BIOGRAPHY: Joseph ALLISON, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, page 637.

  JOSEPH ALLISON, Allensville, Mifflin county, Pa., was born at the homestead in 
Menno township, Mifflin county, December 2, 1817.  He is a son of William and 
Hannah (Hazlett) Allison.  His grandfather, Robert Allison, a native of Ireland, 
came to America in the latter part of the last century, and settled in the 
Kishacoquillas valley, where he took out warrants for a large tract of land, 
which he cleared and cultivated.  He lived to an old age.  His children were:  
William;  Richard;  John;  and Robert, who served in the war of 1812, and was 
drowned while on his way home.  William Allison received his education in the 
common schools of his native township.  He remained at home helping his father, 
and began farming on that part of his father's land which is now the homestead.  
In 1827 he built the saw-mill afterwards owned by his son Robert.  The Allison 
brothers made many improvements in their property and in the valley.  Although 
he did not seek prominence, Mr. Allison was an active member of the Democratic 
party.  William Allison was married to Hannah Hazlett.  Their children are:  
Robert, married Jane Fields, has eight children;  Joseph;  Sarah, Mrs. Alexander 
Hamilton, has five children;  Mary, Mrs. Robert Huey, has one child, William;  
John, married Elizabeth Morgan, has five children, one of whom died in infancy;  
and Richard, married Mary Wilson, has six children.  William Allison died in 
1869, aged ninety-four;  his wife died in 1856.
  Joseph Allison was educated in the district schools of Menno township.  He 
remained at home until he was twenty-eight, learning farming under his father's 
careful training.  In 1845 he began farming for himself on the present 
homestead, where he still resides, although not actively engaged in its 
cultivation.  He has been a life-long member of the Democratic party.
  Joseph Allison was married, November 6, 1845, to Margaret Jane Russler.  They 
have three children:  one who died in infancy;  William Gibson, who was educated 
at an academy and taught for one term, and died October 13, 1871, aged eighteen;  
and James R., who married Sarah Taylor, daughter of Thomas and Margaret 
(Fleming) Wilson, and has three children, Margaret Fleming, born July 20, 1874, 
Joseph  Gibson, born September 13, 1878, and Elizabeth Wilson, born August 8, 
1884.  Mrs. Joseph Allison died January 26, 1889, aged sixty-eight.  Mr. Allison 
belongs to the Presbyterian church, of which Mrs. Allison also was a devout 
member.