Photo by NashvilleKit
In 1827, Col. William Allison (1810-1834) and Louisa Perkins Allison (1811-1831) built Mount View on a hill on old Highway 31 in College Grove (current address 8931 Horton Hwy). They wed in 1826. It is a 2 story brick house in Federal style. Sadly, both parents died at young ages. William inherited land from his father to establish his homestead. After William died, his oldest son, William Allison Jr. passed away very early in life.
The other sons were raised by their grandmother, Nancy Ogilvie Allison, and then as young adults had an uncle, Thomas F. Perkins, as guardian. One son, Samuel Perkins Allison (1827-1858), got an education and practiced law in Nashville. In 1854, another son, Maj. Thomas “Tom” Fearns Perkins Allison (1831-1913) married Jane C. Marshall, and the family lived in Tunica, MS where they owned a large cotton plantation. Jane died in the late 1850s and Thomas returned to Tennessee. He met and married Clara McNeal Bills Allison (1838-1923) in 1865.
Thomas bought out his brother’s share in Mount View after the Civil War in 1867 and renamed it Allison Heights because of its position on a bluff. At that point, Allison Heights was an 850 acre plantation. Allison served in the Tennessee Legislature 1871-73. He served as Commissioner of Agriculture 1893-97. After Tom died, Clara sold Allison Heights to Robert P. Thurman in 1913.
About 1965, James Mark Morel (1912-1994) and Margaret Sutherland Morel (1920-1988) owned the farm and it was called Beechwood Farm. They operated a dairy farm. Their son, James M. Morel, Jr. 1942-2021) and his wife, Patricia (Pat) Weisiger Morel (?-2021) inherited the property, and in 2022, his son James "Jay" M. Morel III and his wife Jackie were owners. Morel Jr. also owned a local food company, Harpeth Vending. The current address is off Horton Highway. The family is remembered through the community name of Allisonia (just south) and the main road Arno-Allisonia Rd. NRHP 1988
[The Morel’s son & family, Felix, Katie and son, are wonderful friends of my family and family friend Rick Barksdale is married to Felix's sister, Edie.]
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