James Allison (1835-1904)

ALLISON, PARKHURST

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 8/4/2016 at 23:45:42

From Nevada Representative August 3, 1904

DEATH OF ATTORNEY ALLISON.

The death last Friday of Attorney James Allison of State Center will cause very great regret in this county, where he was almost as well known as in the county of his residence. he was a pioneer lawyer there, and he grew up with the development of the two counties from which he drew his steadily increasing practice. In his earlier years he figured more or less in politics, though never that we remember as a candidate; but in the Cleveland days he became identified with the Democratic party, which identification in this section has been equivalent to political retirement. He was man of very strong character, and he had opinions of his own on various subjects. One of these was that he preferred to have his body cremated; and in accordance with this sentiment his remains were taken to Davenport for cremation, the funeral being first held at State Center on Sunday afternoon. The Marshalltown Times-Republican in noting his death says:

James Allison, one of the pioneer attorneys of the county and one of Marshall county's wealthiest men, died suddenly Friday evening at his home of heart failure. Mr. Allison has been bothered with an organic heart trouble for several years, and during recent years has been considered in failing health. While he was able to be out Thursday looking after his business interests, he was ill most of the day Friday, and after calling a physician Friday evening went to the bath room upstairs. The exertion of climbing the stairs overtaxed his heart, and he died in the bath room before his family was aware that the end had come.

Mr. Allison was one of the prominent men of the county, and one of the most influential citizens of his home town, where he had resided since coming to the county in 1870. Mr. Allison has amassed a large fortune in his law business, and land speculation, and at the time of his death his estate is estimated to be worth between $200,000 and $300,000. Among his extensive land holdings are included 1,000 acres in Marshall county and 600 acres in Story county, all as fine as the sun shines upon.

Mr. Allison was born June 25, 1835 in Ashtabula county, Ohio. When an infant his parents removed to Rochester, N. Y., and in 1855 came to Kane county, Illinois, where he resided until 1870, when he moved to State Center. He was admitted to the bar at Aurora, Ill., in 1859, and has been engaged in the active work of his profession until recent years. Even during the last few years of his life, however, he has looked after a part of his practice, for old-time clients, who had great faith in his judgment on legal affairs. Mr. Allison was married to Miss Sophie A. Parkhurst, of Kendall county, Illinois, June 6, 1862. Mrs. Allison survives her husband, as do her two children, Miss Mary Allison and Mr. James Allison, Jr., both of State Center.