John Delbert Van Allen

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.

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(s)	Alice Jane Holmes
Children	Frederick Holmes Van Allen & Bessie Dell Van Allen Morris
Parent(s)	Abram Van Allen & Olive Ransom

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 descendant of Laurens Van Allen who was a resident of New Amsterdam in 1658. (Application below)

Gallery

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

References

• The Clinton Herald January 2, 1929