George A. Allen, real-estate and loan agent at Sterling, was born in Kanakee county, Illinois, near the city of Kankakee, March 12, 1865, his parents being Albert B. and Anna M. (Mann) Allen, the former born near Buffalo, New York, and the latter in Ohio. The Allen family is of English lineage, the ancestry being traced back to a brother of Colonel Ethan Allen of Revolutionary war fame.
George W. Allen, the grandfather, was born in the Empire state and in early life followed the blacksmith's trade, later, however, becoming a farmer. He arrived in Whiteside county in 1869 and here spent his remaining days to the age of eighty-two years. His wife, Bessie Allen, died in middle life. They had three sons and two daughters, including Albert B. Allen, who throughout his entire business career carried on general agricultural pursuits. When seventeen years of age he arrived in Illinois, settling first in Dupage county, whence he afterward removed to Kankakee county, living also in Iroquois county for a time prior to the year 1868, when he took up his abode in Whiteside county. At that time he settled on a farm in Lyndon township, where he owned three hundred and eighty acres of land, his remaining days being devoted to the further cultivation and development of the farm, which he brought into a rich state of fertility. He was born November 18, 1826, and died August 20, 1887. His widow still survives him and resides on the farm with her son Elmer. She was a daughter of Alexander Mann, a native of Ohio, who also followed farming as a life work and on coming to Illinois established his home in Kankakee county, where his remaining days were passed. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Allen were born seven children, two sons and six daughters: Sophronia, the wife of Rasmus Rasmussen, of Bureau county, Illinois; Ida J., the wife of Frank J. Besse, of Houghton, South Dakota; Sarah May, deceased, who was the wife of B. J. Hedger; Elmer L., who resides in Lyndon township, Whiteside county, Illinois; Mande K., of Sterling; George A., of this review; Satie A., who died October 15, 1870, at the age of two years; and Laura B., who became the wife of James McCue of Hopkins township, Whiteside county, Illinois.
From the age of three years, George A. Allen has been a resident of Whiteside county. The removal of his parents to Lyndon township made him a farmboy of that locality and a pupil in the district school near his father's home. He was early trained in the work of the fields and was thus well qualified to carry on agricultural pursuits on his own account when he started out in business life for himself. He was identified with the farming interests of the county until 1902 when he removed to Sterling to engage in the real estate and loan business, in which he still continues. As a valuator of real property he is seldom, if ever, at fault in matters of judgment and keeps well informed concerning the property which is upon the market, thus making judicious purchases and profitable sales.
On the 1st of January, 1891, Mr. Allen was married to Lydia A. Runyan, a daughter of Henry Runyan. She was born in Carroll county, Illinois, June 1, 1867. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and in their family were the following children: William Runyan, of Garrison, Iowa; Mary, the wife of Jacob Carney, of Iowa; Kate, who became the wife of David Cohnar, of Sterling; John, who makes his home in Iowa; Mattie, the wife of Joseph Myers, residing near Coleta, Illinois; Mrs. Allen; and George, who also lives in Iowa. After the death of the mother and father married again and there were six children by that union. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have but one child, a daughter, Clara M., who is with her parents in their pleasant home at No. 605 Sixth avenue.
In his political views Mr. Allen is a republican but the honors and emoluments of office have had little attraction for him, as he has preferred to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs and the enterprise and diligence which he has manifested have proven strong resultant factors in winning him enviable success.
 

SOURCE: History of Whiteside County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908. Chicago: Pioneer Pub. Co., 1908, 1493 pgs.