From History of Walworth County Wisconsin, Vol. II, by Albert Clayton 
Beckwith, Publ. 1912 - Page 1119-1120
 
FRANCIS G. ALLEN.  In writing of such noble characters as the late Francis G. 
ALLEN, of Lyons, there come trooping into view the children and grandchildren 
who inherit the good life but have no image, no memory of the author of the 
blessings of a worthy soul; and they are ennobled, inspired, sobered by the 
proud discovery of a family chief whose name was held in honor by men of 
sagacity and probity; they are enriched by reading the record in which their 
own names are linked with that of one who illumined the page of domestic 
annals with honorable fame.
 
Mr. ALLEN was born on June 21, 1851.  He was the son of Gain R. and Amelia 
(POTTER) ALLEN, his mother being a sister of Joseph POTTER, of Elkhorn, a 
sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.
 
Mr. ALLEN grew up on the home farm and received his education in the common 
schools, Elkhorn high school and Oberlin College at Oberlin, Ohio.  He 
followed farming in his earlier life.  He was married November 22, 1874, to 
Gertrude A. DODGE, daughter of Eugene DODGE and wife, whose sketch will be 
found on another page.  For a time after his marriage Mr. ALLEN lived in 
Lyons, then spent about two year in Spring Prairie township, living the next 
ten years in Burlington, after which he moved to Madison.  He became a 
prospector and promoter of mines upon his removal to Burlington, being 
interested in western mining properties, and he spent much time in the Black 
Hills of Dakota, being among the pioneer prospectors there.  He was later 
interested in mining properties in California, and afterwards for a number of 
years in Arizona.  While he was in the West Mrs. ALLEN remained in Walworth 
county, for the most part, educating her children, Eugene and Cora; the former 
is a practicing physician in Seattle, Washington, and the latter is the wife 
of William G. JOHN, and they also live in Seattle.
 
Mrs. ALLEN remained in Burlington ten years, until her children finished high 
school, then spent four years in Madison, where they attended the State 
University  The family then moved to Chicago, where they spent six years while 
Eugene completed a course in Rush Medical College.  After his graduation he 
was intern in the hospital of Cook County, Illinois, for two years.  From 
there he went into the army, and was in the Philippines eighteen months as 
contract surgeon.  He has been practicing his profession at Seattle since 
1902, and is division surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound 
Railroad Company.  He has two sons, Richard and Robert.  He married Ethel 
BAGLEY, of Seattle.  Mrs. Cora JOHN also has two sons, Eugene Allen JOHN and 
Philip William JOHN.  Mr. JOHN is in the real estate and insurance business in 
Seattle and is quite prosperous.
 
While Mrs. ALLEN and the children were in Chicago, Mr. ALLEN also spent most 
of his time there, then went to Butte, Montana, where he was taken sick, and, 
Mrs. ALLEN joining him there, they went to California for his health.  His 
death occurred on February 7, 1901, after an honorable and successful career.  
Mrs. ALLEN now lives in a pleasant home in Springfield, this county, with her 
mother.
 
Submitted by Carol