"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884"
CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR.  CHICAGO:  F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS.  1884.
F. A. BATTEY.  F. W. TEPPLE

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 825



BENJAMIN E. ALLISON, farmer, a native of Owen County, was born in Spencer,
August 5, 1837. His parents, Noah and Mary T (Boswell) Allison, natives
of Maryland and Kentucky respectively, came to Indiana in 1817, and located
in Monroe County, where they lived on a farm for a few years, afterward
engaging in the general merchandise business in Martinsville; thence in
a short time removing to Spencer, Owen County, where in 1878, the father
died, the mother having been dead many years. Benjamin is next to the
youngest in a family of thirteen children, and being reared in Spencer
he received a good education in the town schools.
In 1856, he began farming for himself. He was Road Supervisor for several
years in Washington township, has been School Director for fifteen years
and is present filling his second term of office as Township Assessor.
In 1858, he was married to Mary J. Browning, daughter of David Browning,
ex-clerk of Monroe County. By this union there were three children--
Harriet C (deceased), Mary J and David B. His wife died in 1868, and in
1872 he married Helen C. Vanmeter of Franklin County, IN. They have two 
children--George E and Lawrence. Mr Allison is a member of the K. of H.,
of the K. and L. of H., and assisted in organizing the Grand Lodge of
Indiana. He is a member of the Methodist Church and is farming 359 acres
of the best land in Owen County.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings