Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-11-18
AT A RIPE OLD AGE.

AT A RIPE OLD AGE.
In the last issue Of THE ENQUIRER,
brief mention was made of the death OF
Colonel w. B. Allison, which occurred,
suddenly, at his home at Tirzah, on Fri
day morning, 18th instant, at about II
O'Clock. The colonel had been in bad
health for sometime previous; but was
able to be up and about, and had spent
most of the previous week in Yorkville,
even up to the day before his death. He
appeared to be as we'll as usual, and his
sudden taking off was naturally great
shock to his numerous friends and ac-
ouaintances as well as his immediate
family.
William Barry Allison was a native OF
York county, and with the exception OF
five wears, has been citizen Of the coun-
ty all his life. He was son of the late
Hugh Allison, and was born near the head
waters of Bullock's creek, within about
three miles of Beersheba church, onJan-
uary o, 1916. He grew to manhood in
the neighborhood, and in 1887 went to
Selma, Ala, where he remained until
ls42, when he returned to York.
1t was just previous to his emigration
to Alabama that he commenced the study
of his professionalism of surveying-in
which he afterward became famous, espe-
cially in York and surrounding counties,
and during his career, as the records IN
the clerks office will show, he has SUR
-,
any other man who has been resident
of the county since the year 1S47. He
also assisted in the survey of the county in
1868, and has been engaged in numerous
other important undertakings in the line
of his profession. He has frequently been
called into the courthouse to testify as an
expert, and so careful and thorough was
he, that for years he has been recog-
nized authority on the subject. The law
yers and others have been accustomed to
take his statements as final.
Colonel Allison's military title was first
derived from service in the state militia /;
but subsequently they became forever
fixed by right of heroic baptism in fire
and blood. During 10 years previous to
the breaking out Of the Confederate war,
he was successively captain, adjutant,
major and colonel of the Forty-sixth
regiment of South Carolina militia, and
at the breaking out of the war was in
command of the brigade ase senior
colonel.
In November, 1861, he volunteered in
the Bethel rifles and was elected lieu
tenant of the company. On the organiza-
ton of the Eighteenth regiment at Camp
Hampton, near Columbia, on January
2, 1862, his company became part OF
that regiment as company H, and he was
elected as major of the regiment. j. M.
Gadberry was the colonel and Judge
w. H. Wallace, lieutenant-colonel. AT
the second battle Of Manassas, Colonel
Gadberry was killed, and as result.
Judge Wallace became colonel and Major
Allison lieutenant colonel. In the fall Of
1864 Colonel Wallace was made briga-
dier general, when Lieutenant Colonel
Allison became colonel of the regiment,
and was in command of it as such when
it surrendered at Appomattox. In con-
sequence of the condition of affairs exist
ing at the time he was promoted to colo
mel, he never received his commission.
Colonel Allison was engaged in all the
battles in which his regiment participated,
and served in South Carolina, Virginia,
Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia. Flor
ida, Alabama and Mississippi. He was
slightly wounded at the battles of Second
Manassas, Petersburg and Jackson, Miss
At the close of the war Colonel Allison
returned to the pursuit of his profession
and also engaged in farming. He was
elected county commissioner in 1877,
served one term, and afterward two more
terms as clerk of the board. From 1916
up to 1892 his home was on Little Allison
creek; but since the latter date he has
been living at Tirzah.
Colonel Allison was married in 1916 to
Mary S., daughter Of the late Hugh Cur
renee. They celebrated their golden we'd
ding in on the 10th of October of this year,
and Mrs. Allison survives him. Both
were among the oldest members of Alli-
son Creek church, in which Colonel Al.
lison held the office of elder from the
year 1854, up to the day of his death.
The funeral took place on last Saturday,
the service being conducted by Rev. j.
NJ. McLain, assisted by Rev. w. q. New
lille and Rev. Mr.. Jones Of Rock Hill.
The remains were inferred with Masonic
honors. A large concourse of people was
in attondance