Albern Allen

Allen, Albern, a member of the Mormon Battalion, was born May 22, 1802, in Cornwall, Litchfield county, Connecticut, the son of Daniel and Clarissa Allen. Becoming a convert to “Mormonism,” he was baptized in Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1835. The next year (1836) he moved to Missouri with his family and located in Caldwell county, where he passed through the persecutions and hardships which befell the Saints at that time. Thus he was with his brethren at Far West when they were betrayed into the hands of their enemies and laid down their arms. When the Saints were expelled from Missouri, in 1839, he located temporarily in Adams county, Illinois, and became a resident of Nauvoo, Hancock county, in 1840. In Nauvoo he was ordained an Elder and afterwards a Seventy and filled a short mission to the South. As a military man he served as a lieutenant in one of the companies of the Nauvoo Legion. In 1846 he became an exile, together with his co-religionists, after sharing in the sufferings of the Saints at Nauvoo. He went with the body of the Church to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he enlisted in the Mormon Battalion, leaving his family sick in a wagon on the prairie. He marched with the Battalion to California, and, having been mustered out of service, he made his way to Great Salt Lake Valley in the fall of 1847, expecting to meet his family there. In this, however, he was disappointed, as his family did not arrive in the Valley until the fall of 1848. During his absence from his family, serving in the Battalion, he lost two of his younger children by death. Locating in Ogden, he was chosen as senior president of the 33rd quorum of Seventy, and later he served two terms in the Utah legislature as a member from Weber county. In the spring of 1857, being called on a mission to Canada, he crossed the plains, together with a company of other missionaries with hand-carts. On arriving on the Missouri, he was detained there to preside over a small branch of the Church. After his return to Ogden, in 1858, he acted as a counselor to Bishop Edward Bunker of the Ogden Third Ward. As a faithful and exemplary Latter-day Saint, he died at Ogden June 2, 1867, leaving quite a large family of children, he having married several wives. Brother Allen was known universally as a liberal and broad-minded man, always willing to render both financial and spiritual aid whenever it was needed.¹

Albern and Marcia Allen History

The history of the Allen family begins in the early 1600’s when they emigrated from England to the United States. They were real blue-blood.

Marcia Allen was born 6th of November 1804 in Washington, Litchfield, Connecticut. She was the second child and the first girl of Gideon Allen and Rachel Hand Allen. The Allen family left Connecticut and moved to New York.

She married Albern Allen at Hartwick, New York on 3 June 1866. He was born 22nd of May 1802 at Cornwall, Litchfield, Conn. He was the first son of Daniel Allen and Clarissa Dewey. Marcia was 22 years old and Albern was 24 years old. Albern Allen’s family also left Connecticut and migrated to New York.

When Mormon Elders came preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Albern and Marcia listened and believed. They were baptized in 1835 at Cattaraugus County, New York, which is in the vicinity of Palmyra, New York. A year later her parents and her brothers and sisters were baptized.

When Joseph Smith declared Missouri to be the land of Zion, the Allen families, with hundreds of other Saints, left New York where they were being persecuted for their religious beliefs, and journeyed by river boat and overland by wagon to reach Missouri, the promised land.

Albern and Marcia had four children at this time: Rufus Chester, who was 8 years old; Alanson David, who was 6 years old; Clarissa Abby (my great-grandmother), who was 4 years old; and Marshall Fredrich, who was 2 years old. Somewhere in their journey to Missouri their fifth child, Rachel, was born. There is no record of her birth except for the year 1836. In her father’s history it records her as being born in Cattaraugus, Cattaraugus, New York.

In December 1836 Caldwell County was created. It was a wild and practically uninhabited prairie, whose wooded streams afforded ample haunts for droves of elk and other wild game. It was one of the best parts of Upper Missouri.

Far West became the chief town and was also the County Seat. The growth of the town was very rapid. By the middle of 1838 there were 150 private dwellings, 7 stores, six blacksmith shops, 2 hotels and a printing house. (Taken from One Hundred Years of Mormonism by Evans.)

In 1836 or 1837 they moved to Caldwell County. The census has them in Caldwell County in 1838. Albern and Marcia, along with her parents and family, settled in Far West. They were farmers, so they began to clear the land and build homes. On March 17th, 1838, Marcia’s sixth child was born in Caldwell County, Missouri. It was another little girl, and they named her Rebecca. All was well for the Allens. The soil was rich and produced good crops. They were dwelling among the Saints and enjoying the blessings of the gospel.

But their tranquillity was not to last. On August 6th, 1838, a man by the name of Peniston, a rabid anti-Mormon, was running for office. He knew he couldn’t count on the “Mormon” vote in the district, so he set his heart on preventing the Saints from casting their ballots. He incited a mob to prevent the “Mormons” from voting. The affair was settled, but the fire was smoldering. On the 30th of October 1838 there occurred the Haun’s Mill massacre. This was only sixteen miles east of Far West. Far West was crowded with Saints who had fled there for protection from mob violence in outlying farms and districts. The Allen families must have been one of these families. Every house had two or three families, and there were many compelled to live in tents and wagons. Bedding, food and fuel was divided because the people had left their property as they fled before the mob.

On the 1st of November troops marched into Far West, or more properly speaking, were turned loose upon the inhabitants. The mob entered the homes of the Saints, insulted the people, and took possession of whatever struck their fancy.

About eighty of the brethren were taken prisoners by the mob. Gideon Allen, Marcia’s father, was one of the prisoners. Imagine the anguish of his family, for they feared for his very life. Gideon’s son Rufus, who was 24 years old, helped to write a petition to Governor Boggs on the mob violence in Dewitt, Carroll County, Missouri, September 22, 1838. This is what the petition read:

Your Petitioners, citizens of Carroll, do hereby petition your Excellency, praying for relief: That whereas, your petitioners have on the 20th instant, been sorely aggrieved, by being beset by a lawless mob, certain inhabitants of this and other counties, to the injury of the good citizens of this and adjacent places; that on the aforesaid day, there came from one hundred to one hundred-fifty armed men, and threatened with force and violence to drive certain peaceable citizens from their homes, in defiance of all law, and threatened to drive said citizens out of the country, but, on deliberation, concluded to give them, said citizens, till the first of October next, to leave said county; and threatened, if not gone by that time, to exterminate them, without regard to age or sex, and destroy their chattels, by throwing them into the river. We therefore pray you to take such steps as shall put a stop to all lawless proceedings; and we, your Petitioners, will ever pray, &c.

Reference: History of the Church. Smith, Joseph. Volume 3, Page 83.

Gideon and most of the men were released. Meanwhile active preparations were made to leave the state. And so the Allens left with the other Saints, leaving behind their home and farm. Marcia’s baby was about a year old. By April, Missouri held a few of the twelve thousand “Mormons” that had settled within her borders.

The journey from Caldwell County, Missouri to Quincy, Illinois was a saddening affair. During the beginning of their journey, it rained incessantly, and in the end it snowed several inches. The Allen family was one of the families to endure the suffering and hardships of this forced exodus.

Efforts were being made to find a new home for the wandering band of “Mormons.” Commerce was situated about fifty miles above Quincy, and lay in a majestic curve of the Mississippi River, half encircled by water. For a mile or so eastward from the river the ground rose gradually and then broke off into a waving prairie, extending for many miles and covered with a variety of flowers. But this part of the country was at the time unfavorable for human habitation. The land was mostly covered with trees and bushes, and much of it was so wet that it was with difficulty that a man on foot could get through, and totally impossible for a team. Nevertheless Joseph Smith chose this place at which to build a city.

As soon as the site had been made the Saints began gathering there. They occupied all the old houses, some lived in tents and wagons, and others were satisfied with the open air. We do not know what manner of home the Allen families occupied. But again they were happy to be settled and away from the violence they had suffered.

In 1840 Marcia’s seventh child was born. It was another girl, and they named her Sarah. In April of that year the name of the town was changed to Nauvoo. The Prophet Joseph said it signified “beautiful,” with an idea of rest. By June, two hundred and fifty houses had been built.

The years between 1839 and 1844 were a period of peace and prosperity for the Saints. The Allen families were again listed as farmers. So no doubt they tilled the land and prospered like everyone else.

However, tragedy struck the Allen home when their two-year-old daughter, Sarah, died. We do not know the reason for her death, but malaria was very prevalent at this time because of the marshy land that was an excellent breeding ground for mosquitoes. The Saints were unaware of the cause of the ague, as they called it.

The Allens received their Patriarchal Blessings at this time. Marcia received hers on November 19, 1843, by Hyrum Smith. In 1843 Marcia gave birth to her eighth child. It was another little girl, and they named her Sarah Ann. The Allens were members of the Nauvoo 3rd Ward. Albern paid Nauvoo City taxes between 1841–1844. He also had Nauvoo property transactions between 1843–1846. He was Senior President of the 33rd Quorum of the Seventies. They were involved in building the Nauvoo Temple as well as all the other activities of the Church. Albern was ordained a Seventy and was called to serve a short mission in the Southern States. Marcia was left with seven children to care for; the oldest was sixteen and the youngest was a few months old.

In the book Sweet Love Remembered by Helen Cortez Stafford, who was a granddaughter of Clarissa Abby Allen (my great-grandmother), she describes Clarissa Abby as follows: She was dark-eyed and vivacious, her black curls caught in a cluster at the nape of her neck, her crisp white dress with its cherry-red figures swirling around her little feet as she picked her way gingerly up the steps. There were cherry ribbons on her bonnet. Her eyes were sparkling and her face gleeful as she chattered with her companion. In other places Clarissa is described as bursting into gales of laughter and teasing in a playful manner. She was a teenager at this time and seemed to enjoy the many dances and parties held in Nauvoo.

Although just a boy during the time they resided in Nauvoo, Marshall Franklin told his children and grandchildren, “How could anyone have doubt, knowing this humble man (speaking of the Prophet Joseph Smith) who was so meek, so modest, and so unafraid to tell what he really knew to be true. He could not lie, as he knew it would displease the Lord and His vengeance would be upon him.” From other incidents of the days in Nauvoo, Marshall related, “At one time when a group of boys were gathered together on the public square, one large fellow was teasing the smaller boys and throwing them down on the ground. The Prophet came along and after a short time he told a boy to go throw the bully down. The smaller boy doubted and was afraid, but at the command of the Prophet, he threw the boy down on the ground. Thus ended the aggressive acts of the bully. At another time Marshall was playing on the street one day when the Prophet came along, stopped and looked at his watch. Marshall, standing close by, showed such interest that the Prophet turned and asked Marshall if he would like to see his watch. He answered, “Yes,” and was then permitted to hold and look at the watch for a few minutes. Then the Prophet continued on his way, but nevertheless, it was a thrilling experience for a 10-year-old lad.

Marshall remembered hearing the Prophet speak in public many times.

In 1842 there began to be murmuring within and without the Church. The Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum were martyred. At 8 o’clock a messenger was dispatched to Nauvoo with a note signed by Elders Richards and Taylor, announcing the assassination of Joseph and Hyrum. On the 28th the bodies were taken to Nauvoo. A concourse of people met them outside the city. “The women broke out in lamentations,” says an eye witness, “at the sight of the two crude boxes in the wagon covered by an Indian blanket. The weeping was communicated to the crowd, and spread along the vast waves of humanity extending from the temple to the residence of the Prophet. The groans and sobs and shrieks grew deeper and louder, till the sound resembled the roar of a mighty tempest, or the slow, deep roar of a distant tornado.” The bodies were prepared for burial, and twenty thousand people looked upon the faces of the dead. (Taken from One Hundred Years of Mormonism by J. H. Evans.)

It is amazing to know that Albern and Marcia Allen were there along with all their family. Marshall told how terrible they all felt when the Prophet and his brother Hyrum were martyred. He saw their blood-stained clothes and the blood stains on the floor of the Carthage Jail. He always said, “These men surely sealed their testimony with their blood, as the stains could never be removed from the floor of the jail.”

(Quotes of Marshall Allen by Ruth Allen Skidmore, a great-great-granddaughter of Albern & Marcia Allen.)

At this time active preparations were being made to leave Nauvoo and start West. They had planned to leave in the spring. They were disposing of property and turning the proceeds into wagons and teams of horses and oxen. The sounds of hammers and anvils could be heard far into the night.

The mob wanted them out of the state before they had time to sell their lands and homes. Albern was a Lieutenant in one of the companies of the Nauvoo Legion. He was no doubt one of those who helped to disperse the mob from time to time.

The Nauvoo Temple was not finished, but President Young said they would do endowments and sealings anyway. People were standing in line to go to the Temple. Albern and Marcia were fortunate to be able to go. On January 1, 1846 they received their endowments, and on January 24, 1846 they were sealed to each other.

In February 1846 the first Saints crossed the Mississippi River and started across the plains of Iowa. From that time on, the Saints continued to cross the river, and by April the great body of the Church had left Nauvoo. The Allen families loaded their belongings and joined this body of wandering migrants. They left behind them their homes and their property. The grain lay rotting in the fields. Nauvoo the “beautiful” was a silent city.

From the banks of the Mississippi River to the Missouri River, more than 12,000 fleeing refugees battled frustration and tragedy over the 330-mile distance as the water-logged, muddy trails became impassable. Soaked, wind-blown tents, bedding and cold, drafty wagons were their only homes.

For the Allens and some 3,500 other Saints, the sloping prairie land at the base of the bluffs on the western side of the Missouri River seemed a safe haven where they could see the winter through, regroup, re-supply, and prepare for the westward march to the Rocky Mountains.

George Q. Cannon recalled the “indescribable privations and hardships” that were suffered in Winter Quarters. And yet, the faith of the Saints was rewarded, for God blessed them. He wrote, “No happier people ever lived then, nor since… when people were deprived of almost all comforts of life… They were happy because the peace of God rested down upon them, and they were sustained and buoyed up in the midst of their trials and difficulties.”

Albern and Marcia were signed up to go West with Brigham Young’s second journey. But in 1846 a war broke out with Mexico. President Polk sent a Captain Allen to recruit 500 men from the “Mormons” to go to California and fight. Albern, age 44, and his oldest son, Rufus Chester, age 19, volunteered to go. They were Privates in Company A of the Mormon Battalion. They received seven dollars a month, and they could keep their guns when they were mustered out. They took up their line of march toward Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where they were to receive their supplies. Every man in the battalion could write his own name. The Missouri volunteers had been at Fort Leavenwoth a few days before, and two out of every three men had to sign with a cross. They were marching to the lively tunes of Pitt’s band, that accompanied them part way, while the Stars and Stripes waved above them.

So Marcia bid good-bye to her husband and son. She was 44 years old; her son Alanson David was 17, Clarissa was 15, Marshall was 13, Rachel was 10, Rebecca was 8, and Sarah Ann was 3. Her father, Gideon, was 74 years old, and her mother, Rachel, was 71. Her 31-year-old brother, Philo, and his wife and child were there also.

And so Albern and Rufus marched off, leaving his family sick in a wagon.

It was a long and weary journey. Their shoes wore out and they resorted to stripping a piece of skin from the leg of an ox and slipping it over the foot like a moccasin. The mules and oxen were dying, and toward the end the men were hitched to the wagons. Sickness and death plagued them all the way.

The following incident is taken from the book A Concise History of the Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War by Sergeant Daniel Tyler:

On reaching Tucson, the Battalion had been some time without salt, and only about three bushels could be obtained there. On the 17th, the Colonel and staff, with other officers and men to the number of about fifty, passed up the creek about five miles above Tucson towards a village where they had seen a large church from the hills which we had passed over. They, however, returned before reaching the village, as they found the route so covered with mezquit brush as to afford the Mexicans an excellent ambush, if disposed to make an attack.

Some of our soldiers purchased a little unbolted flour of the Mexicans in Tucson, also quinces and semi-tropical fruits as well as beans, corn and etc.

On the night of the 17th, a picket guard was placed some distance above Tucson, with instructions that if more than a certain number of Mexicans passed in or out of the town (a dozen or twenty, I think) to fire an alarm and run into camp. About midnight, signal guns were fired by the pickets, Albern Allen and Rufus C. Allen, his son, who saw more men passing than the Colonel’s order allowed. They also ran to camp, as directed, and notified the officer of the day, Lieutenant George Oman, who was considerably excited, and called for the music, saying: “Beat that drum, beat that drum—if you can’t beat that drum, beat that fife!” He also ordered every man into line. Lights were raised by replenishing the campfires and the music played a lively air. Each company formed in a separate column.

At this point, which was, perhaps, reached in less time than it has taken to write the incidents, Colonel Cooke appeared on the scene, and with a stern voice ordered: “Cease that music! Dust those lights!” and then formed his line of battle, placing the companies alternately on either side of the road. It happened to be the author’s turn to take charge of the camp guard. The light was dusted by the men throwing sand upon it with their hands. A line was formed from left to right in single file, each man being stationed about ten feet or more from his left-hand comrade, thus extending about one hundred feet.

After half an hour or more had elapsed, the Colonel sent Lieutenant Stoneman, with ten picked men from company A, to reconnoitre and see what they could discover. They marched stealthily into the little city, but found all silent as the grave. On their way back to camp they were met by Quartermaster Sergeant Redrick N. Allred, with another detachment, which had been sent to look after the welfare of the first, whose long absence had awakened some fears for their safety.

There being no discoveries made, after about one hour, or, perhaps, a little more, from the time of forming the line, the men, after being instructed to remember their places and to have their arms in easy reach, were allowed to retire. Nothing further came of the alarm.

At last the weary and half-clad battalion reached the coast. Their leader said, “History may be searched in vain for an equal march of infantry.” They reached San Diego the last of January, 1847, and they were mustered out on July 17th, 1847. President Young advised as many as could to remain in California during the coming winter and earn money. Rufus Chester did go to Sutter’s Mill to seek employment and was there when gold was discovered. It is recorded that some of the battalion boys were the discoverers of the gold. Who knows—maybe Rufus Chester was one of these. The rest of the men pursued their perilous journey to Salt Lake. Albern was one of these, anxious to be reunited with his family. He arrived the 16th of October 1847. But he was disappointed, for his family was not there.

Marcia, like other women whose husbands were absent, learned to develop personal resources and forge strength they did not know they had. Alanson David was only seventeen, but he accepted the responsibility of helping to care for the family. In the summer Alanson realized he would have to secure food from some source to supply the family for winter. So he went back to the eastern part of Missouri and purchased the crops on a farm, harvested them, and took them back to Winter Quarters. This gave them sufficient food to carry them through the winter. But Marcia had an added burden, for in 1846 ten-year-old Rachel and three-year-old Sarah Ann died. She had now buried three of her last four little girls.

Between June 1848 and October 1848, some 2,000 Saints died at Winter Quarters. The lack of fruit and vegetables contributed to the sickness that plagued the families. Scurvy, or black-leg: “the limbs would swell, become black, and the flesh be very sore.” Also malaria and respiratory diseases were common.

Albern’s brother-in-law, Rufus Allen, was in Salt Lake. He had traveled in the eighth ten of the first Pioneer Company. He was said to be a strong and valiant man during the trek. He was appointed guard of the camp, which was an inexhaustible job requiring unceasing vigilance in protecting the company and stock from the Indians. He and Albern went back to Winter Quarters that fall to assist their family on the long journey West.

Preparations were made and the wagon was packed. Those to go were Albern, Marcia, their 4 children, her father and mother, her brother Philo and his wife and child—a total of eleven people. These are the facts: Clarrisa and Marshall went with the Issac Houston Co., and a Miss Chastina Hadlock went with the Allen family. Now, dear reader, this is my assumption on what happened. They probably had only one wagon. Eleven people were too many to fit into their accommodations. Clarrissa was 18 years old; she was old enough to hire out to some family to help with a lot of children or to help an ailing wife. Marshall was sixteen and capable of assisting with animals or even driving a wagon. So they were able to eliminate two bodies from their wagon. Now, Miss Chastina Hadlock was Alanson David’s sweetheart. Either he had met her at some of the social events held in Winter Quarters, or they fell in love on the journey West. They were married one year after arriving in Salt Lake.

So on the 4th of July 1849 they started on their long-awaited journey with the George Albert Smith Company—through rain, dusty roads, blistering heat, streams to ford, mountains to cross, past herds of buffalo, and Indians. At night they camped, and songs were sung and people danced. There was no traveling on Sunday; the Sabbath Day was for worship services.

They arrived in Salt Lake on 27th of October 1849, just a little over three months, which was good time.

Three months after they arrived in Salt Lake, Marcia gave birth to her ninth child on 14th of January 1850—another little girl. They named her Mary Ellen. Marcia was 46 years old.

Albern settled his family in Ogden, Weber, Utah. In the Utah 1850 census Albern is listed as having $50.00 real wealth. Later Rufus, Alanson and Marshall made six trips back along the pioneer trail helping companies of Saints to their destination.

Polygamy was being practiced at this time. Albern and Marcia, being faithful, devout members of the Church, entered into this practice. He was 51 years old and Marcia was 49 years old. Albern married #2 Mary Ann Yearsley Hoops in December 1853, #3 Mary Jane Morris in 1854, #4 Sariah Allen in 1854, and #5 Jane Elizabeth Hill on 29th of January 1856. Albern was sealed to Mary Ann, Mary Jane and Sariah Allen in 1854 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah.

His children were as follows: Marcia had nine children. Mary Ann Yearsley had one daughter, Marcia Ann, born 1854. Mary Jane Morris had one son, Albern Allen. Elizabeth had four children. Sariah Allen is listed with five children, but they were ages 26 to 18 when Albern married Sariah, so I assume they were from a previous marriage.

At a Conference held in April 1857, about seventy missionaries were called to preach the principles of Mormonism in different parts of the world. They were instructed to travel with handcarts as far as Nebraska. They left Great Salt Lake April 23, 1857, with twenty-six handcarts and arrived at Florence, Nebraska on the 10th of June. The entire trip was made in forty and one-half traveling days, having gone 1,032 miles, averaging twenty-five miles a day. After resting for seven days they left Florence, each going to his respective mission. Albern was one of these missionaries. He was called to Canada. He was 55 years old. Albern did not go to Canada. He was appointed to preside at Genoa. Genoa, Nance County, Nebraska, was a settlement founded by the Latter-day Saints in the spring of 1857. This was a supply depot and assembling station for mountain-bound immigrants and future Utah pioneers. There were 200 acres of plowed and planted land. During the life of the settlement as a Mormon town, meetings were held regularly on Sunday and Thursday nights, and the settlement boasted a good choir.

When the missionaries were called home on account of Johnston’s army troubles, Albern returned to Salt Lake Valley with a number of Saints. Albern was chosen as Senior President of the 33rd Quorum of Seventies. He served two terms in the Utah Legislature as a member from Weber County. In 1858 he acted as a counselor to Bishop Edward Bunker of the Ogden Third Ward.

By this time all of their children had married and moved away except for Mary Ellen, who was eight years old. I suppose she was a great comfort to her mother as her father traveled and was so involved in civic and church activities.

Albern had walked from Council Bluffs, Iowa to San Diego, California and back to Salt Lake. Then he traveled back to Iowa and back again to Salt Lake. Then back to Nebraska and back to Salt Lake. He had traveled a total of 7,200 miles, and most of it walking.

Marcia’s father, Gideon Allen, died on 10th of January 1861 at Ogden, Utah. He was 87 years old. Her mother, Rachel Hand Allen, died 28th of September 1863 at Ogden, Utah. She was 86 years old. Marcia died on 25th of December 1866 at Kanarraville, Iron, Utah. She was 62 years old. Albern died 3rd of June 1867 at Ogden, Weber, Utah. He was 65 years old. They were born in Connecticut and had traveled two-thirds of the way across the continent. They had suffered hardships and cruelty at the hands of the mob, but never did they waver in their faith in the Church of their choice.

Albern Allen was known universally as a liberal and broad-minded man, always willing to tender both financial and spiritual aid whenever it was needed. His wife, Marcia, had stood by his side at all times rendering help and support. They have left us a glowing example.

And What of Their Children?

#1 — Rufus Chester was quite an adventurer. In 1846 he joined the Mormon Battalion. In 1848 he came back to Salt Lake and went east to meet the immigrants. In 1849 he was in charge of an exploring trip under the direction of Parley P. Pratt. In 1851 he was called to go on a mission with Parley P. Pratt to the Islands of the Pacific. On November 8th they landed in Valparaiso, Chile to open a mission. It was unsuccessful. In 1854 he was called on a mission to the Indians in the Rio Virgin and Santa Clara country. He was released from this mission in 1857 and went to take part in the Utah War in 1857–1858. In 1866 he went east as a Church teamster to bring emigrants to the Valley. In between all these activities, he found time to marry two wives and hold many church positions. In 1850 Rufus had no real wealth.

#2 — Alanson David and his wife Chastina had fourteen children. He served a mission to Independence, Jackson County, Missouri in the 1870s at the time of the John D. Lee trials, to settle difficulties and disputes. Alanson David fought in the Echo Canyon War and was the Captain of ten men. He served as a Captain in the Utah Militia from 1861–1866. In 1850 he had $65.00 real wealth. In 1857 he and five other men were sent to Salmon River to help a group of emigrants that were having trouble with the Indians. One of the five was killed and the rest suffered terribly from exposure, and Alanson was never well after that. Alanson was very good to the Indians as well as other people. He believed that if he helped others he would be blessed.

#3 — Clarissa Abby (my great-grandmother) married Moses Sandifer Clark. They had three children: Moses Chester (my grandpa), who married Annie Helena Giesler and had 8 children; Evelyn Clarissa, who married John J. Cortez and had three daughters; and Seymore Legrand, who was Deputy Sheriff and was killed by a highwayman in 1908.

#4 — Marshall Fredrick married Emma Holmes in the Endowment House. An interesting story is told about him by his grandson, Calvin A. Housley. The following is that story:

“Grandpa George Fredrick Housley was in the ill-fated Martin Handcart Company of 1856. Grandpa Marshall Franklin Allen was living at our home, and I remember Grandpa Housley coming to visit us when we lived on the farm in Mapleton (Cub River). The two elderly men were reminiscing over old times, and Grandpa Allen told of one time when ‘Brother Brigham’ had called him and several other young men to go out and meet the Handcart Companies that were in dire circumstance, and take them provisions and assist them into the valley.

“As he knelt in prayer that evening, he told the Lord that it was a foolish thing to do, going out in such cold weather with no roads to follow. But while he was still in the act of prayer it was made known to him that he should go. It was also made known that he would be able to save many of their lives.

“So the next morning they started off. After searching for many hours, the rescue party became discouraged—thinking the handcart company had been lost on the plains. They decided to return to the Valley. Grandfather said, ‘I told them I would go on till I reached the States, but that I would find them.’ About noon they found a group of handcarts with the poor starving people. Thinking there may be more farther back, Grandfather Allen rode on for some distance. Suddenly he saw a dark spot among some rocks. Upon investigating, he found it to be a young man. He wrapped his blanket around him and helped him onto his horse. Then Grandfather Housley spoke up and said, ‘The horse had one white leg, a white strip in its forehead, and the rest of it was coal black.’ Grandfather Allen said, ‘Yes.’ Grandfather Housley said, ‘It was a bright plaid blanket.’ Grandfather Allen asked, ‘How do you know?’ Grandfather Housley said, ‘Because I was the young man you found!’ Then he stood up and said, ‘I want to tell you, if it hadn’t been for the prayers of my Mother and the faith of the Saints, I would not have lived till you found me, and I never would have reached the Valley!’ The Handcart Company reached the Valley on the 29th of November—Grandpa Housley’s 20th birthday.”

#5 — Rachel died in Winter Quarters.

#6 — Rebecca married Lemuel Orson Merrill.

#7 — Sarah died in Nauvoo.

#8 — Sarah Ann died in Winter Quarters.

#9 — Mary Ellen was sixteen when her mother died. When she was 21 she married Charles Wilford Hinchcliff.

Sources

1 Jenson, Andrew. LDS Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: Andrew Jenson History Co., 1901. https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2028/records/2834?tid=&pid=&queryId=ab293107-2a5a-4f29-a695-2e006a9d7b43&_phsrc=vOv1&_phstart=successSource

2 Black, Susan Easton, compiler. Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830–1848. 50 vols. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center, 1989. Private Donor. https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5333/records/978?gsfn=Albern&gsln=Allen&ml_rpos=1

3 Platt, Lyman. LDS Member Name Index, 1830-45 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/4165/records/426?gsfn=albern&gsln=allen&ml_rpos=1

4 ALBERN AND MARCIA ALLEN HISTORY. Compiled by Helen B. Craner. https://www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/13814266?cid=mem_copy