Being an old settler of Pike county, Mr. Nathan Allison. is identified with its history, and therefore, should have more than passing notice in a work of this nature. He was born in Pike county, O., March 8, 1817, and is the son of Benjamin Allison, one of the pioneers of Pike county, and who removed from Ohio to Indiana in 1824, and to this county in 1834; in 1836 he purchased the farm of Silas Wilson on sec. 8, Spring Creek township, upon which was the only house in the township, and the Allison family was the only one residing in the township, until a few months later, when the Scranton family moved in. Our subject located in Calhoun county in the fall of 1836, and there constructed quite a novel mill, there being a stream in the hillside near his house. He made a trough, which worked on a pivot. To one end of the trough was attached a large maul or pounder, which set in a box or trough beneath; the other end of the trough was placed under the falling water on the hillside; as soon as the trough was filled with water one end would be overbalanced, and at the same time the water would pour out of it, when immediately the pounder would fall down with a thud, and smash the few grains of corn that were in the mortar. Occasionally an unfortunate coon would step in to partake of some of the meal and would remain there until some one came to his rescue, and he would come out all mangled and bleeding, ever more to return to the forest. Mr. A. was married in 1836 to Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of Silas Wilson; and they had four children, of whom two are living, - Mahala and Felix. Mrs. Allison died in 1849. Mr. Allison is now living with his fourth wife. He erected the first house in Nebo, and is now engaged in farming and the raising of stock on sec. 30.

Contributed by Carolyne Conner Puskas - History of Pike County (Spring Creek Twp. Pg 603)