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Below is a family biography included in History of Union County, Iowa published by S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1908.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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A. B. ALLISON.
Forty-five years have come and gone since A. B. Allison took up his abode in Union county—then a lad of twelve years. Today he is one of the thrifty and progressive farmers and stock-raisers of Jones township, living on section 24, where his time and energies are given to the cultivation and improvement of a good farm of two hundred and six acres. He was born in Morgan county, Ohio, September 8, 1851, a son of A. Allison, whose birth occurred in Virginia in 1832. When a young man he removed from the Old Dominion to Ohio and settled in Morgan county, where he met and married Miss Sarah Bollinger, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Allison followed farming in Morgan county for a number of years and then, believing that he would have better business opportunities in Iowa, he came to Union county, settling in Jones township in 1863. Here he invested his means in one hundred and twenty acres of prairie land, which he transformed into productive fields and as the years passed by he met with gratifying prosperity that enabled him to add to his possessions from time to time until his landed interests aggregated five hundred acres. Upon the homestead property which he first secured he reared his family and there he spent his last days, his death occurring in November, 1890, while his wife died on February 7, 1898.

A. B. Allison is one of a family of five sons and three daughters, all of whom are yet living, and are now heads of families. He remained in Ohio until twelve years of age, when he accompanied his parents to this county, pursuing a common-school education while living upon the farm. When not occupied with his text-books his attention was largely claimed by the work of the fields, for he assisted his father, with whom he remained until he had attained his majority. The early training which he received in farm work well qualified him to carry on a similar business after he married and started out in life for himself.

On the 3d of July, 1874, in Jones township, Mr. Allison was joined in wedlock to Miss Elizabeth Forgey, who was born, reared and educated in that township, a daughter of James Forgey, who removed here from Indiana but was a native of Tennessee. He was one of the first settlers in Jones township, arriving in 1854, at which time he secured a claim with a land warrant which was given him in recognition of his service as a soldier of the Mexican, Florida and Indian wars. Later he removed to Kansas, taking up his abode in Smith county, where he died in 1877.

Mr. and Mrs. Allison began their domestic life on the farm which is now their home. He rented the land the first year and later bought it. He has since erected a neat and pleasant residence, built in modern style of architecture and equipped with all modern conveniences. It is heated by furnace and attractively furnished and, moreover, is one of the hospitable homes of the neighborhood. Mr. Allison has also put up a good barn and other outbuildings, furnishing ample shelter for grain and stock. He has planted much fruit and in connection with the work of tilling the soil he raises and feeds stock, making a specialty of hogs. In later years he has been buying, raising and selling horses and is widely known as one of the prosperous and progressive farmers and stockmen of this part of the state. When the railroad was built through here Mr. Allison assisted his father in grading the Burlington & Missouri River through this part of the county. He has always led a life of usefulness and activity and his success is the merited reward of his labors. At one time he left Union county, selling his property and going to Kansas. He there established his home in Jewell county, where he purchased land and followed farming until he had raised two crops. By that time he was convinced that he preferred Union county as a place of residence and, disposing of his interests in the Sunflower state, he returned to Jones township and in 1880 purchased his present farm from his father.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Allison have been born seven children, one of whom is deceased, those still living are: Zoe, now the wife of George Emery, a resident of Gering, Nebraska; L. W., who is married and follows farming in Jones township; Bessie A., the wife of R. L. Wilson, a resident of Table Rock, Nebraska; James C., who aids in carrying on the home farm; Aura, at home; and Bertha Ruth, who is a student in the Thayer schools. They also lost a daughter, Lela Lucile, who was an invalid for several years prior to her death, which occurred July 31, 1907, when she was thirty years of age.

Mr. Allison votes with the prohibition party and is a stanch believer in the cause of temperance. He was reared, however, in the democratic faith and cast his first presidential ballot for Horace Greeley. He and his wife are active and earnest members of the Thayer Methodist Episcopal church, are much interested in the work of church and Sunday school, and in the latter both have been teachers, while Mr. Allison was superintendent for over ten years. They are people of genuine worth, possessing those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime awaken confidence and regard and win warm and lasting friendships.

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This family biography is one of 247 biographies included in The History of Union County, Iowa published in 1908.  For the complete description, click here: Union County, Iowa History and Genealogy

View additional Union County, Iowa family biographies: Union County, Iowa Biographies

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