George Eugene Allen

ALLEN, ELLYSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/21/2015 at 21:02:30

Monona County History
1982

George Eugene Allen, p 85

George Eugene Allen, son of Philip and Mary Jane Allen, was born at Delavan, Illinois on October 27, 1886 and died at his home on November 20, 1944. He grew up in and attended high school in Nevada, Iowa then attended Coe College, the University of Chicago and the University of Iowa where he received his law degree in 1913. He practiced law in Moville, Iowa, but at the request of Judge John Oliver, they formed the firm of Oliver and Allen in Onawa in 1915. He married Hilda Ellyson of West Branch, Iowa in 1912 and their first son, Sewell, was born in the University of Iowa Hospital while his father was in law school.

Mr. Allen was elected County attorney of Monona County for three terms, was president of the Onawa school board and chairman of the Monona County chapter of the American Red Cross during World War I. He was county chairman of the Democratic Party and was active in politics for many years. He taught a Sunday school class for young married couples for 21 years for the Methodist Church of Onawa. He was a member of the official board of the church and had been Superintendent of the Sunday school.

Hilda Ellyson Allen, daughter of Sewell and Emma Ellyson, was born on a farm near West Branch, Iowa on July 1, 1887. She died at a hospital in Torrance, California on December 19, 1956. Mrs. Allen graduated from the University of Iowa with an English major and was instrumental in starting a writing group that eventually became the literature department of the Onawa Women’s Club and she organized the Utile Dulce (Women’s Society) in the Methodist Church. She also served on the school board and both she and Mr. Allen encouraged many young people of Onawa to go to college and further their education.

After her husband’s death in 1944, she went to the University of Kansas and updated her teacher’s certificate and for the next ten years taught English and Drama at Blencoe, Whiting and Missouri Valley high schools. Perhaps she will best be remembered for her work as service chairman of the American Red Cross during World War II, for the helped many local people contact their loved ones in service.

George and Hilda Allen had three children: Sewell Ellyson Allen, deceased; Philip Austin Allen of Omaha, Nebraska; Hermione Allen Baker (Mrs. Clarence P.) of Yucca Valley, California. Compiled and contributed by Mrs. Sewell Allen.