The Biographical Dictionary of America/Allen, William Joshua

ALLEN, William Joshua, jurist, was born in Wilson County, Tenn., June 9, 1828, son of William Allen. He removed to Illinois with his parents in 1829; was educated in the public schools and was employed in the office of the Clerk of Williams county, 1846-'47. He attended the law school at Louisville, Ky., 1847-'48, and practised in Metropolis, Ky., 1848-'53, and in partnership with his father at Marion, Ill., in 1853. He was a representative in the Illinois legislature in 1854; U. S. district attorney for the southern district of Illinois, 1855-'59; circuit judge of the 26th Illinois circuit, 1859-'61; and a member of the State constitutional convention of 1861. He was elected to the 37th Congress as a Democrat to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of his law partner, Gen. John A. Logan, and was re-elected to the 38th Congress, serving 1862-'65. He practised law at Cairo, Ill., 1865-'74, and at Carbondale, Ill., 1874-'87, becoming in the latter year, U. S. district judge of the southern district of Illinois. He died at Springfield, Ill., in 1900.