Greene County, a sketch of whom will also appear in this work. John was reared to farm life, receiving such education as the district schools afforded. On Aug. 20, 1884, he was united in marriage with Lena House, daughter of Adam and Eliza House, who will be mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Allen spent the year 1884 in Texas, where he was engaged in farming, and also in the stock business, and is now employed in the same way here. Mr. Allen is quite a young farmer, and being industrious and energetic, will doubtless be successful in all his undertakings.