James P Allison, a resident of State Center more than three quarters of a century and a prominent figure in civic, church and community circles for many years, passed away at his home here last Saturday, June 7, while taking a nap. He had been confined to his home since February of 1945 when he suffered a heart attack. Prior to that time, he had been afflicted with a heart ailment for more than 30 years.
James Parkhurst Allison, only son of James and Sophia Allison was born near Aurora, Illinois, on June 29, 1869. He came to State Center with his parents in 1871. His father was a lawyer, who became one of the outstanding attorneys in Iowa in early days.
"Jimmie" as he was familiarly known to his many friends and associates in this community and Central Iowa, graduated from the State Center High School with the class of 1887, the third class to graduate here. He then attended Iowa College at Grinnell, receiving his degree from that institution in 1895.
While at Grinnell, he was a member of the famous Iowa College quartet and was one of the organizers as well as an outstanding player on the college's first rugby or football team. He played on the team which defeated the University of Iowa 24 to 0 in the first game of rugby played west of the Mississippi.
Following his graduation from Iowa College at Grinnell, he read law during the winter in the office of a friend in Chicago, following which he was admitted to the Illinois bar.
He latter attended the Harvard Law School. At the end of the three years there, he was called home by the serious illness of his father. While at Harvard, he became a leader in musical circles and sang first tenor at St Paul's Episcopal church at Cambridge. At one time he had the leading role in "Lohengrin", with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Before leaving Harvard, he was offered the position of soloist with the founder's church of a large denomination at Boston and also had many opportunities to appear on the stage singing light opera.
He was married to May Sherman at Independence, Iowa on June 27, 1900. They have lived in State Center ever since.
For many years, Mr Allison served as justice of the peace for State Center township and later served as mayor of the town of State Center from May 1, 1901 to the end of that current term, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of A C McReynolds.
He was a long time member of the First Presbyterian Church of State Center, having served on both the Board of Elders and Board of Trustees for many years. He sang and directed the choir for more than fifty years and in 1940 he received congregational recognition for this service. He was also a teacher in the Sunday School of this church for many years.
He was also a member of Terrestrial Lodge No. 276, A.F. and A.M. Always interested in music, Mr Allison produced the opera, "Pinafore" in State Center during early Chautauqua days.
Mr Allison is survived by his wife and three sons, James Sherman Allison. an engineer in government service at Long Beach, Calif., Dr Monroe Parkhurst Allison of Northwood and Dr Archibald Frederick Allison of Marshalltown and four grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at the First Presbyterian church in State Center Wednesday with the Rev E R Mitchell officiating. A short prayer service was held at the Brimhall West Funeral Home preceding the church service. Interment was in Hillside cemetery.
June 12, 1947 State Center Enterprise.
James Parkhurst Allison, only son of James and Sophia Allison was born near Aurora, Illinois, on June 29, 1869. He came to State Center with his parents in 1871. His father was a lawyer, who became one of the outstanding attorneys in Iowa in early days.
"Jimmie" as he was familiarly known to his many friends and associates in this community and Central Iowa, graduated from the State Center High School with the class of 1887, the third class to graduate here. He then attended Iowa College at Grinnell, receiving his degree from that institution in 1895.
While at Grinnell, he was a member of the famous Iowa College quartet and was one of the organizers as well as an outstanding player on the college's first rugby or football team. He played on the team which defeated the University of Iowa 24 to 0 in the first game of rugby played west of the Mississippi.
Following his graduation from Iowa College at Grinnell, he read law during the winter in the office of a friend in Chicago, following which he was admitted to the Illinois bar.
He latter attended the Harvard Law School. At the end of the three years there, he was called home by the serious illness of his father. While at Harvard, he became a leader in musical circles and sang first tenor at St Paul's Episcopal church at Cambridge. At one time he had the leading role in "Lohengrin", with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Before leaving Harvard, he was offered the position of soloist with the founder's church of a large denomination at Boston and also had many opportunities to appear on the stage singing light opera.
He was married to May Sherman at Independence, Iowa on June 27, 1900. They have lived in State Center ever since.
For many years, Mr Allison served as justice of the peace for State Center township and later served as mayor of the town of State Center from May 1, 1901 to the end of that current term, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of A C McReynolds.
He was a long time member of the First Presbyterian Church of State Center, having served on both the Board of Elders and Board of Trustees for many years. He sang and directed the choir for more than fifty years and in 1940 he received congregational recognition for this service. He was also a teacher in the Sunday School of this church for many years.
He was also a member of Terrestrial Lodge No. 276, A.F. and A.M. Always interested in music, Mr Allison produced the opera, "Pinafore" in State Center during early Chautauqua days.
Mr Allison is survived by his wife and three sons, James Sherman Allison. an engineer in government service at Long Beach, Calif., Dr Monroe Parkhurst Allison of Northwood and Dr Archibald Frederick Allison of Marshalltown and four grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at the First Presbyterian church in State Center Wednesday with the Rev E R Mitchell officiating. A short prayer service was held at the Brimhall West Funeral Home preceding the church service. Interment was in Hillside cemetery.
June 12, 1947 State Center Enterprise.
James P Allison, a resident of State Center more than three quarters of a century and a prominent figure in civic, church and community circles for many years, passed away at his home here last Saturday, June 7, while taking a nap. He had been confined to his home since February of 1945 when he suffered a heart attack. Prior to that time, he had been afflicted with a heart ailment for more than 30 years.
James Parkhurst Allison, only son of James and Sophia Allison was born near Aurora, Illinois, on June 29, 1869. He came to State Center with his parents in 1871. His father was a lawyer, who became one of the outstanding attorneys in Iowa in early days.
"Jimmie" as he was familiarly known to his many friends and associates in this community and Central Iowa, graduated from the State Center High School with the class of 1887, the third class to graduate here. He then attended Iowa College at Grinnell, receiving his degree from that institution in 1895.
While at Grinnell, he was a member of the famous Iowa College quartet and was one of the organizers as well as an outstanding player on the college's first rugby or football team. He played on the team which defeated the University of Iowa 24 to 0 in the first game of rugby played west of the Mississippi.
Following his graduation from Iowa College at Grinnell, he read law during the winter in the office of a friend in Chicago, following which he was admitted to the Illinois bar.
He latter attended the Harvard Law School. At the end of the three years there, he was called home by the serious illness of his father. While at Harvard, he became a leader in musical circles and sang first tenor at St Paul's Episcopal church at Cambridge. At one time he had the leading role in "Lohengrin", with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Before leaving Harvard, he was offered the position of soloist with the founder's church of a large denomination at Boston and also had many opportunities to appear on the stage singing light opera.
He was married to May Sherman at Independence, Iowa on June 27, 1900. They have lived in State Center ever since.
For many years, Mr Allison served as justice of the peace for State Center township and later served as mayor of the town of State Center from May 1, 1901 to the end of that current term, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of A C McReynolds.
He was a long time member of the First Presbyterian Church of State Center, having served on both the Board of Elders and Board of Trustees for many years. He sang and directed the choir for more than fifty years and in 1940 he received congregational recognition for this service. He was also a teacher in the Sunday School of this church for many years.
He was also a member of Terrestrial Lodge No. 276, A.F. and A.M. Always interested in music, Mr Allison produced the opera, "Pinafore" in State Center during early Chautauqua days.
Mr Allison is survived by his wife and three sons, James Sherman Allison. an engineer in government service at Long Beach, Calif., Dr Monroe Parkhurst Allison of Northwood and Dr Archibald Frederick Allison of Marshalltown and four grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at the First Presbyterian church in State Center Wednesday with the Rev E R Mitchell officiating. A short prayer service was held at the Brimhall West Funeral Home preceding the church service. Interment was in Hillside cemetery.
June 12, 1947 State Center Enterprise.
James Parkhurst Allison, only son of James and Sophia Allison was born near Aurora, Illinois, on June 29, 1869. He came to State Center with his parents in 1871. His father was a lawyer, who became one of the outstanding attorneys in Iowa in early days.
"Jimmie" as he was familiarly known to his many friends and associates in this community and Central Iowa, graduated from the State Center High School with the class of 1887, the third class to graduate here. He then attended Iowa College at Grinnell, receiving his degree from that institution in 1895.
While at Grinnell, he was a member of the famous Iowa College quartet and was one of the organizers as well as an outstanding player on the college's first rugby or football team. He played on the team which defeated the University of Iowa 24 to 0 in the first game of rugby played west of the Mississippi.
Following his graduation from Iowa College at Grinnell, he read law during the winter in the office of a friend in Chicago, following which he was admitted to the Illinois bar.
He latter attended the Harvard Law School. At the end of the three years there, he was called home by the serious illness of his father. While at Harvard, he became a leader in musical circles and sang first tenor at St Paul's Episcopal church at Cambridge. At one time he had the leading role in "Lohengrin", with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Before leaving Harvard, he was offered the position of soloist with the founder's church of a large denomination at Boston and also had many opportunities to appear on the stage singing light opera.
He was married to May Sherman at Independence, Iowa on June 27, 1900. They have lived in State Center ever since.
For many years, Mr Allison served as justice of the peace for State Center township and later served as mayor of the town of State Center from May 1, 1901 to the end of that current term, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of A C McReynolds.
He was a long time member of the First Presbyterian Church of State Center, having served on both the Board of Elders and Board of Trustees for many years. He sang and directed the choir for more than fifty years and in 1940 he received congregational recognition for this service. He was also a teacher in the Sunday School of this church for many years.
He was also a member of Terrestrial Lodge No. 276, A.F. and A.M. Always interested in music, Mr Allison produced the opera, "Pinafore" in State Center during early Chautauqua days.
Mr Allison is survived by his wife and three sons, James Sherman Allison. an engineer in government service at Long Beach, Calif., Dr Monroe Parkhurst Allison of Northwood and Dr Archibald Frederick Allison of Marshalltown and four grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at the First Presbyterian church in State Center Wednesday with the Rev E R Mitchell officiating. A short prayer service was held at the Brimhall West Funeral Home preceding the church service. Interment was in Hillside cemetery.
June 12, 1947 State Center Enterprise.
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