Willis Allen

Who was Willis Allen?

Willis Allen was a U.S. Representative from Illinois, and the father of William J. Allen.

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 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. 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.

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.