James Henry Allison (1809 - abt. 1869)

Born 6 Feb 1809 in Washington, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 30 Jul 1869 at about age 60 in Illinois, United States

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Biography

James Henry Allison was born on February 6, 1809, in Washington County, Pennsylvania. He married Eliza Jane Gettis on October 22, 1833. She was born in August 1815, in Ireland. Eliza was a daughter of John and Jane Gettis, who was a merchant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. James was a cabinet-maker in Pittsburgh. Later, he was a farmer. About 1838, James and his family moved to Hickory Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. They later lived in Delaware Township, Mercer County. He was recorded as a farmer in Mercer County. Eliza was a member of the Associate Reformed Church (now the Clarksville United Presbyterian Church), in Clarksville, Pennsylvania. She was a member from 1850 until October, 27, 1855. In the mid 1860's, the family moved to Illinois. Prior to moving to Illinois, James made several visits to the area. On one visit, he wrote the following letter to his family:

Bloomington, Illinois, Nov. 22nd 1863

Dear Siss:

I promised to write when here. I started from Greenville on last Monday were in at 3 p.m. and arrived in Chicago on Tues at 1 A.M. I started from there at 8 1/2 A.M. on Tuesday morning. Stopped at Chenoa 15 hours and got to Bloomington Thursday night at dark, The next morning went out to Blacks Farm There is no conveniences on it I can get far better in the neighborhood have been around in the country since. The people here are very intelligent and moral with the exception of a few Dutch and Irish rather more so than in Penna. The chances for education are very good, The State Normal School has about 400 pupils. There are 3 coleges besides in the town. The people here nearly all belong to some church, excuse my short epistle. Hoping and praying for you I am your affectionate Father

(signed) J. H. Allison

James H. Allison died about July 30, 1869, in Illinois. He reportedly died of disease. By 1870, Eliza and the younger children had returned to Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and were living in Coolspring Township. Eliza J. (Gettis) Allison died on June 29, 1886, in Coolspring Township. Eliza reportedly had eighteen children, but only 12 were recorded in the family Bible (the James H. Allison Bible). She apparently had several children prior to 1837.

Children (known):

1. James Carson, b. 5 September 1837 (Allegheny County, Pennsylvania); m. Mary E. Seidle, 12 August 1862 (Mercer County, Pennsylvania)
2. Thomas Craig, b. 9 June 1839 (Mercer County, Pennsylvania)
3. John William, b. 29 November 1840 (Hickory Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania); m. Elizabeth J. Wilson, January 1861 (Delaware Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania)
4. Frances Caroline, b. April 1845; d. 14 August 1845
5. Henry H., b. 16 May 1846 (Mercer County, Pennsylvania); m. Christanna ?
6. Joseph Kerr, b. 9 November 1847; d. 25 January 1848
7. Mary Jane, b. 15 April 1849 (Mercer County, Pennsylvania); m. Sam J. Weir
8. Nancy Emma, b. 6 February 1851 (Coolspring Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania); m. Albert Norman Rice, 16 September 1874 (Mercer, Pennsylvania)
9. Margaret, b. 5 May 1854; m. John M. Nelson, 1883
10. Frances Melinda, b. 15 July 1855; m. Fiddaman Satterfield Bastress, 1877
11. Joseph Kerr, b. 31 October 1856; m. Clara Barnett
12. Elizabeth, b. 31 May 1857; d. 17 October 1860; she was buried in Delaware Grove Cemetery, Delaware Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania.

Sources

• “The Descendants of John Allison of Washington County, Pennsylvania; 2021 Revised and Updated Edition”, Part 1, Pages 18-20. 2021. By James R. Allison.[1]
• History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present. Published in 1888. Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk. Page 974.
• 1916 Pennsylvania Death Certificate of John W. Allison
• “The Descendants of John Allison of Washington County, Pennsylvania”. 1997. Compiled by James R. Allison.