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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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History of Buffalo & Pepin Counties, Wisconsin - Vol. 1
pub. H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., Winona, MN - 1919

         [page 167-168]
         
         WILLIAM ALLISON, a pioneer of Maxville township, Buffalo
       county, who passed away many years ago, was born in East 
       Kilbride, Scotland, where the ALLISONS for 200 years had 
       been proprietors of an agricultural estate known as Mure 
       Head Farm. He was married in Glasgow to MARY CROCKETT, and 
       in 1848, a young couple, they took passage on a sailing 
       vessel for Canada, landing at Quebec. There MR. ALLISON
       found work at the carpenter's trade,  at which he had 
       served an apprenticeship in Scotland. He also worked in 
       Toronto one year, and a year in Rochester, N.Y. In 1851 
       MR. ALLISON came to Wisconsin, locating in Vernon township, 
       Waukesha county, where he and his family lived until 1855. 
       In the winter of 1854-55, however, he had come to Buffalo 
       county to look over the ground, and had bought 120 acres 
       of land in section 15, Maxville township, the snow at that 
       time being six inches deep on the ground. In June, 1855, 
       MR. ALLISON brought his family to this tract, driving with 
       an ox team and bringing two cows with him. There were then 
       three children in the family, WILLIAM, JOHN and ANDREW. The 
       land was all wild and there was not a building in the valley 
       of Spring Creek. MR. ALLISON erected a log set of buildings 
       about ten or fifteen rods west of where the present house 
       stands. The shooks for shingles he made himself. His market 
       was Reeds Landing, to which he went by boat. The first win-
       ter was one of privation, as all he and his family had to 
       eat was buckwheat. The traveling in winter with an ox team 
       was hard, and he had many unpleasant experiences in times 
       of deep snow. In time WILLIAM ALLISON increased the size 
       of his farm to 700 acres. He introduced Shorthorn cattle 
       into the county, owning the first thoroughbred Shorthorns 
       in this vicinity. He also kept a large flock of sheep, his 
       wife carding and spinning the wool, making underclothes, 
       blankets, stockings and caps for the family. He also raised 
       good hogs and horses, having one of the best stock farms in 
       this part of the county. Aside from these personal interests 
       he took part in more public affairs, being chairman of the 
       township board for eight years, and constantly a member of 
       the school board of his district. Any practical scheme for 
       the betterment or advantage of the community met with his 
       approval and aid. His useful activity in public matters was 
       so appreciated that he was elected, as a Republican, to 
       represent his district in the State Assembly, serving in 
       1880. MR. ALLISON was one of the organizers and first vice 
       president of the Pepin County Fair and also took an active 
       part in promoting the Buffalo County Fair. Religiously he 
       belonged to the Scotch Presbyterian church. He died in 1882 
       at the age of 54 years, and was buried in the Maxville ceme-
       tery, which he had helped to plat. His wife died at the age 
       of 68 in 1891. Their children were: WILLIAM; JOHN C., of 
       Santa Anna, Calif.; JAMES, who now owns the home farm; ANDREW 
       B., of Brookins, S. D.; ROBERT, who died at the age of 18 
       years; ELLEN, who married JOHN PHILLIPS and is now deceased; 
       and ALEXANDER J., who resides in Anoka, Minn. WILLIAM ALLISON 
       in early days erected many buildings in Spring Creek Valley 
       and Maxville Prairie, including schoolhouses.
       
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