Allison, Kansas
Failure of railroad to materialize doomed Allison

Oberlin Herald
Aug. 14, 1919

The beginning and the end of the Allison post office. The Allison post office was established in 1878. In 1880 Chancy D. Wheelock was appointed postmaster; the name of the office up until that time was known as Toiyobe, C. D. Wheelock had the name changed to Allison, and during Clevelandï¿½s administration J. F. Leonard, a resident of Dresden now, held the office. When the Rock Island came to Jennings, all of Allison moved to Dresden and Jennings except the post office and it came back to C. D. Wheelock. He held it until his death in 1893 and his son, Geo. M. Wheelock, took charge of the store, was appointed post master and held until the store was sold to W. E. Wilson, a resident of Oberlin, Kan., now. It was handed down by Wilson to W. S. Miller and they passed it back to Geo. H. Wheelock. He held it until his death, 1906. Mrs. Wheelock-Price sold the store and post office to Wilbur Hughes. He was postmaster until Wilbur sold out to J. E. Goodson and he has given it back to Uncle Sam as a relic of western Kansas.

Allison Postmasters

Benjamin Decker             Feb. 11, 1879
John S. Crawford            June 6, 1879
Chauncy D. Wheelock     May 4, 1880
James F. Leonard            Nov. 12, 1885
James M. Hill                  April 19, 1889
John A. Shearer               Dec. 26, 1889
Chauncy D. Wheelock     Dec. 12, 1891
George H. Wheelock       Jan 17, 1895
William E. Wilson             Aug. 22, 1900
Sarah E. Wilson                Nov 22, 1904
Washburn S. Miller           July 28, 1905
George H. Wheelock        Oct. 26, 1906
Henry S. Kirkham             Feb. 4, 1907
Wilbur M. Hughes             April 22, 1907
John E. Goodson               Nov. 20, 1916

Plat Map of Allison

Article taken from the Allison Breeze dated Friday, December 2, 1887.

Article was taken from Allison Times dated Friday, June 1, 1888.

Allison Mercantile Store (Story and Pictures)

News Articles about Allison taken from different newspaper in 1887

Allison Christian Church

Misc. Pictures

Brick Factory and Flour Mill

In 1885, John J. Cass hired Dave Goodrich to make some bricks from a brick kiln on his farm. The brick factory and also a flourmill were operated by a waterwheel from a dam on the Solomon River

The old millstone quarried in Sweden and shipped to American to grind Kansas wheat is still visible near the Solomon River at Allison.

Today in the river buried in the sand is a steam engine that was used for power.

Allison's Obituary
Taken from the Jennings Times
March 15, 1889

It falls to our lot again to write the obituary of a dear old friend. This is a sad duty to perform under any and all circumstances, but doubly so I this instance. The deceased had been suffering some time with a server attack of biliousness, some 12 months ago. Dr. Farrow was called in and administered a heavy dose of egotism, and there has been different remedies administered from time to time since. But the patient has gradually grown worse until the last breath finally left poor old Allison a corpse. N. A. Knowlton (undertaker) left this place with his hearse, and quite a funeral procession last Tuesdayï¿½to tear away the remains. Among the mourners we might extend sympathy to E. McKenna, C. D. Wheelock and Samuel Smith. Moses T. Bradbury has been selected to preach the funeral sermon.

Allison Mercantile Store

George and Artie (Cooper) Wheelock operated the Allison store and post office and built a house across the road south as a hotel or boarding house for the railroad crew. W. E. Wilson bought the store of general merchandise in 1901 and their daughter, Sarah Ellen, operated the post office until her marriage to John F. MeKeena. Other owners of the store were Wilbur M. Hughes, Elmer and Emma Goodson, Miller, Calhoun and later Charlie Frazey and P. W. Randolph. In 1921 Randolph bought out Frazey and operated the store with his sons, Chester and Louis Randolph. In 1954 the old rock and wood store was torn down when Highway #9 went through Allison and a new brick store was built west of the old one by the Randolphs. Chester Randolph was the last operator of the store and gas station which closed in 1965.

This picture taken about 1900.

The store was added onto in 1919 and then again a little later to provide living quarters for the proprietors. This picture taken about 1925.

In 1954 a brick building was built and remained a business until 1965. It has stood empty since.

This model of the Allison Mercantile Store was made by Clarence Perrin who lived in Allison and spent many days inside the store. The model was donated by Clarence to the
Decatur County Last Indian Raid Museum where it is on display.

Allison Christian Church

At an early date, religious services began in the Allison area when the Rev. Wilkenson, preached and baptized at a point along the Solomon River east of Allison. A deacon at the time was Elijah Chenoweth.

Later T. J. Jackson led a group, preached and baptized at the Glen Valley schoolhouse. For a time services were held once a month at the J. W. Scott farm, at which time people brought basket dinners and stayed for two services which were conducted by the Rev. Barton Stone Mulkey. Scott provided the seats and the speakers’ platform.

Through the influence of this minister grew the need for a church building, which was planned and financed by J. W. Scott and C. W. Johnson. The building was erected in 1908-1909 and was dedicated by the Rev. Charles E. Early. At this time the Re. M. J. Hibbs of Hill City was called as pastor and was serving the church when it burned in September of 1910.

With the insurance and donations plans were made for a new building, which was completed and dedicated in April of 1911. In winter of 1926-1927 the basement was added giving extra Sunday School room as well as a kitchen. Then on October 17, 1951 the church building burned and a new one was started up the hill from the old one in March of 1952.

The church building burned October 17, 1951 and a new one was started up the hill from the old one in March of 1952. First services were held in December 1952, but dedication was not held until October 22, 1953.

Sunday School services were discontinued in 1972 and all contents of the building were sold at public auction in the late 1970's.

Pictures

Do you have any to share?? You can email them to the County Coordinator

Left to right: Back Row; Floyd Price, Fay Brock front row; John McDermott, Clarence Copeland, Alex McDermott.

Allison School

Wheelock Homes