Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-09
NOW PRESENT HIM FOR PRESlDEN'

NOW PRESENT HIM FOR PRESIDENT
Raised on II Farm He Came to
the state ana Grew Up
with 1t.
Moines Register prints long review of SEN
ator Allson's life, of which the following
is part: Senator Allison has lived in Du-
buque for nearly forty years, covering the
entire period of his active participation in
public affairs. What is still more remark
able is that all this time he has lived in
the same house. He loves Dubuque and
Dubuque loves him. One does not have to
remain in that city long to realize this. He
is part of its history, part Of Its greatness
and part Of its present prominence. During
quarter Of century it has been the real
political Mecca Of Iowa. Because of his abi-
ity, his integrity and his personality, Sem
ator Allison has been the predominating in
fuence in Iowa republican politics.
Senator Allison was twice married, but
his life has been two long bereavements.
His first wife was Anna Carter, the daugh-
ter Of Hon. Daniel Carter of Ashland O..
He brought her as a bride to his Iowa home.
where she died IN 1860. He married Mary
Nealley in 1873. AS a young congressman
from Iowa he had met her in the home of
Senator Grimes, which was the social and
political center of the Iowa delegation in
Washington. When he married her he was
serving his first term in the United States
senate. Mrs. Allison was practically an in
valid before her marriage, due, it is believed
to an attack of Roman fever abroad Every
thing that love and skill could suggest was
done for her to restore her to health and
to the place in society which was hers by
birth and by marriage. But all was in vain
Mrs. Allison never mended She died in
August, 1888 Senator Allison continued to
make his Washington home with Mrs
Grimes, who was interested in his ambi-
tions and to whom he was in turn greatly
devoted.
or Senator Allison you can write truly
that he displeases you in no respect. He
is from every point Of view man. He is
that rare combination of simplicity and
strength; Of frankness and reserve; of
gentleness and ruggedness which appeals
to the eye ard 20 the heart no less tkaB
to the intellect. He is every inch a sem
ator. He is strong of body, big of head
and warm Of heart. His welcome is an
ediction. He is one of those men whom
men admire and women love. instinct
lively. Each recognizes in him that superior
manhood which is really the greatest good
in the world. He never tells, either in his
prblic speeches or private conversation.
story or incident which he might not have
related before his own mother. He is pure
nan, without prudery.
BORN IN A LOG CABIN.
Senator Allison's father went from Penn
sylvania to Ohio, settling near Ashland That
was in 1928 He and his wife abored hard
and were happy when they could call a log
cabin, in a little clearing their own. In
this cabin the future senator was born on
tho I'd of March. 1929. The fond father and
mother little dreamed that the son who had
been born to them was destined to sit among
the great and powerful men of the nation,
and of the world. This is still miracle,
that God should work out his great plans
from humble beginnings.
The Allisons were Scotch-Irish, that is,
Scotchmen from the north of Ireland The
Boyds, from whom came the present senator's
mother, were of the same blood. They settled
in Pennsylvania in pioneer times. They
helped to make the keystone state. The
second generation rendered a similar serv-
ice to Ohio and the generation to which
Senator Allison belongs rendered the same
brave service to still another state-Iowa.
After William b. Allison was born. he
sent to the district school, a school house
in the woods at an early age, but as soon
as he was old enough to do even light
work on the farm he was compelled to work
in the fields during the summer months.
However, he made remarkable progress He
was especially apt in spelling and mathema-
tics.
The boy having made remarkable progress
and giving indications of future usefulness
in the educated walks of life, his father
sent him, at the age Of IS. to an academy
at Wooster, o. He remained in that school
during two years, after which he was sent
to Allegheny college, Meadvllle, Pa, through
the influence Of some acquaintances he had
made at Wooster. He went next to Hud-
son, o. where he attended the Western
Reserve college, remaining there likewise
only one year. That ended his schooling.
Having completed his education the young
man turned his attention to the law. He
returned to Wooster, and in the office Of
Hemphill & Turner, began to read Black
stone. He was enabled to earn at least
a part Of his expenses in Wooster by copy
ing and other clerical work, as well as by
physical work, doing with will whatever his
hands found to do. At the end OF two years
he was admitted to the bar and entered
on the practice of his profession in Ashland,
D. But law cases were neither numerous
nor great in Ashland, which was small
place. In spite Of the fact that he was poor
iHu hdu apparently sndH prospects, III me,
he married, in 1854, Anna Carter, the daugh-
ter of Hon. Daniel Carter man OF promi-
nence in that day 1t was this extra re-
sponsbility which soon thereafter turned
his thoughts westward, first to Chicago,
which was then a struggling town Of less
than $4,000 people, and then to Iowa, which
he foresaw as one Of the empire states of
The west.
ENTERED POLITICS EARLY.
As soon as he became resident OF Du-
buque he began to interest himself In Iowa
politics Mr.. Allison was a delegate TO the
state convention which nominated Mr.. Kirk
wood in 1859. In 1860 he was honored by
being sent as a delegate to the national re-
publican convention, the convention which
dominated Abraham Lincoln. He was Sc
ected to act as one OF the secretaries OF that
great gathering.
When Lincoln issued his second call for
troops. during the summer Of 1861, for 300,- |
700 men, to serve for three years or during |