HOUSE, Allen J. 1847-1928

HOUSE

Posted By: Errin Wilker (email)
Date: 7/27/2014 at 13:23:02

Allen J. House was born near Brantford, Ontario, Canada, January 12, 1847, and died in Maquoketa, Iowa, September 6, 1928. When fourteen years of age, owing to his parents’ large family, he left home to earn his own living. Two years later, in 1863, he arrived at Maquoketa to make his home with relatives. Here he engaged in farm work during summers and attended public school in Maquoketa in winters. In 1866, he lost an arm in a mowing machine accident. The following winter he attended the State University of Iowa, and followed that by teaching school for four years, in the meantime reading law with C.M. Dunbar of Maquoketa, and was admitted to the bar in 1870. In 1871, he was elected county superintendent and, after serving two years in that position, was county auditor four years. From 1878 to 1892, he was associated with Levi Keck in the practice of law and the abstract business. The General Assembly having provided for an additional judge in the Seventh Judicial District Governor Boies appointed Mr. House to that position, and by reason of elections he served continuously for thirty-four years, or until 1926, when he declined to be a candidate again owing to failing health. In politics, he was a Democrat.

Source: Annals of Iowa, Third Series, Vol. XVI, No. 7, January 1929, Pg. 556.