John Philip Allison was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on January 25, 1896. He was the son of William Mosby Allison and Anna E. (Mayes) Allison. Baptized at the age of eight by W. M. Allison (presumably his father), he united with the United Brethren Church by letter in May 1924. He was licensed to preach on October 3, 1924, in Concordia, Kansas, by Bishop C. J. Kephart. On October 3, 1924, Rev. Allison was admitted as licentiate to the Kansas Conference from the Pittsburg Quarterly Conference. He served at Virgil for one year and at Ozawkie for one year. His name was erased from the role in 1928. Rev. Allison was received on his transfer from the Colorado Conference in 1941. He was placed on the list of licentiates in 1942. In Kansas, he served at Luray, Hackney, and Woodston. He married Nellie (or Nelle) Joyce Morton on October 29, 1916, in Cave Springs, Benton, Arkansas. (Some sources give her maiden name as Martin.) Their children were Gale Wallace, Betty E., Max, Lute P., Earl, Rolland M., and James Howard. Rev. Allison died on March 14, 1975, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. His memoir can be found in the Wisconsin Conference Journal for 1975, page 455.

Note written by Sarah St. John