Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Allison, James December 22, 1801 - July 4, 1881
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Marta Burns marta43@juno.com August 26, 2024, 7:55 am

Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, pg 579
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

JAMES ALLISON without whose biography the history of 
Menallen township, and particularly of the village of 
Searight's, would be incomplete, was born near Laurel Hill, 
Fayette county, Penna, December 22, 1801.  His parents lived 
and died in that neighborhood, and their remains were buried 
in the Laurel Hill graveyard.  

    In early life James Allison moved from the locality of 
Laurel Hill and settled on Redstone Creek, Fayette county, 
Penna, and learned to be a fuller of cloth under William 
Searight, in whose family he ever afterwards made his home.  
When William Searight bought the homestead on which is the 
village of Searight's, James Allison moved with him to it, 
where he lived and died.  He was born to no other 
inheritance than that of a noble character and a good name, 
and was in early life thrown upon these his only resources. 
 

    He held the responsible office of commissioner of the 
county from 1837 to 1840, and as was the case in all his 
business transactions, acquitted himself creditably and 
honorably.  He also held the office of justice of the peace 
for may years, and was postmaster at the village of 
Searight's from the time of the establishment of the office 
in 1845 until within a very short time of his death, having 
filled the longest continuous term of office of any 
postmaster in the State, and perhaps in the United States.  
So long and so very attentively did he occupy this position 
that he became a part of the town thought to be entirely 
indispensable.  

    He was a conscientious and consistent member of the 
Episcopal church, and was for many years senior warden of 
Grace church, Menallen.  He was married early in life, and 
his wife died shortly after their marriage.  He had no 
family.

    The life of James Allison is well worthy of imitation.  
It was straightforward, unfaltering, unchequered, and 
uneventful.  His habits were extremely plain, simple, 
sensible, sober, temperate, and industrious.  His manner was 
free, open, friendly, frank and courteous. His character was 
a perfect lighthouse of honesty, truthfulness, and 
uprightness.  So highly was he esteemed for these qualities, 
it became a common saying in the surrounding community of 
which he was a part that "If Jimmy Allison says it is so, it 
must be so;" or "If Jimmy Allison did so, it must be right." 
These saying still reverently linger in the memories of his 
old neighbors.

    He died suddenly on July 4, 1881, of a conjestive spasm 
to which he was subject.  His remains were interred in Grace 
church burial ground on July 5, 1881.  The Rev R S Smith, 
rector of St.  Peter's church, Uniontown, and Grace church, 
Menallen, officiated at his funeral, and in the course of 
his remarks said that the had known James Allison intimately 
for twenty years, and for that period had been his personal 
friend, and he knew of nothing in his life and character 
that he would have blotted from the book of remembrance.  
Notwithstanding it was mid-harvest, and the weather was 
extremely hot, Grace church was crowded by neighbors and 
friends to witness the funeral rites of James Allison, an 
honest man, "God's noblest work."

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

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