CHAPTER 2

ORVELMORGAN ALLEN AND JANE WILSON

Orvel Morgan Allen's whole life is succintly characterized in a certificate of

recommendation he received from the Twenty-ninth Quorum of the Seventy:

''From the satisfactory evidence which we have of his good moriil

character, andhis zeal for the cause of righteousness, and diHgent desire to
Persuade men to forsake evil and embrace truth, we confidently recommend
him to aU candid and upright people, as a worthy member of sodety. "

Orvel was born June 9, 1805 in St. Ferdinand Township, St. Louis, Missouri. The
spelling of his name varies a great deal; it is sometimes found as Orvil, Orval, and Orville,
or even as O.M.He was the oldest of six children born to John Edmond
. - Allen and Pamela
Perry. His father had served as a Captain in the war of 1812, and as a constable and a
member of the (rrst Grand Jury in St. Louis, Missouri.1 . '---

Orvel Morgan Allen Jane Jt7lson Allen

At the age oftwenty, Orvel married fifteen-year-old Jane Wilson, on August 4, 1825.
Jane had been born March 2, 1810 in Lincoln, North Carolina, to John or JamesWilson
and Polly Mi11e~. Orvel and Jane were married in Missouri and made th~ir home there in

21
22

Louisiana, Pike County for the next fifteen years. During that time five daughters were born
to them: Eliza Ann, 1826; Elizabeth Catherine, 1828; Mary Jane, 1830; Sarah Lucinda, 1834,
and Antoinette Morgan, 1839'>

A Mormon missionary, Chandler Rogers, taught the gospel to Orvel and Jane, who
were baptized in January 1838.3 That action caused Orve1 to be disinherited by his father.
At some time after their baptism, Orvel and Jane moved to Illinois, settling at Rockport.
This town was situated near the Mississippi River, about ninety miles south of Nauvoo. A
small branch of the Church had been established there, sometimes called the Gilbralter
Branch.

When Orvel and his family moved up to Nauvoo in 1840, they took with them a
certificate of recommendation from the Rockport Branch, signe<UJy the clerk, Joel Shearer.
The names on the certificates were O. M. Allen, Jane Allen, Eliza Anne Allen and Elizabeth
Allen. Two of their children had died before this time, Mary Jane in 1836 and Sarah
Lucinda in 1839.' (According to the Church Ancestral File, the oldest daughter Eliza Ann
died as a child in 1832. However, in the Nauvoo Restoration Index, Eliza Ann is listed as
marrying Joseph Outhouse on June 4, 1843 in Nauvoo and she is listed here on the
certificate of recommendation in 1840). Three more children were born to the AlIens in
Nauvoo, Alma Hyrum in 1841, James Chandler in 1844, and Laura Josephine in 1846. 5

In Nauvoo Orvel seems to have thrown himself wholeheartedly into the activities of
the church. He was a member of the bodyguard of the Prophet Joseph Smith and at one
time he and other brethren were imprisoned with the prophet. He spent time working on
the Nauvoo temple as well. He also was a member of the Nauvoo Legion, with a rank of
captain in the 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment, 3rd Company, 2nd Cohort"

Orvel bought some land on block fourteen, lot four, and is found there in the 1842
property tax record. The lot had a lime kiln on it.? An advertisement in The Nauvoo
Neighbor on May 7, 1845 has Orvel's name, along with the sale of lime. Hancock County
tax records of 1842 show that he owned cattle, horses, wagons, clocks, watches, and other
personal property.'

While in Nauvoo, O.M. and Jane received their patriarchal blessings under the hands
of Hyrum Smith, patriarch. This took place on September 24, 1841. In this first blessing,
Orvel is blessed with the gift of God, by the holy priesthood to be a worker of miracles as
well as other blessings. He is then reminded that all of these blessings would be derived
from strict obedience to the order of the kingdom and of the priesthood. He is also told
 23
that his name would be honored by his children and perpetuated from generation to
generation forever.

According to the Journal History of the Church, on April 15, 1844 Orve1 was called
on a mission to labor in Missouri.9 No further information is known about that mission,
however. A few months later, on August 17, 1845, Orvel was given a certificate
recommending him as a Seventy:

This Certificate, that Orvel M ADen has been received into the Church
of Jesus Chnst ofLatter-Day Saints, organized on the Sixth Day ofApril, in
the year of Our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty, and has been
ordained an Elder in the Quorum of Seventies, according to the rules and
regulations of said Church, and is duly authorized to preach the gospel,
agreeable to the authority of that o/lice. ---'

From the satisfactory evidence which we have of his good moral

character, and his zeal for the cause of righteousness, and diligent desire to
persuade men to forsake evil and embrace truth, we confidently recommend
him to all candid and upnght people, as a worthy member of society.

We therefore, in the name, and by the authority ofthis Church, grant

unto this, our worthy brother in the Lord, this letter of commendation as a
proof of our fellowship, and esteem; praying for ms success and prosperity in
our Redeemer's cause.

Given by the direction of a Conference of the Elders of said Quorum

assembled in Nauvoo, the city ofJoseph, Hancock Co., ll1inois, the 17th day
ofAug. in the year of Our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty-five.

Signed: John D . Lee, Clerk

Jos. Young, Chairman10

As opposition to the Church grew, Orve1, Jane, and their family experienced the
hostility other members of the church in Nauvoo faced. They knew that they would have
to leave soon. Mter working so hard to build the Nauvoo Temple, it is certain that they
looked forward to the time they could go to the temple for their endowments before leaving
Nauvoo. The NauVoo Temple Endowment Register shows that they were able to do this
24

on January 5, 1846. One month later they and their children crossed the Missouri River to thl
Sugar Creek on the first of their journey towards Council Bluffs. Mi
OIl
Between Nauvoo and Council Bluffs, the Saints had built up two temporary ba,
settlements, Garden Grove and Mt. Pisgah, for the companies as they came through;
however, there were about thirty camps along the way. The destination location was
Council Bluffs, Iowa, situated on the east bank of the Missouri River. Another main camp, wll
Council Point, was nearby. However, groups of people were spread out all over both sides an
of the river. go
gIv
An interesting story about Orve1 tells of his character and personality. When the tin
Saints were in Council Bluffs, Captain James Allen of the United States Army came into
camp seeking recruits for the Mormon Battalion. He ran into Orvel who was bringing up
the rear of the Brigham Young Company. Captain James AIIen_~aid, "I am Captain Allen ha'
and [ want to see Brigham Young." Orve1 answered back, "I am Captain Allen and of
Brigham Young is at the head of this caravan and you can't see him until [ send him word." N2
He then sent word to Brigham Young, who asked that Captain James Allen come to the ste
front. Th
SUl
The twelve apostles were living at that time in a settlement on the west side of the m<
river, called Cutler's Park. Brigham Young was concerned with the Saints being scattered
out so far away from each other, so on August seventh he selected a site far a town near
Cutler's Park, on the Nebraska side of the river and named it Winter Quarters. He then wa
advised the Saints to move there. The families began to move across the river and prepare bei
for the winter. of
COl

During this time there was also a lot of concern for the Saints still back in Nauvoo.
Approximately one thousand people remained in Nauvoo. Most of these had been too sick
or too poor to leave in the spring when the majority of the Saints did. Persecution had tea
become stronger and the Mormons had become weaker. The Church trustees .in Nauvoo Ml
reported that 750 people were calling on them daily for food and were without clothing and eVI

that lynchings were taking place on farms just outside of Nauvoo. O. M. was called as the Or
leader of a relief mission to return back to Nauvoo to gather what became known as "the N.
poor camp. ,,11 In his journal written from September eleventh through October twenty-fifth,
Orvel does not use the name Winter Quarters but refers to Council Bluffs, or the Bluffs.
Perhaps he was still living on the east side of the river at that time. SOl
roo
Eleven men volunteered to return to Nauvoo with Orvel. Most of these had families thl
there. Others who did not go sent extra teams to be given to families and friends there. On pu
 25

the September fifteenth, the company ferried thirty-six yoke of cattle to the east side of the
Missouri River, but in the darkness they lost two yoke, and had to camp on the river that
night. The next morning they drove the teams onto the prairie, then most of the men went
back to locate the missing cattle.

As the men traveled towards Nauvoo, they were often troubled with straying cattle,
which had to be located. Some of the men met their families on the trail, so they turned
around and went back to Council BlufTs. Other men joined the company along the way to
go collect their families. Orvel records that as they passed Saints along the way, they were
given small amounts of food or money to help out. The men had been instructed to spend
time cutting and stacking piles of hay each day to be used on the return trip.

On the twentieth, Orvel's volunteers heard word of the "Battle of Nauvoo" or as some
have called it, the "Nauvoo War." Earlier in the month, about eight hundred men in a posse
of anti-Mormons had set up six cannons in the middle of Nauvoo and threatened to destroy
Nauvoo and its citizens. The small group of Saints left in the city, armed only with
steamboat shafts made into cannons and individual weapons, tried to defend themselves.
The battle lasted only five days and three of the Mormons had been killed, when the Saints
surrendered. They were given one or two hours, no more than a day to leave. The drunken
mobsters then robbed the citizens and took over the beautiful temple as their headquarters.

As these valiant people crossed the Mississippi River into Iowa, the hostilities gave
way to intense suffering. Thomas Kane visited the camp and wrote of these "forsaken
beings," most of them crippled or ill: "They had not bread to quiet the fractious hunger cries
of their children... all of them alike, were bivouacked in tatters, wanting even covering to
comfort those whom the sick shiver of fever was searching to the marrow.,,12

When those back in Winter Quarters received word of the situation, two other relief
teams with twenty-five more wagons were sent out to assist Orvel. One was led by James
Murdock and the other by Allen Taylor. Orvel and his volunteers pushed on harder than
ever after hearing of the situation in Nauvoo. One day a brother entering the camp lent
Orve1 a wagon and gave him an order from John Taylor to bring a load of books from
Nauvoo.

On the fourth of October, they arrived at the Mississippi River and began to deliver
some of the teams and to distribute some food and provisions. One day fifteen armed men
rode into their camp yelling that if they ever got hold of Orve1 they would kill him, then
they left. On the eighth Orve1 called a meeting of the whole camp where he explained the
purpose of his mission. He talked to them of the spirit of gathering together and moving
 25

the September fIfteenth, the company ferried thirty-six yoke of cattle to the east side of the
Missouri River, but in the darkness they lost two yoke, and had to camp on the river that
night. The next morning they drove the teams onto the prairie, then most of the men went
back to locate the missing cattle.

As the men traveled towards Nauvoo, they were often troubled with straying cattle,
which had to be located. Some of the men met their families on the trail, so they turned
around and went back to Council Bluffs. Other men joined the company along the way to
go collect their families. Orvel records that as they passed Saints along the way, they were
given small amounts of food or money to help out. The men had been instructed to spend
time cutting and stacking piles of hay each day to be used on the return trip.

On the twentieth, Orvel's volunteers heard word of the "Battle of Nauvoo" or as some
have called it, the "Nauvoo War." Earlier in the month, about eight hundred men in a posse
of anti-Mormons had set up six cannons in the middle of Nauvoo and threatened to destroy
Nauvoo and its citizens. The small group of Saints left in the city, armed only with
steamboat shafts made into cannons and individual weapons, tried to defend themselves.
The battle lasted only fIve days and three of the Mormons had been killed, when the Saints
surrendered. They were given one or two hours, no more than a day to leave. The drunken
mobsters then robbed the citizens and took over the beautiful temple as their headquarters.

As these valiant people crossed the Mississippi River into Iowa, the hostilities gave
way to intense suffering. Thomas Kane visited the camp and wrote of these "forsaken
beings," most of them crippled or ill: "They had not bread to quiet the fractious hunger cries
of their children... all of them alike, were bivouacked in tatters, wanting even covering to
comfort those whom the sick shiver of fever was searching to the marrow.,,12

When those back in Winter Quarters received word of the situation, two other relief
teams with twenty-fIve more wagons were sent out to assist Orvel. One was led by James
Murdock and the other by Allen Taylor. Orvel and his volunteers pushed on harder than
ever after hearing of the situation in Nauvoo. One day a brother entering the camp lent
Orvel a wagon and gave him an order from John Taylor to bring a load of books from
Nauvoo.

On the fourth of October, they arrived at the Mississippi River and began to deliver
some of the teams and to distribute some food and provisions. One day fIfteen armed men
rode into their camp yelling that if they ever got hold of Orvel they would kill him, then
they left. On the eighth Orvel called a meeting of the whole camp where he explained the
purpose of his mission. He talked to them of the spirit of gathering together and moving
26
on to the Bluffs and not scattering into the countryside to fInd means to live as many had
done already. He also told them that a record would be kept and that when arriving back
to camp, only those who had worked and helped would be allowed to eat, that there was
no room for the idler. He said that if they would uphold him, he would uphold them and
get them to Council Bluffs as quickly as he could, but that he wanted peace, unity and
friendship on the road.

Orvel then tried to get into Nauvoo, but was refused passage across the river and told
he would be killed if he were found . He then sent a messenger to bring someone from
Nauvoo to him. At that time Orvel asked the man from Nauvoo for John Taylor's books,
but was refused. The man brought him two more men, who were crippled, and asked Orvel
to take them with him. )

Finally on October eighth, Orvel got the Saints loaded qp and led his people out on
to the prairie where he could get organized. There were 157 people and twenty-eight
wagons. He immediately ran into problems of people not willing to help each other. He
writes that he had "considerable conversation with the brethren until a late hour at night."
The next morning he called all the men together and explained the rules which had applied
to former companies.

That morning of October 9th a miraculous event took place. As the Saints were
preparing breakfast and loading up their wagons, several large flocks of quail flew into the
camp. Some of the quail alighted on the breakfast tables, others fell onto the wagons and
on the ground. The starving men, women and children ran around and caught them with
their bare hands and ate their fIll. After breakfast the flocks increased, but as the camp was
not hungry then, Orvel ordered that no more should be killed. The quail, however,
continued to fly around the camp and alight in the midst of the people.

In spite of Orvel's instructions, he was plagued with problems with this camp the
whole trip. Wagon tongues broke and the rain caused slippery roads. Thomas Bullock
referred to the road "as the most damnable road I ever travelled." Cattle got lost and when
he assigned men and boys to go hunt them, those who hadn't lost any refused to go. A
sister, Joan Campbell, was delivered of a dead child and almost immediately was seized by
chills and within two hours she was dead. Surprisingly enough, considering the condition
of the people, they were the only ones to die on the way. Near Vernon Township, Van
Buren County, Iowa, the constable came and took one yoke of oxen for a debt one of the
brethren was saidto owe. Orvel had to pay the debt in the amount of $16.00 in order to
keep the oxen. One wagon caught fIre. More oxen were lost. At times he had to go into
the towns and purchase needed food or supplies from money he had been given.
 27
At Fox River several persons joined the camp. Orve1 had to constantly tallc to them
as well as the ones already with him about being diligent, united, and assisting others. He
had to teach them how to repair chains and how to work. He also writes that some of the
Saints had deceived him in regard to how much money and provisions they had and it was
necessary to trade some of their property for com. One evening while they were camped
on the west side of Soap Creek, a man from the neighboring area came in with com to trade
for goods. A Sister Savary let Orve1 have six plates which he sold to the man for forty-eight
cents. When Brother Savary came in from hunting lost cattle and found the plates were
gone, he began "abusing his wife with his tongue."n He demanded the plates back. At
that, the non-Mormon said that if he couldn't have the plates, the Saints wouldn't get any
of his com. Orve1 then not only had to smooth over the bad feelings so that the com could
be purchased, but also had to handle what became a serious marital problem.
)
Orvel fmally got his company back to the Missouri River on November twenty-
seventh. However, because of the constant sickness, exhaustion, prairie fires, lack of
cooperation and squabbling, his company took fifty days to make the trip of 335 miles, far
longer, apparently, than the other two relief companies.

The Journal History of the Church for November 27 also mentions that Captain O.
M. Allen had arrived on the eastern bank of the river. The Saints in this company were
then advised that unless they had friends or family in Winter Quarters, to remain on the east
side of the river for the winter where wood was more abundant.

It was during Orve1's absence on this trip or

perhaps an earlier one, that his wife Jane left him and
went off with another man. Apparently her faith was
not strong enough to see her through the trials that the
early Mormon Saints had to endure. She left the
children for Orvel to raise, her youngest, Laura
Josephine, being just a baby. They were legally divorced
on January 20, 1848.

Orvel then married Susannah Ward in Winter

Susannah Ward ADen
Quarters or Council Bluffs. Susannah had been born
February 7, 1818 to William Ward and Susannah
Webster in Keyham, Leicestershire, England. A baby girl
was born to them in December, 1849, named Mary
Josephine. While she was just a baby, Orvel was called
 28

to go on another mission of some kind. When there was no word from him for a long time,
~
Susannah had assumed that he was dead. When Orvel returned home he found his wife
married to a Mr. Lindsay Brady and his little daughter calling him "Papa." So once again I
1
Orvel was left with no wife. It is not known where Orvel's other children were during this
.
tnne.
I. I
I
f
Elizabeth Ann Burkett Williams became his third wife on August 4, 1850. Elizabeth
was born November 1, 1825 in Indiana to George and Sarah Jane Burkett. She was the
widow of William Williams and had two sons. Orvel at that time had five children living
with him; the oldest, however, married a year later. Orvel and Elizabeth, like many others,
moved out into the Iowa farmland after Winter Quarters was abandoned.
)
The 1850 Pottawattamie County Census lists an Orvile Allen, age 43; wife, Elizabeth,
age 25; his children by Jane Wilson: Cathem (sic), age 22; Antant (sic), age 12; Alma, age
10; Chandler, age 8; Josephine, age 4; Elizabeth's two boys, William, age 4; John, age 1; and
1
a baby Josephia, age LIS This baby was apparently Mary Josephine, the daughter of (
Susannah and OrveI.

Orvel and Elizabeth's first child, Amanda Alzina, was born April 13, 1852 at Allen
t
Creek in Harrison County, which is the county directly to the north of Pottawattamie
I
County and Council Bluffs. ,
f
Finally in June, 1852, Orvel and his family started for Utah, traveling in the Sixth (
Company of that year with David Wood as captain. They left Kanesville, Iowa with about
288 people and 58 wagons. O. M. Allen is listed with the following in his group: five males,
four females, one wagon, no horses, two oxen, two cows, no steers, two young stock. They
1
arrived in Salt Lake on October first. l •
,
(

During that winter, Orvel and his family moved to Springville, Utah, south of Salt
Lake. At that time it was only a small fort built of cedar logs. The family is found in the
. Springville, Utah ward records. 17 Members of the family include Orvel, a member of the
29th Quorum of Seventy, Elizabeth A., Antoynett M., Alma H., James C., and William W.
(Elizabeth's son). Not listed is Laura Josephine or the other son of Elizabeth. Elizabeth and
Orvel were rebaptized there on July 19, 1853 by David Curtis and reconfirmed. The new
baby, Amanda Alzina, is not mentioned in the ward record; however, she died in August of
1854, possibly before the listing of the family was made. Another daughter, Rosina, was
born here in DeCember 1854.
 29

From Springville, the family then moved to the old Palmyra Fort located three miles
west of Springville. In 1855, President Brigham Young advised the settlers to abandon
Palmyra and move to higher ground. This they did and named the town Spanish Fork.
1
Three more children were born here, Orville Morgan in November 1856, Elenor in 1859 and
Elizabeth Ann in 1861. Here in Spanish Fork, Orvel also married again. His new wife was
Isabella Watson, called "Bell." They were sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake. A
few years later, however, she left and was not heard from again.
1

In Spanish Fork, Orvel was accepted into the Fiftieth Quorum of Seventies on
November 5, 1861 in full fellowship. Later in 1861, Orvel and Elizabeth made another move.
This time they moved to St. George in southern Utah. While there Orvel had a small farm
and orchard and went into the brick-making business. Their last child, Samuel Edmunds,
was born here in 1863 when Orvel was fIfty-eight.
>
J

The next year Orvel was called to go to Toquerville to help_get tllat town established.
I
He and his stepson, George William Williams, started another brick-making business there.
f
Orvel also ran another small farm, orchard and vineyard.

While he had been living in Spanish Fork, Orvel had obtained another patriarchal
blessing, given by Isaac Morley. He was told that it would be his gift and blessing to
redeem his progenitors either through his own priesthood or through that of his sons. He
was further told to counsel his sons to keep in their memories the welfare of their
forefathers. During the time Orvel lived in southern Utah, he helped work on the St.
George Temple and was able to do a lot of temple work for his ancestors.

He also was called to fill another mission, at the age of sixty-four." He was sent
to the United States and set apart October 6, 1869 by Wilford Woodruff. His Elder's
CertifIcate is signed October 6, 1869 by Brigham Young, George A. Smith and Daniel H.
Wells. He returned home on March 29, 1870.

According to a letter written by Ora Abbott Gilford, Jane Wilson, Orvel's fIrst wife,
also moved to Toquerville. She had married a man by the name of Joshua Hall. The town
history says that Jane Wilson Hall was the fIrst school teacher in Toquerville. The autllor
of the letter writes, "I understand Great-Grandmother was a very talented woman.,,19

After living in Toquerville for sixteen years, once again Orvel and Elizabeth were
called to move. This time they were sent to settle northern Arizona. So in 1880 they
moved, locating in Taylor, Navajo County. Orvel was seventy-fIve and Elizabeth was flfty-
fIve. They were accompanied by their youngest son, Samuel Edmonds, who was unmarried,
 30

and William Williams with his family. Will began a brick-making business, assisted by
Orvel. In 1880 the Allen family then moved to Luna Valley, Socorro County, in the center
of New Mexico, where they lived for three years. Here Elizabeth ran a boarding house and
their son, Samuel Edmonds, raised stock.

Finally, in 1885, Orvel and Elizabeth moved back to Arizona into Pima, Graham
County. Samuel Edmonds had bought a small home in the southeast section where he and
his family could live and he could take care of his parents. He also bought a farm east of
town.

Orvel was quite active for being eighty years old. He enjoyed helping with the chores
around the farm such as husking com for the pigs, cutting up pumpkins for the cows, and
other jo bs. The children in the neighborhood loved him and brought all their little troubles
to him. He was the one who told pioneer stories. He was the on.e who pulled slivers out.
He was the one who buttoned up coats. His granddaughter, Mable, says that she always
sat by him at the table, and anything she did not like to eat, he would slip off on to his plate
and eat for her.

It was here in Pima that Orvel was reunited with his second family. After Susannah
'"'~ lost her husband, Mr. Brady, she told her daughter, Mary Josephine, who her real father
was. Josephine then told her son Charles about Orvel. Charles became interested and
traveled to Pima to see his grandfather. Orvel then went by stagecoach back to Lehi with
him where he spent a month or more with Susannah, and his daughter, Mary Josephine, and
her family. He returned by railroad, as the tracks were just fInished being laid west of Pima.
-"

In the late spring of 1893, Orvel fell down the cellar steps, breaking his hip. He never
walked again. A few months later, on November 12, 1893, he died of pneumonia. He was
eighty-nine years old. His wife, Elizabeth, died in 1908. They are both buried in Pima
alongside fIve infant children of Samuel Edmond's.

His fIrst wife, Jane Wilson, also moved to Arizona, but it is not known if there was
any contact between Jane and Orvel in Arizona or when they lived in Toquerville, or why
she seemed to want to stay close to him. She moved to Eager, Apache County, which is
about 175 miles north of Pima. She died there on April 14, 1896 and is buried in the Eagar
Cemetery. Also buried in the same lot is her daughter, Antoinette (with the last name of
Hall), and John Oscar Hall, a son by her second husband, and his family.20
 31

In summing up the life of Orvel Morgan Allen, these words by his granddaughter,
Mable seem to say it all:

"My Grandfather Allen was weD built with the kindest face, beautiful
snow white beard and hair... he always made m e feel that J was doing a good
job and he needed me...he always took m e with him when possible.. .he was
love and kindnes$$ itself to me. "

"Grandpa was a vel)' humble and sincere man; the gospel of Jesus
Christ was an integral part of his life. "

"J knew J loved him dearly. "

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32

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1. Unless otherwise noted, the information for this history is taken from "The Life Sketch
of Orvel Morgan Allen," by his grandaughter, Mable Allen Lines, June 16, 1959.
2. Ancestral File.
3. Chronological List of Missionaries, FHL 025664, p. 13.
4. Ancestral File.
5. Ancestral File.
 33

6. illinois State Militia Commission Records, 1834-1855; includes Nauvoo Legion Records
of 1840-1844, found in illinois State Library at Springfield, illinois, Vol. 14: 1163-1165 and
17:39-45.
7. James Kimball, LDS Church Historian's Office.
8. 1842 Hancock County tax records, FHL 0007706, p. 223 .
9. History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 340.
10. 29th Quorum of Seventies, Book A, p. 18, #684 .
•
ll.Information on Orvel's relief mission is taken from three sources:
I - A small journal written by Orvel from September 11 to October 25, 1846, found
in the LDS Church Archives.
2 - Bennett, Richard. And Should We Die: Mormons at the Missouri. 1846-1852, pp.
82-84.
3 - Seegmiller, Janet Burton. The Life Story of Robert Taylor Burton, pp. 74-76.
12. Kane, Thomas L. "The Mormons," pp. 9-10.
13. Journal of o.M ADen, Foreman of"a Company of Volunteers to Nauvoo, p. 6.
14. An Endunng Legacy. Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, vol. 6, pp. 125-126.
A sketch of Susannah Ward Allen Brady by Ruth B. Pixton indicates that Susannah,
thinking Orvel was dead, crossed the plains in the company ofMr. Brady and his family and
infers that she married him later. Mable Allen Lines, in her history of Orvel, says that when
Orvel came home from his mission he found her married to Mr. Brady and expecting a
child. Dates and places are also quite different between the two stories.
15. 1850 Pottawattamie County Census, p. 278, dwelling #1193, family #1193, FHL
0442,963.
16. Mormon Pioneer Compames Crossing Plains, 1847-1869, and Journal History of the
Church, Supplement to 1852.
17. Springville, Utah Records A-I, 979.224/S2 V2h, pp. 23,24, 36.
18. Chronological List of Missionaries FHL 025664, p. 13, #511.
19. Myron Alma Abbott and Mary Matilda Leavitt FamIly, p. 73.
20. Sexton's Records from Eagar, Apache, Arizona.
34

FAMILY GROUP SHEET

PARENTS
Onel Morgan ALLEN
born: 9 Jun 1805 St. Ferdinand, St. Lows, Missouri
married: 4 Aug 1825(div) Missouri
died: 12 Nov 1893 Pima, Graham, Arizona
buried: Pima, Graham, Arizona
father: John E. ALLEN mother: Pamela PARRY
other marriages: Susannah WARD, Elizabeth Ann BURKETT, Isabella WATSON

Jane WILSON
born: 2 Mar 1810 Lincoln County, North Carolina
died: 14 Apr 1895 Eager, Apache, Arizona -
buried: Eager, Apache, Arizona
father: John/James WILSON mother: Polly MILLER
other marriages: John HARLEY, Joshua Challis HALL

CHILDREN
Eliza Ann ALLEN
born: IS Nov 1826 Louisiana, Pike, Missouri
married: 4 Jun 1843 Nauvoo, Hancock, illinois
spouse: Joseph OUTHOUSE

Elizabeth Catherine ALLEN

......., born: 22 Sep 1828 Louisiana, Pike, Missouri
spouse: George W. SHEPARDITHORPE
other marriages: Cornelius LOTT, James ABBOTT, Mr. WING
died: 11 Dec 1911

Mary Jane ALLEN

born: 17 Apr 1830 Louisiana, Pike, Missouri
died: 30 Oct 1836

Sarah Lucinda ALLEN •

born: 4 Jun 1834 Louisiana, Pike, Missouri
died 1 Jul 1839
 35
Antoinette Morgan ALLEN
born: 20 May 1839 Louisiana, Pike, Missouri
spouse: Jacob HOUTZ
other marriages: J. B. FRANCES, Joshua Challis HALL
died: 4 Jan 1894 Eager, Apache, Arizona
buried: Eager, Apache, Arizona

Alma Hyrum ALLEN

born: 11 Jul 1841 Nauvoo, Hancock, Ulinois
spouse: An Indian Maiden
died: 1937

James Chandler ALLEN

born: 18 Jan 1844 Nauvoo, Hancock, Ulinois
spouse: Lucy Ann PRISBREY
other marriages: Lacinda ROGERS Blake
died: 3 Apr 1938 Bloomfield, San Juan, New Mexico
buried: 4 Apr 1938 Aztec, SAn Juan, New Mexico

Laura Josephine ALLEN

born: 4 Apr 1846 Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois
married: 25 Apr 1860(div) Ogden, Weber, Utah
spouse: Myron ABBOTT
other marriages: Marcus PHELPSIFELTS, Lew BLAKE

Sources: Ancestral File, Gloria Pendleton Westover

Archive Record submitted by Mrs. Luella Leavitt, Bunkerville, Nevada
Maurine A. Hughes, P. O. Box 790, Mesquite, Nevada 89024