Allen Family History

Patriarchal Blessings given to Simeon Franklin Allen: (volume 35, pate 346 - 347)

Patriarchal blessing upon the head of Simeon Franklin Allen son of Ira Allen and Born Litchfield Hillsdale Co Michigan. April 3rd 1839 given un the hands of Elisha H. Groves Patriarch March 10th 1854 Cedar City Iron Co Utah.

Bro Simeon Franklin In the name of Jesus of Nazareth by authority of the Holy Priesthood in me vested I place my hands upon thy head to seal up thee a Patriarchal or Fathers blessing which shall rest upon thee and thou shalt realize the fulfillment thereof . Thou art in the days of thy youth thou must apply thy heart to wisdom treasure up knowledge keep all the commandments of the Lord thy God hearken to the counsels of thy Parents and those whom thy Heavenly Father hath placed over thee in the Priesthood and thy life shall be precious in the sight of thy Heavenly Father. Thy days shall be many upon the earth. The holy angels will be with thee and in their hands they will bear thee up and deliver thee of thy blessings. Thou wilt be tempted tried and proven that thou mayest receive the reward of the faithfull. Yea thou shalt become mighty in thy day and generation a teacher among the Lamanites and many shall be made to rejoice because of thy tuition. Thou shalt be like unto the sons of Moroni in the day of Battle for thou shalt go forth in connection with thy brethren and many of the Lamanites when they shalt go through among the Gentiles agreeable to the record in the book of Mormon. The angel of vengeance shall go before the shall serve and strengthen thy (_____) fight thy Battles an no power shall be able to withstand thee. Wisdom shall be given unto thee that thou mayest be able to fill any station or Mission whereunto thou mayest be called. Thou art of the seed of Abraham of the loins of Joseph and a blood of Ephraim a lawful heir to the blessings and fullness of the Holy Priesthood which thou shalt receive in due time that thou mayest act in concert with thy Father and Brethren in the redemption o thy progenitors many of whom shall be made manifest unto thee by the spirit of inspiration for thou shalt seek out the genealogy of thy fathers to be able to come to the Priesthood where it was broken off that there may not be a broken link in the Chain. Thou shalt become a teacher in Israel thy posterity shall multiply and become numerous upon the earth and of the rich treasures thereof. Wealth in great abundance shall flow into thy hands for in thy day the Kings of the earth shall bring their wealth and throw it down at the feet of the servants of the most High God. Thou shalt be able to perform any miracle which shall be needful for thee as for the accomplishment of thy work in thy day and generation. Thou shalt behold the winding up seen the coming of thy Redeemer the reign of peace upon the face of the earth receive thy endowments in the Temple in Zion become a King and a Priest with the most high God receive thy Crown Kingdom Dominion power and eternal increase thy inheritance with the faithful Sons of Ephraim. Remember these blessings shall be sure unto thee upon the condition of thy faithfulness which I seal upon thy head in the name of Jesus of Nazareth even so amen.

Thos. A. Dowell, Clk.

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(volume 46, page 712)

No. 1111 Hyrum Cache Co. Ut December 21st 1870

A blessing given by John Smith Patriarch upon the head of Simeon Franklin Allen son of Ira and Calista Allen. Born in Litchfield Hillsdale Co. Michigan on April 3rd 1839.

Brother Simeon Franklin by virtue of my office I place my hands upon thy head and pronounce & seal a blessing upon thee as the spirit may indicate & I say unto thee be firm in thy mind & hold sacred thy covenants live up to thy privileges & thy days now shall be perpetuated & handed down in honorable remembrance from generation to generation thy days and years shall be lengthened according to thy faith & desire of thy heart and thou shalt fulfill thy mission upon the earth and be numbered among the fathers in Israel who shall [have] an inheritance among the saints forever. Thou are of the blood of Joseph through the loins of Ephraim & entitled to the blessing of the new and everlasting covenant with the gifts of the Priesthood it shall be thy lot to travel & labor in the ministry be faithful and thou shalt have much joy therein and bring many souls to the knowledge of the truth. Thou shalt prophecy & many shall seek thee for council & wonder at thy wisdom thou shalt have power over thin enemies & they shall not prevail against thee be prudent and no good thing shall be withheld from thee either here or hereafter. Thou shalt assist in avenging the wrongs of the saints & the mighty shall tremble at the sound of thy voice. This blessing I seal upon thy head and I seal thee up with Eternal life to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection. Even so Amen.

Life Sketch of Simeon Franklin (Frank) Allen

Simeon Franklin Allen (most often called Frank) was born April 3, 1839 at Litchfield, Michigan, which was then a small farming area. He was the son of Ira Allen and Calista Bass.

When Frank was six years old, his parents joined the LDS Church and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois about five months later. They were driven from Nauvoo in 1846 and lived at Winter Quarters with many other Saints for the next three and a half years. The family finally left for Utah in 1850 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on October 30 of that year. Frank was eleven years old when he got to the valley. Just three weeks after their arrival, Brigham Young called the family and others to go help build the town of Springville, which was 55 miles south.

In 1852, Frank's father, Ira, and his family were called to relocate about 200 miles south to Cedar City, which was having some troubles with the local Indians. They lived in a tent that first winter in Cedar City and then built a log house. Frank lived there for about seven years. It was difficult to live in Cedar City at this time because water was very scarce and the land was not good for farming. Ira decided to move his three wives and children up north to the town of Hyrum, which was in Cache Valley. He had heard that there was more water there and the summers weren't so hot. Frank left Cedar City with his family in the spring of 1861 and lived on the south side of Main Street in Hyrum.

After living in Hyrum for a year, the family of Hans Johnson moved in next door. Boletta, Hans daughter, was 17 years old at the time. Frank and Boletta courted for a year and a half and were married December 5, 1863 in the Endowment House at Salt Lake City. They lived with Frank's parents for a year, staying in their house during the daytime and sleeping outside in a covered wagon box at night. In 1864 Frank built a one-room log house a block south of his father's home. The home had a dirt floor and a dirt roof, which must have been a challenge when it rained. A few years later they built a cupboard to store dishes, towels, meat, flour, and bread. The home was furnished with a homemade rocking chair, table, wooden buckets, a barrel, butter churn, benches, and hand-woven rugs. Frank built a large frame house in 1875. The next year, Frank entered polygamy by marrying Rebecca Osborn, with whom Frank had ten children.

From 1861 to 1880, Frank made a living by farming. In the 1870s, he began building railroad grades. In the winter of 1881, Frank and his brother, Joseph S. Allen, formed a partnership called Allen Brothers and opened a mercantile store. Joseph managed the store and Frank went to Montana to build railroad grades.

In 1887, Frank moved to Cardston and homesteaded land. His move kept him safe from the polygamy raids which were happening in Utah. He and his family were very instrumental in building the community of Cardston.

Frank later returned to Hyrum, Utah and on May 16, 1901, Frank was thrown from a horse which crushed his skull. He lost consciousness and died that same day. Remembering his heritage, Frank's son, Alvin has said, After the children were all married and when they visited together they often spoke of the example their father and mother had set. They remembered how faithful the parents had been in attending to church duties, how family prayers were held and the Word of Wisdom taught in the home, not just by precept but by example. So far as they knew their father had never touched tea, coffee, liquor nor tobacco and their mother had likewise abstained from these things. They observed that he had been honest in his dealings. This is a challenge to us, their descendants, to appreciate and emulate the noble and uplifting heritage which is ours.

Conversion of Simeon Franklin (Frank) Allen

Frank was six years old when his father joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9 February 1845. About five months later the family moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, to be with the body of the Church. A year later, 15 June 1846, Ira, his wife, and found children . . . were driven by mobs from Nauvoo . . .

Simeon Franklin Allen was baptized and confirmed by Wilford Woodruff April 1847.

Testimony of Simeon Franklin (Frank) Allen:

After [Frank's] children were all married and when they visited together they often spoke of the example their father and mother had set. They remembered how faithful the parents had been in attending to church duties, how family prayers were held and the Word of Wisdom taught in the home, not just by precept but by example. So far as they knew their father had never touched tea, coffee, liquor nor tobacco and their mother had likewise abstained from these things. They observed that he had been honest in his dealings. This is a challenge to us, their descendants, to appreciate and emulate the noble and uplifting heritage which is ours.