Allen, Dr. J.H.

ALLEN

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 9/3/2007 at 11:19:49

Biographical Directory of 1879 History of Jackson County, Iowa:
DR. J.H. ALLEN, physician and surgeon; is a native of Coos County, New Hampshire; was born July 13, 1818; his family removed to Albany, New York when he was very young; after reaching manhood he studied medicine with James F. Sargent, M.D. of Lowell, Massachusetts; he attended lectures four terms and graduated at Hanover, N.H.; he practiced medicine in New Hampshire ten or twelve years. While there he married Miss Judith Sargent, of Concord; she died in 1852, leaving three children-Kate, James H. and Sarah J.; in 1856 Dr. Allen determined to come west; he took passage on the steamer Niagara, which was burned off Sheboygan, in September, 1856, when there were 200 lives lost; he was among the few saved, but he lost all he had; he came to Iowa and located in Maquoketa the following November; he practiced his profession here until 1862, when he was appointed surgeon of the 18th Iowa Volunteer Infantry-served two years and was discharged for disability; after his return from the service he held the office of Assessor for three years, and also the office of Postmaster and Mayor of the town. On the 24th of September, 1857, he married Mrs. Nancy R. Lyon, formerly Miss Nancy R. Hall, daughter of Asahel Hall, one of the early settlers. Mrs. Allen is a graduate of Miss Field's Seminary, at Erie, Penn. She married P.A.R.Brace, of Prairie du Chien, Wis.; he died leaving one daughter, Mrs. William Stephens of Maquoketa. In 1853, Mrs. Allen married G.D.Lyon, who died in 1855, leaving one son, George B., now practicing dentistry in Philadelphia. Dr. and Mrs. Allen have one son, Ethan Allen, who graduated in the Law Department of Michigan University, in March, 1879. Mrs. Allen is an active worker in the reform movements of the day; she was the first Secretary of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Iowa; she was a delegate to the National Temperance Convention, at Cleveland, in 1875, and is Secretary of the State Woman's Suffrage Association.