Born: January 11, 1859, near Plymouth, Indiana.
Died: June 20, 1938, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Buried: Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park, Illinois.
John was the son of Herman Alleman and Sarah Quivey, and husband of Lou W. Wilson.
He showed a love of music from childhood, but had little opportunity for formal training, so had to content himself with studying books on harmony and composition. He studied himself into a successful musical career, becoming a skillful director, evangelistic singer, and publisher.
As of 1904, he was living in Chicago, Illinois. Census records show him still there in 1920. He also lived in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and Mirabile, Missouri.