Senator from the Second District, composed of the counties of Van Buren and Jefferson, was born at Hillsboro, in Henry county, Iowa, August 26, 1857. His parents were American-born, his father being of Scotch-Irish lineage and his mother of the old Dutch stock of New Jersey. Received his early education in the graded schools of Hillsboro and then, to prepare for college, entered Denmark Academy, the first institution of advanced learning founded in the state. Attended the liberal arts and law departments of the State University of Iowa, from which institution he graduated in the year 1877 at the age of nineteen. Upon being admitted to the bar settled in Van Buren county. The first official position to which he was elected was that of president of the board of education, and then to the office of mayor, serving in these different places for several years. Afterwards was a member of the House of Representatives from Van Buren county in the Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth and Twenty-sixth extra General Assemblies. In the extra session of the Twenty-sixth General Assembly served on some of the most important committees of the House and was chairman of the second division of the code revision committee, having in charge the recodification of the laws of Iowa, the work of this session giving to the state the code of 1897. In 1903 was a candidate for the state Senate, the first convention resulting in a deadlock, and losing out in the second convention by one-half a vote. He moved to Fairfield, Jefferson county, in September, 1909, where he is now engaged in the practice of law. Elected Senator in 1908. A Republican in politics.

Senator from the Second District, composed of the counties of Van Buren and Jefferson, was born at Hillsboro, in Henry county, Iowa, August 26, 1857. His parents were American-born, the father being of Scotch-Irish lineage and his mother of the old Dutch stock of New Jersey. Received his early education in the graded schools of Hillsboro and then, to prepare for college, entered Denmark Academy, the first institution of advanced learning founded in the state. Attended the liberal arts and law departments of the State University of Iowa, from which institution he graduated in the year 1877 at the age of nineteen. Upon being admitted to the bar settled in Van Buren county, where he has practiced his profession ever since. The first official position to which he was elected was that of president of the board of education, and then to the office of mayor, serving in these different places for several years. Afterwards was a member of the House of Representatives from Van Buren county in the Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth and Twenty-sixth extra General Assemblies. In the extra session of the Twenty-sixth General Assembly served on some of the most important committees of the House and was chairman of the second division of the code revision committee, having in charge the recodification of the laws of Iowa, the work of this session giving to the state the code of 1897. In 1903 was a candidate for the state Senate, the first convention resulting in a deadlock, and losing out in the second convention by one-half a vote. Elected Senator in 1908. A Republican in politics.

A native of Henry county, Iowa, Mr. Allen was born on the 26th of August, 1857, the son of Dr. J. B. Allen and Sarah J. Allen. After acquiring his preliminary education in the graded schools of Hillsboro, Henry county, Mr. Allen pursued a preparatory course in the Denmark Academy, which was the first institution teaching the higher branches in the state. Subsequently, he became a student in the liberal arts and law departments of the State University of Iowa completing his course by graduation in 1877 when nineteen years of age. Having prepared for practice and being admitted to the bar, he opened an office in Van Buren county. Mr. Allen was united in married to Miss Ella M. McCormick, November 13, 1878. In September 1909, he removed to Fairfield, Jefferson county, where he continued in active law practice. Mr. Allen's connection with political interests began at an early period of his manhood. He espoused the cause of the republican party and while living at Birmingham, Van Buren county, he was elected president of the board of education. Later he was chosen for the office of mayor and continued in those positions for several years. At a still later date Van Buren county elected him its representative to the Twenty-fifth general assembly, where he proved so capable a member that he was reelected to the Twenty-sixth general assembly and also served in the extra session, in which he was made a member of some of the most important committees of the house. He also acted as chairman of the second division of the code revision committee, having in charge the recodification of the laws of Iowa, the work of this session giving to the state the code of 1897. In 1903 he was strongly urged as a candidate for the state senate, but the first nominating convention resulted in a deadlock and in the second convention he lost by one-half a vote. He then resumed law practice, which he followed in Birmingham until September, 1909, when, as previously stated, he removed to Fairfield. In the meantime, however, he was again a candidate for the state senate, to which office he was elected in 1908 from the second district, composed of the counties of Van Buren and Jefferson. He proved an able member of the upper house, as he had done in the house of representatives, and his growing reputation led to his nomination for the office of secretary of state in 1912. He was elected, took the oath of office the following January and was reelected to the same office in 1914, so that he is now the incumbent in the position. While undoubtedly he is not without that honorable ambition which is so powerful and useful as an incentive to activity in public affairs, he also regards the pursuits of private life as being in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

A native of Henry county, Iowa, Mr. Allen was born on the 26th of August, 1857, the son of Dr. J. B. Allen and Sarah J. Allen. After acquiring his preliminary education in the graded schools of Hillsboro, Henry county, Mr. Allen pursued a preparatory course in the Denmark Academy, which was the first institution teaching the higher branches in the state. Subsequently, he became a student in the liberal arts and law departments of the State University of Iowa completing his course by graduation in 1877 when nineteen years of age. Having prepared for practice and being admitted to the bar, he opened an office in Van Buren county. Mr. Allen was united in married to Miss Ella M. McCormick, November 13, 1878. In September 1909, he removed to Fairfield, Jefferson county, where he continued in active law practice. Mr. Allen's connection with political interests began at an early period of his manhood. He espoused the cause of the republican party and while living at Birmingham, Van Buren county, he was elected president of the board of education. Later he was chosen for the office of mayor and continued in those positions for several years. At a still later date Van Buren county elected him its representative to the Twenty-fifth general assembly, where he proved so capable a member that he was reelected to the Twenty-sixth general assembly and also served in the extra session, in which he was made a member of some of the most important committees of the house. He also acted as chairman of the second division of the code revision committee, having in charge the recodification of the laws of Iowa, the work of this session giving to the state the code of 1897. In 1903 he was strongly urged as a candidate for the state senate, but the first nominating convention resulted in a deadlock and in the second convention he lost by one-half a vote. He then resumed law practice, which he followed in Birmingham until September, 1909, when, as previously stated, he removed to Fairfield. In the meantime, however, he was again a candidate for the state senate, to which office he was elected in 1908 from the second district, composed of the counties of Van Buren and Jefferson. He proved an able member of the upper house, as he had done in the house of representatives, and his growing reputation led to his nomination for the office of secretary of state in 1912. He was elected, took the oath of office the following January and was reelected to the same office in 1914, so that he is now the incumbent in the position. While undoubtedly he is not without that honorable ambition which is so powerful and useful as an incentive to activity in public affairs, he also regards the pursuits of private life as being in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.