LINES, Alison 1824-1905

LINES, HERNDON, BISHOP, READER

Posted By: Debbie Koch (email)
Date: 11/4/2002 at 21:49:53

Source: Biographical Review of Des Moines County, Iowa/Hobart Publishing Company, Chicago, IL Copyright1905 , pages 747-748

Allison Lines

Allison Lines, deceased, was a pioneer resident of Des Moines County, who took up his abode within its borders in 1838, and continued his residence here until his death sixty-seven years later. He was born in Rush County, Indiana, July 16, 1824 and was the son of John and Diana (Harrington)* Lines. Arriving in Des Moines County, in 1838, he settled on Section 20, Franklin Township, where William Wagner now resides. The trip was made with his parents, and the father purchased the farm, compromising two hundred and twenty acres of land, which was rich with possibilities, but then undeveloped. They broke prairie and tilled fields, and Allison Lines continued to remain with his parents until they were called to their final rest, assisting the father in the arduous task of improving a new farm. He was third in the order of birth in a family of twelve children-nine sons and three daughters.

Allison Lines was reared as a farm lad, acquired a common-school education, and early became familiar with the work of the fields. After reaching man's estate he saw no need to change his occupation, and continued to engage in agriculture, which Washington said, "is the most useful and most honorable occupation of man," operating a farm of sixty-two acres, owning twenty acres of timber. He was also a carpenter, and did much work in that direction, being identified for many years with building operations. Whatever he undertook claimed his close application and earnest efforts, and by his well-directed labors he gained a gratifying measure of prosperity.

September 9, 1848, Mr. Lines was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bishop, a daughter of Jonathon and Henrietta(Reader)Bishop. She was born June 17, 1830, in Rush County, Indiana, within five miles of her husband's birthplace, but they did not become acquainted until they arrived in this State. Mrs. Lines came to Des Moines County in 1846, and spent the remainder of her girlhood in Danville Township. Unto our subject and his wife were born nine children: Sarah C., who died when eleven years of age; Mary, the wife of James Smith, of Franklin township; Diana, who died at the age of four months; William Henry, who died when eighteen months old; Charlotte, the wife of Amos Beere, of Yellow Spring township; Almira, at home; Emma, the wife of Edward Heitmeier, of Columbus Junction; John B., a farmer and trustee of Franklin township; and Anna, who died at the age of twenty-two years.

In early days, Mr. Lines became a supporter of the Know-Nothing party, and later gave his political allegiance to the Republican party. Almost his entire life was passed in Franklin township, where he arrived when fifteen years of age. He traveled past the eightieth milestone on life's journey, passing away March 10, 1905, at the age of eighty years and nine months.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Lines were representatives of the oldest families of this locality, and they became widely known, and made many friends because of their excellent traits of character and genuine worth. They were honorable people, well liked by all; and when Mr. Lines was called from this life, the community mourned the loss of a prominent pioneer settler. He was thoroughly familiar with many of the incidents and events which have framed the history of this county, and was personally a witness of the work which transformed this section of the State into one of the finest counties of the great commonwealth.

*Diana Harrington should read Diana Herndon