Arthur Elmer Allen of Topeka, is not only one of the leading general contractors of that city having a thorough and practical knowledge of the business, but is also well versed in medicine, being a graduate of the Kansas Medical College and a post-graduate of the New York post-graduate school. He is still a young man, having been born in Johnson county, Missouri, March 1, 1870, a son of John and Elizabeth (Kirk) Allen, the farmer[sic] born in Pennsylvania, in 1827, and the latter in Scotland, in 1833. When Dr. Allen was two years old his parents removed to Allegheny City, Pa., where he spent his youth and received his early educational training. In 1886 the family removed to Pawnee county, Nebraska, and located on a farm where they remained four years. At the age of twenty he returned to Allegheny City, where he learned the bricklayer's trade and, in 1895, he came to Topeka, where he worked at his trade until 1897. Meanwhile he had taken up the study of medicine and completed a full medical course, as stated above, supplementing it with post-graduate work and, in 1900, he began the practice of medicine in Ness county, Kansas, where he remained until the fall of 1901, when he removed to Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and practiced medicine there until 1908. Although meeting with merited success in the practice of his profession he retired from it in 1908, and returned to Kansas, where he engaged in business as a general contractor. In 1909 he formed a partnership with Henry Bennett, the well known contractor, under the firm name of Bennett & Allen, which firm today is one of the best known in the city of Topeka. In 1910 they were engaged in the construction of two of the largest and finest buildings being erected in Topeka; the new Santa Fe general office building and the new Grace Cathedral. In 1911 they secured the contract for the Dillon residence at the corner of Ninth and Harrison streets; the new addition to the Methodist Episcopal church; and the Gordon building at the corner of Ninth street and Kansas avenue.

Dr. Allen was married on Sept. 12, 1899, to Miss Alice McKittrick of Topeka, and they have four children living: Stewart McKittrick, Robert Arthur, Richard Kirk, and David Lawrence. Politically Dr. Allen is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the First United Presbyterian Church of Topeka.