BIO: Edward James ALLISON, Beaver County, PA
    
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    BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.  This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches 
    of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.  Buffalo, N.Y., 
    Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 75-80.
    _________________________________________________________________ 
    
    EDWARD JAMES ALLISON, whose portrait is shown on the preceding page, is
  cashier of the First National Bank of Beaver, Beaver county, Pa., and is one
  of the most enterprising and highly esteemed citizens of the county He has
  distinguished himself in business circles as a shrewd, practical and
  conservative man, whose judgment has not failed him in critical moments. His
  record has been honorable,
    
    78  BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
    
  and his integrity is unquestioned. He has ever been quick to see the main
  chance in business, and has accumulated a handsome competency by the most
  open methods. Mr. Allison, who is a descendant of one of Beaver county's most
  noted men, was born at Bridgewater, in February, 1852, and is a son of Thomas
  and Emily (Logan) Allison, and grandson of Hon. James Allison.
    
    Hon. James Allison, attorney-at-law, of Beaver, was born in Virginia or
  Maryland, where his father, James Allison Sr., owned a very large plantation
  and numerous slaves. Hon. James Allison chose the profession of a lawyer, and
  was educated at a law school at Washington, D. C. About 1794, he located in
  Beaver, Pa., and engaged in the practice of his profession. As there were few
  lawyers there at that early date, he had more business at times than he could
  attend to; he was considered one of the ablest lawyers of his day, making a
  specialty of clearing up land titles. After he succeeded in establishing a
  large and well-paying practice, he was twice elected to Congress, but
  resigned during his second term, to resume his practice, which was far more
  remunerative. He accumulated a handsome competency, and was esteemed by all
  who knew him. He lived to the good old age of eighty-three years, and his
  companion departed from his side in her sixty-seventh year. His wife, who was
  a Miss Bradford, bore her husband the following children: John; Samuel;
  William; James; Thomas; Sarah; Margaret; Juliette; and two who died in early
  childhood.	

    Thomas Allison, the father of Edward James, was a pupil in Beaver Academy,
  and early in life began a mercantile career at Bridgewater, conducting a
  store for a period of twenty-two years, at the same stand now occupied by R.
  S. Ranger. Mr. Allison subsequently removed his business to Beaver, where he
  was similarly engaged for fourteen years, on the corner of Third street and
  College avenue. In 1892, Mr. Allison retired from business pursuits, and one
  year later his death occurred, at the age of seventy-six years. He was united
  in marriage with Emily Logan, a daughter of Joshua and Sabina (Swift) Logan,
  respected citizens of Beaver county. The maternal grandmother of Mr. Allison,
  Sabina Swift, was a granddaughter of Lucy Eliot, a lineal descendant of Rev.
  John Eliot, "the apostle to the Indians." In 1646, the legislature of
  Massachusetts passed an act for the propagation of the gospel among the
  Indians, and in the same year John Eliot began his labors at Nonantum, of
  forming churches and translating the Bible and other Christian books. The
  beloved mother of the subject of this record is still living, and resides at
  Beaver.
    
    Edward James Allison was the only child of his parents, and received his
  finishing education at Beaver Academy. He began his career by working in his
  father's store, where he continued until he was appointed teller of the First
  National Bank of Rochester, Pennsylvania. This position he occupied for five
  years, resigning to become cashier of the First National Bank of Beaver, Pa.,
  his present
    
    BEAVER COUNTY  79
    
  responsible position.
    
    The First National Bank was established March 31, 1888, with a capital of
  $50,000, Edward B. Daugherty being president, Hon. John M. Buchanan,
  vice-president, and Edward J. Allison, cashier. At the death of E. B..
  Daugherty, in 1897, Hon. J. M. Buchanan became president, and Dr. J. H.
  Wilson, vice-president. The bank is located in the Anderson block, and is one
  of the handsomest and best ordered business places in Beaver Valley. The
  building is centrally located, and its rooms are well lighted by one of the
  finest plate glass fronts in the county. Its interior is newly decorated, and
  its construction and arrangement are thoroughly adapted for the purpose for
  which it was intended. It contains a beautiful office, finely decorated, and
  private offices for the president and directors. It is heated throughout with
  steam, and contains one of the best vaults of modern date, with time-lock,
  etc. The bank is considered not only proof against fire and burglars, but is
  conducted on safe lines. In evidence of the careful and conservative
  management of its business, is the fact that within the ten years since it
  was chartered, it has placed to the credit of the surplus account the sum of
  $50,000, or an amount equal to its capital, and has paid dividends at the
  rate of six per cent., since April 1, 1888. The average deposits are
  $225,000; the average loans are $265,000. This bank has recently placed in
  its building one of the largest and best constructed safety vaults, with
  deposit boxes, in Western Pennsylvania. It is not necessary to say that the
  First National Bank embraces in its management and directorship some of the
  best and most substantial citizens of Beaver Valley, that it is considered
  one of the finest banking houses in Western Pennsylvania. Its present
  officials are: John M. Buchanan, president; Jefferson H. Wilson,
  vice-president; Edward J. Allison, cashier, and Robert F. Patterson, teller.
  Its board of directors are: John M. Buchanan, Jefferson H. Wilson, Alfred S.
  Moore, David A. Nelson, Alfred C. Hurst, Samuel Moody, John I. Martin, John
  T. Taylor, and Joseph L. Holmes.
    
    Edward James Allison, whose name heads this biography, was united in
  marriage with Margaret McGaughey, a daughter of the late Rev. Alexander
  McGaughey, who during life was a much beloved pastor of Salem, Pennsylvania.
  Mr. and Mrs. Allison have a handsome modern residence on Beaver street, built
  in 1889. This home is rendered much happier by the presence of two little sons
  and one daughter, whose names are as follows: Dwight M., born in February,
  1891; Margaret M., born September 12, 1895; and James, born September 11,
  1898. Mr. Allison also owns considerable other valuable real-estate in
  Beaver. Like his honored ancestors, he is a Republican in politics. He
  worships in the Presbyterian church, of which he is a member and a trustee.
  He has held minor offices in the borough and takes a lively interest in the
  promotion and progress of Beaver. He is a gentleman with a wide range of
  experience in the financial field, where he is an important factor, and his
  thoroughness and methodical
    
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  ways stand him in good stead. The subject of this biography is a member of
  the Masonic fraternity of high standing, and easily ranks as one of the best
  citizens of Beaver county.