Jacob Stiner Allen was born in Warrenton (Warren County), North Carolina on October 6, 1839. Allen was a long-time resident of Raleigh (Wake County), North Carolina. He was a contractor and builder who served as a member of the board of directors of the North Carolina State Penitentiary from 1872 up through 1877. He died in Raleigh on June 5, 1909.