The following is from an unknown newspaper

The following is from an unknown newspaper

Elisha Allison and Family

A few weeks ago, before the influenza came again to our county, one of the happiest homes and most promising families of this section, was that of Ellsah Allison. He and his wife and their four unmarried children were living on their place near Pisgah forest, while the two married daughters were nearby on the adjoining farm. The epidemic came and practically everybody in the three families came down at once. Little Franklin Jennings was the only one in the Allison home who was not sick; except for his efforts and the heroic service of Miss Mary McPhail Davis, they would have been in desperate straits indeed. At the time the whole community was struggling desperately with the epidemic, there not being enough well people to care for the sick.

Mr. Allison, himself sick, came from ministering to a sick neighbor to take to his bed. Pneumonia developed with Mr. and Mrs. Allison and the oldest daughter Mrs. Jennings. In spite of all efforts of the doctors, a professional nurse and the volunteer nurses and helpers, it was not possible to save them, and on Friday, February 27th, Mr. Allison died; on Saturday 28th Mrs. Jennings died and on Sunday 29th Mrs. Allison followed. Mr. Allison was buried on Saturday. Mrs. Jennings and Mrs. Allison were buried at the same time on Sunday. Of the family only the eldest son, Charley, and Mr. Jennings were able to be present at the funeral. They were buried in the family lot in Davidson River Cemetery.

Elisha Andrew Allison was born September 30, 1869 and died February 27, 1920. All of his busy productive life having been spent in Transylvania County.

Mrs. Allison was Miss Mary Alice Neill of the well‑known Transylvania family of that name. She was born June 11, 1872 and died February 29, 1920. Last Christmas was the twenty‑eight anniversary of her Marriage to Mr. Allison.

Mrs. Jennings was the eldest child, Minnie Leota. She was born September 26, 1894, and died 28 February 1920. She was married November 4th 1914 to G. T. Jennings.

There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Allison children of whom two died in early childhood. The five who remain are now living in the home at Pisgah Forest.

Stella is the wife of Marshall Feaster and she and her husband will make a home for the other, Charley, Robert, Mary and Lena, and a step son, Franklin. Mr. Jennings has not yet completed plans for the future of the children; since the mother's death Mrs. A. H. King has kindly cared for the little girl.

Transylvania has sustained an irraporable loss in the death at the very prime of life of three such people. Elisha Allison was a sturdy, independent, upright man; thrifty, energetic, progressive, a fine farmer, and an allround good citizen.

Mrs. Allison represented the very finest type of christian motherhood, rearing her children in motherly tenderness and love with the fear of God always before her eyes. Her children were her joy and crown; they shall prove a better monument to her than any we could rear.

Mrs. Jennings was taken from life when her work was but begun; yet what she had done gave praise of a highly useful future. She was a diligent and careful housewife, a devoted wife and mother, and a sincere Christian; her little girl is a model of sweetness and good behavior.

Very rarely does the sympathy of a whole community…….. bereaved family as the……… all has gone to the Allison……… impossible at the time to have (the) funeral services, so on Easter Sunday at the regular hour for service‑ 3:30 P. M. ‑‑ there will be a Memorial Service for all three held in the Davidson River Church of which Mrs. Allison and Mrs. Jennings were devoted members. This will provide an opportunity for all their friends to show their sympathy and respect.

To the bereaved children whose sorrow is too deep for words we would repeat the words of the.sweet old hymn:

"Not now, but in the coming year

It may be in the better land,

We'll read the meaning of our tears,

And there, sometime, we'll understand."