In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1836, Nassagaweya township
From Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri (1910), The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens (1882)
JAMES ALLISON, farmer and stock raiser, section u, post office Hopkins. The subject of this sketch is a native of Canada, and was born March 25, 1836. He was there raised to manhood and educated, being brought up in the occupation which he now follows. In 1878, he emigrated to Michigan, where he resided about two years, and from there he went to Dakota Territory. After remaining seven years he moved to Crawford County, Iowa, where he remained one year, coming from there to this state. He settled in this county, and now has 374 acres of land that will compare favorably with any in the county, 160 acres of which are under cultivation. He has a splendid residence upon his home place, and his improvements generally denote a successful and progressive farmer. Mr. Allison was married in 1855, to Miss Ann Cleave, a native of England. They have from this union eight children: George E., James M., John A., William O., Emma E., Viola J., Annie M., and Milo T. They are members of the Baptist Church.
As printed in The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JAMES ALLISON.
Lrom a sturdy Canadian family is descended James Allison, one of the prominent citizens of the eastern part of Nodaway county, he, himself, having been born in Nassagaweya township, Halton county, province of On marie, Canada, on March 25, 1836. He is the son of George and Mary (Knight) Allison, the latter born in Scotland and the former in Durham, England. He was reared in Yorkshire, and from there came to Canada with four brothers in a very early day, and they farmer in what is still known as the Allison settlement. The father of James Allison died on the farm on which he first settled, having cleared it of its heavy timber and improved it until he was regarded as the wealthiest man in his township. In his family were three sons and two daughters. During the war of 1812 George Allison was compelled to assist the British soldiers search for traitors.
James Allison was reared on the home farm and educated in the public schools. He remained in Canada until 1868. He began life by farming one hundred acres which his father gave him, his father having owned three hundred and forty acres. In 1868 he came to Nunica, Michigan, and rented farming land, but remained there only a short time, when he moved to Dakota territory in 1870, pre-empted and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres and one hundred and sixty acres respectively. He improved his place and lived there seven years and eight months. Then moved to Crawford county, Iowa, and raised one crop. In March, 1878, he came to Nodaway county, Missouri, and bought a piece of land on which he hauled lumber the second day he was in the county. This was an eighty-acre farm one-half mile south of where he now lives, in western Independence township. He broke the sod. and the next year planted corn. The following winter he sold out and bought one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land, and on this he has since made his home. He has put on every improvement and has a good farm and a comfortable home. In 1890 he sold the north eighty. Of recent years he has devoted considerable attention to raising shorthorn cattle. He has also followed dairying ever since he bought this farm. He has experienced all stages of this business. He first sold butter, then sold milk in cans with glass on the side to measure the depth of the cream; he then sold milk and had skimmed milk returned to him. He now has modern separators and sells his own cream and milk direct. He finds a ready market for his products. He put out a good orchard about 1902, the spring after he came here. He has also been a dealer in horses nearly all his life, dealing especially in draft horses.
Mr. Allison was married on October 9, 1855, to Ann Cleave, who was born February 4, 1837, in Devonshire, England, the daughter of Richard and Grace (Hamlin) Cleave. She came to America in 1849 and located in the same township and county in which Mr. Allison was born, her family being pioneer farmers there, and it was in that community that she and Mr. Allison married. The following children have been born to them: George Edwin, born January 16, 1857; Mary Ann (deceased), born June 20, 1858; John (deceased), born November 9, 1859; James Milford, born February 28, 1861; John Alfred, born December 11, 1862; William Orlando, born September 17, 1864; Levina (deceased), born August 6, 1866; Emma, born September 3, 1867; Viola Jane, born January 29, 1870; Anna May (deceased), born May 24, 1872; Milo Fred, born July 4, 1874; Grace Elizabeth (deceased), born December 11, 1881.
James Allison is grandfather of thirty-seven children, thirty-five of whom are living, and he is the great-grandfather of one child.
Mrs. Allison is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Allison is independent in politics, believing in voting for the man rather than the party. He has held the offices of his district a number of times, such as school director and road overseer.
William Orlando Allison, mentioned above, is an extensive fruit grower in Colorado. He paid six hundred and fifty dollars per acre for land for which he has been offered two thousand dollars per acre. He has about eighteen acres in all. He is a carpenter and contractor and has erected large school buildings and others. For some time he maintained a brick yard. James Allison, his father, has also been interested in fruit raising of all kinds, small and large. He does not engage so extensively in farming as formerly. At one time, in the vicinity of the home place, he had four hundred and forty acres. His sons are all farmers. He gave a team to each of his sons when the latter was twenty-one years old, and has helped them in many other ways. His daughter, Anna May, died after rearing four children. Mr. Allison is a very pleasant man to meet, always courteous and kind, honest and obliging, consequently he has hosts of friends.
As printed in Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.