Boston Public Library - Electric Scotland

MICHAEL S. ALLISON, OF JERSEY CITY, N. J. 273
five years of age his parents removed to Haverstraw. Rockland
county, N. Y., where he received a good academic edu-
cation, and learned the trade of ship carpentry with his father.
He worked at his trade as a journeyman in Brooklyn, N. Y.,
for several years. Then he leased a ship-yard in Hoboken,
N. J., and removed his family to that city. Here he did a
very large business, repairing vessels and building new ones,
chiefly three-masted schooners, for the Virginia trade, stanch
sea-going vessels with very fast sailing qualities, and steamboats,
all of which were remarkable for their speed, notably
the steamboats J. W. Baldwin and Mary Powell. From
Hoboken he moved w^ith his family to 178 Pacific avenue,
Lafayette, now a part of Jersey City, N. J. This dwelling
and grounds he purchased, audit became his permanent home.
He also became the owner of an extensive ship-yard at Jersey
City, where he continued the business during the remainder
of his life.
Love and veneration for his mother and her memory were
distinguishing traits in his character. He inherited from his
father a sound, vigorous constitution. He was about five
feet and nine inches in height, thick set, with a powerful
frame, very muscular he had double teeth all around in ;
both
jaws ; brown hair, becoming partly bald on the top of his
head, and blue eyes. From his mother he derived deep reverence
for God and his revealed truth. Early in life he
became identified with religious work as a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, of which he continued a useful
and honored member, holding the office of steward or trustee
during life. He contributed largely of his means to church
and benevolent causes. His hospitable home was always
open to the ministers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and
was the headquarters of its bishops when their duties called
them in that vicinity. He was a member of the order of Odd
Fellows and of the Masonic fraternity, and a director in several
banking and other institutions. He died at his home
in Jersey City on May 22, 1881. On May 24 impressive
funeral services were held at the residence, thirty clergymen
being present, besides the relatives and friends in that vicinity.
Rev. Mr. Lowrie, a former pastor, referred to him as a model
man in every phase of life. Other clergymen followed in the
same strain, some of whom, having been very near to him in
religious and social life, spoke with great tenderness, even with
tears. The following day his remains were conveyed to Haverstraw
on the steamboat John Sylvester, which he had built and
always owned in part. Accompanying the remains were del-
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