My Families – Histories and Pictures

Back row: William Allison, Lillian Allison Front Row: Blanche Kisor Allison, Mima Allison, Emma Allison, Marion Allison

Like so many people researching their family we missed the opportunity to ask my grandmother, Lillian Allison Carpenter about her family. we learned some tidbits – Lillian grew up on a farm in Iowa, a place that was exotic to me as the country from where my maternal grandparents emigrated. We knew her father wouldn’t let his kids take cornbread to school for lunch because poor people ate it. That 12 year old Lillian had a lamb that was taken to market so she would never ate lamb again. That she had an older brother Will, an older sister Emma, and a younger sister Mima. A picture of her niece, Aileen with a large white dog sat in her living room for years. That she had a business education and worked in a bank.

But we never knew where her parents or grandparents came from. Using Ancestry, Family Search, and an a handwritten family chart I’ve been able to piece together several more generations. I was also given a big assist from a fourth cousin who straightened out the correct William Allison for my family line. More on this later.

I am beginning the story in Madison, Jefferson County, Indiana where several families came together to become the Allison family. Madison is on the Ohio River across from Kentucky. James William Allison was born in Indiana in 1807. He married Kentucky born Elizabeth Woodfill in 1829. They were in the Madison, Jefferson County, Indiana Federal censuses in 1830 and 1840. In the 1830 census Elizabeth’s family members were their neighbors. In 1840 James’ brother, Gavin Allison was their immediate neighbor.

James passed away in 1842 at the age of 36. By that time he and Elizabeth had seven children, Malissa, William, Mary, John T., Margaret, Martha, and George. James was buried in the Woodfill family cemetery. (A side note, apparently Elizabeth was not buried in the Woodfill Cemetery when she passed away in 1878.) James’ estate was found insolvent by the Franklin County, Indiana probate judge with assets of less than $300 were less than debts of $480. It also appears his widow Elizabeth received $150 although this may be an earlier claim and not actually provided..

By the 1850 Federal Census, the family’s situation appears to have improved. Elizabeth was the head of household and had real estate valued at $1,200. Her family followed her parent’s listing in the census. Daughters Mary, Margaret, and Martha lived with Elizabeth. John T, 15 also lived with Elizabeth and was listed as a farmer. The two older children had moved out. Malissa, the oldest, was married to Isaac Green and had two children. William, 18 years old was listed as a blacksmith, and appears to be boarding with other blacksmiths with a family. George, the youngest, passed away in 1849 at the age of 7 and was buried in the Woodfill family cemetery.

Next: The next Allison generation.