John Delbert Van Allen

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John Delbert Van Allen
Portrait of John D. Van Allen
Born	October 5, 1850 Crystal Lake, Illinois
Died	December 30, 1928 Clinton, Iowa
Occupation	Retailer, Department Store Owner
Spouse	Alice Jane Holmes
Children	Frederick Holmes Van Allen & Bessie Dell Van Allen Morris
Parents	Abram Van Allen & Olive Ransom

John Delbert Van Allen was a retail dry goods merchant and department store owner who came to Clinton, Iowa in 1892 and established a department store that was the last surviving traditional store of its type in the city. He is most noted nationally for having hired Louis Sullivan to design the Van Allen Building that is now listed as a National Historic Landmark.

Mr. Van Allen applied for membership in the Holland Society of New York on August 10, 1908 and was admitted on October 8, 1908. He was a direct lineal descendent of Laurens Van Allen who was a resident of New Amsterdam in 1658. (Application below)

[edit] Gallery

Van Allen Building, A National Historic Landmark	The Van Allen Building, Column Capital	Detail of ornamentation of the Van Allen Building	Van Allen family crest
John D. Van Allen & Son	Van Allen building front elevation detail	Van Allen building SE corner detail	Van Allen building under construction in 1913
Van Allen building under construction in 1914	Van Allen Store 1934	John D. Van Allen application Holland Society of New York	John D. Van Allen application Holland Society of New York reverse side