The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-15
He May BE Our
Next President.
Sketch of the Career of Senator
William B. Allison, of Iowa

tion, was another representative Of the
family.
At school In the Woods.
William b. Allison grew up like other
country boys. He was sent to the dis
trict schoolhouse 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 i'm the
fields during the summer months. How
ever, he made remarkable progress. He
was especially apt in spelling and
mathematics. During a recent visit to
his home in Dubuque Senator Allison
showed the writer a precious relic of
his school days, writing book contain
ing $50 pages. filed with solutions to
problems in the Western Calculator"
the great text book of pioneer days in
Ohio and other central states.
Young Allison was fortunate In hav-
ing q good teacher--David Kimberly
who afterward became a bishop in the
Methodist church. This teacher early
detected the latent power in his favor
lite pupil and did everything to encour-
age both the boy and the boys father
In regard to his schooling. Kimberly
boarded around" as was customary
with school masters in those days. but
he managed to spend most of his Sun
days at the Allison home TO the in
fuence of this thoughtful. earnest and
pious man the future senator owes
much.
Allison in College Life.
The boy. having made remarkable
progress and giving Indications Of fu-
ture usefulness. his father sent him, at
the age Of l6, to an academy at Wooster,
o. He remained in that school two
years. after which he was sent 10 Alle-
srl,a
the influence of some acquaintaaces he
had made at Wooster. While at Alle-
gheny young Allison and Cyrus X. Hol-
liday, still living at Topeka, Kan. kept
their own house and cooked their own
meals and their years schooling In con-
sequence cost them but little. Allison
remained in the Meadville school one
year. Then he taught school for one
winter, an experience which proved to
be very helpful to him. He went next
to Hudson. o.. where he attended the
Western Reserve college, remaining
there likewise one year. That ended
his schooling.
Having completed his education, the
young man turned his attention to the
law. His father had filled the office of
country squire, hearing and deciding
small cases. At these hearings the
boy had often been an interested listen
err These experiences led him to think
of the law as profession. He returned
to Wooster and in the Office OF Hemp
hill e. Turner began to read Black
stone. At the end Of two years he was
admitted to the bar and entered on the
practice of his profession at Ashland,
Ohio. ~'f
Accident Took Him TO Dubuque.
But law cases were neither numerous
nor great in Ashland, which was
small place. In 1854 In spite of the fact
that he was poor and had apparently
small prospects in llfe ne married Miss
Anna Carter, the daughter of Daniel
Carter, u man of prominence in that
day. 1t was this extra responsibility
which soon thereafter turned his
thoughts westward. first to Chicago.
which was then a struggling town OF
less than $1,000 people, and then to Iowa.
which he foreSaw as one of the empires
Of the west
ut was largely accidental" he said
recently OF his coming to Iowa. but
like to think that there is Providence
even in accidents" His brother had
preceded him to Dubuque, a city which
was then the terminus of the Illinois
Central railway. and In consequence
the distributing point for large land
and water traffic. The traffic of st.
the northwest was by way of Dubuque.
These, added to the mining interests
of the city, made it the most conspicu-
Gus among the cities Of Iowa, and like
wise the most promising.
1t was In this way that the family
which had been represented in the max
ing of Pennsylvania and in the making
Of Ohio was to be represented In the
making Of still another state, one more
in the westward succession of states.
whose foundations were laid In the
sacrifices of the best men and women
In the nation, and whose superstruc-
lures has since stood as a bulwark for
the union and for safe, economic and
patriotic government
Allison Was Twice Married.
Senator Allison was twice married.
but his life has Been two long bereave-
ments. His first wife was Anna Carter.
He brought her as a bride to his Iowa
home, where she died in 1860. He mar
ried 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 GEN.
ter of the Iowa delegation in Washing
ton. When he married her he was
States senate. She had been carefully
reared and finely educated. both at
home and abroad.
Mrs. Allison was practically an in
valid before her marriage. due, it is be-
lieved. to an attack of Roman fever
abroad. Everything that love and skill
could suggest was done for her, to re-
store her to health, but in -ain. In
1881, when Senator Allison was offered
a seat in Garfield's cabinet, a seat next
the lamented Blaine's. he declined 1t.
ti..tn ntA has
senate. There was an masquerade
ayrrAssaH IL