Lucius Allen made several important contrubutions to the growing Elkhorn community. Allen was a member of the Sixth Rgiment of the Wisconsin Militia, serving as a Captain, along with others from Elkhorn, including James Harkness, Perry G. Harrington, and Joseph Pratt. The earliest statement in detail as to the organization of territorial militia found at the adjutant-general’s office shows that in June, 1846, men of Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Jefferson, Portage, Rock, Sauk and Walworth, a regiment
from each, were brigaded together, and in July the officers of the Walworth regiment were Col. Caleb Croswell of Delavan. In August, 1846, the men of Columbia, Dodge, Jefferson and Walworth constituted the first Brigade of the Third Division.
In 1866, Lucius served as the Chairman of the Walworth County Board, and as a member of the County Board for the Village of Elkhorn in 1877 and 1881. He was an associate Supervisor in 1874. In 1877, it was evident to the Walworth County board that a better jail and sheriff’s house were indispensable, and it appropriated ten thousand dollars and ordered a change of site. Lucius Allen served on the building committee with Newton M. Littlejohn, Henry Hollister, Samuel II. Stafford, and John Matheson. The site chosen is opposite the southwestern park corner, facing eastwardly. The plan was of Milwaukeean design and the work of Janesville contractors. The outer work was of quarry stone and good brick. The sheriff’s house is of two high stories, set upon a basement story of cut stone (to give a noble front elevation, and to make life a burden to the sheriff’s family. As a whole, it was neither unsightly without nor very inconvenient within. The jail, adjoining rearwardly, had two tiers of cells and corridors, all of soft and hard steel bars riveted together cagewise. Jail makers of St. Louis supplied the metal work. City water, steam heat, electric light and a new barn were added sensibly to its cost and value.
Lucius also served as the Justice of the Peace from 1880-1881. In 1874, Hazel Ridge Cemetery was purchased by a group of public minded citizens. The first presidents of the board included Stephen G. West, William Conger, Lucius Allen and Orland Carswell.
IThe population of Elkhorn in 1850 was 42 ; at later census
1860 – 1,081,
1870 – 1,205
1880 – 1,122
1890 – 1,447
1900 – 1,731
1910 – 1,707