Willis Allen

Willis Allen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 9th district
In office
March 4, 1853  March 3, 1855
Preceded by District created
Succeeded by Samuel S. Marshall
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1851  March 3, 1853
Preceded by John Alexander McClernand
Succeeded by John Wentworth
Personal details
Born (1806-12-15)December 15, 1806
Roanoke, Virginia
Died April 15, 1859(1859-04-15) (aged 52)
Harrisburg, Illinois
Political party Democratic

Willis Allen (December 15, 1806 – April 15, 1859) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois, and the father of William J. Allen.

Allen's house in Marion

Born near Roanoke, Virginia, Allen attended the common schools. He taught school. He moved to Tennessee and settled in Wilson County. He moved to Franklin (now Williamson) County, Illinois in 1830 and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Marion. He was sheriff of Franklin County 1834–1838. He served as member of the Illinois House of Representatives 1838–1840. He served as prosecuting attorney of the 1st judicial circuit in 1841. He served as member of the Illinois Senate 1844–1847. He served as member of the state constitutional convention in 1847 and 1848.

Allen was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-second and Thirty-third Congresses (March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1855). He was not a candidate for reelection in 1854. He resumed the practice of his profession.

Allen was elected judge of the twenty-sixth circuit court of Illinois on March 2, 1859, and served until his death while holding court in Harrisburg on April 15, 1859. He was interred in Marion Cemetery in Marion.[1]

Allen's house in Marion is still standing; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, qualifying because of its connection to Allen.[2]

References

  1. "Allen, Willis (1806-1859)". Marion Illinois History Preservation.
  2. National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
John A. McClernand
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 2nd congressional district

1851–1853
Succeeded by
John Wentworth
Preceded by
District created
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 9th congressional district

1853–1855
Succeeded by
Samuel S. Marshall

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.

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