Crane County was organized September 13, 1927 with Crane as the county seat. Jack Allen was elected the first sheriff of the county on September 3, 1927. He was re-elected on November 6, 1928 and died while in office. The newspaper account reported he was a former Texas Ranger but a search of Texas State Archives On-Line did not indicate he was a Texas Ranger. The 1920 census for Brewster County reported he was a city marshal which would have been for Alpine.

Around 8:40 p.m. on Friday, May 31, 1929 Sheriff John Jefferson (Jack) Allen and Bill Clift were driving north of Crane County near Wink in Winkler County when the automobile the sheriff was driving struck a lumber wagon. A sliver of wood penetrated his left chest about six inches. The sheriff was taken to the local hospital where he died from his injuries.

Sheriff Allen was survived by his wife, Myrtle, 40, one daughter, Johnnie Ruth, age 19 and one son, James R., age 8. Sheriff Allen was buried in the Elm Grove Cemetery in Alpine in Brewster County.