Geo. S. ALLYN, Representative from Ringgold county, was born in Clinton, Ill. His father was an itinerant Methodist preacher in the days of Peter CARTWRIGHT. His education was received in the public schools of Illinois. After the death of his father, moved to Iowa while in his teens. Taught school in the winter time and farmed in the summer time. He was elected clerk of courts in his twenty-third year -- served three terms. Was postmaster at Mount Ayr, Iowa. He engaged in the real estate, abstract and farm loan and farming and live stock business. In 1880 he organized the Mount Ayr bank of which he was cashier and president until September, 1915. He has served as president of the board of education four years, was on the board of trustees of the agricultural college at Ames, and is at present a member of the city council. He served in the senate in the Twenty-sixth, Twenty-sixth extra, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth and Thirty-ninth sessions. He also served in the Thirty-eighth and Thirty-ninth session, in the House of Representatives. He being the only member of the Thirty-ninth general assembly who served during the session of the last Code Revision of 1897. He is a Methodist and a Republican.

SOURCE: Official Register, State of Iowa 1921-1922, Twenty-Ninth Number, Biographies of State Representatives, pg. 333

Posted by Sharyl FERRALL, April 18, 2005

Ringgold Record
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
1898

The gentleman whose familiar face wherewith greets you was born March 9, 1847, in Dewitt county, Ills. He began teaching school when but 18 years of age, and in the fall of 1866 came to Ringgold county, where he taught during the winter and farmed in the summer. In the fall of 1872, Mr. ALLYN was elected clerk of the courts and served three terms. While filling this office he engaged in the real estate business with C. B. MORRIS. Mr. ALLYN was married in 1878 to Miss Mary V. KINSELL. To them have been born five children, three sons and two daughters. Mr. ALLYN was postmaster two years under President HAYES.

In 1880 the Mt. Ayr bank was organized, and during the sixteen years of its existence, Mr. ALLYN has been its cashier. It is one of the leading and most solid financial institutions in this part of the state.

Mr. ALLYN is regarded as the wealthiest man inthe county, having large interests in banking, real estate and live stock, much of the latter being in improved strains of cattle and sheep.

Mr. ALLYN however is an earnest Christian gentleman, making good use of his wealth in liberal donations to benevolent enterprises. He is a leading official member of the Methodist church and trustee of Simpson college. Last fall Mr. ALLYN was elected state senator, and very acceptably performed the arduous duties of that position during the legislative session, making a record which is approved by the vast majority of his constituents.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2010