James Allison Jr. (father of
John Allison) was born near
Elkton, Maryland. He moved with his parents to
Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1774. At seventeen years of age, he enrolled in the school of David Johnson of
Beaver, Pennsylvania. He saw service in the Indian warfare at
Yellow Creek. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1796, and commenced practice in Washington, Pennsylvania. He returned to Beaver in 1803 and continued the practice of law until 1822, when he was elected to Congress. He served as prosecuting attorney of
Beaver County, Pennsylvania, from 1803 to 1809. == Congress ==