Allen Family History

Patriarchal Blessing given to Calista Allen: (volume 35, pages 343 & 344)

Patriarchal blessing upon the head of Calista Allen daughter of Luther Bass and Charlotte Rowson. Born Ashford Windham Co Connecticut May 22nd 1812 given under the hands of Elisha H. Groves Patriarch March 10th 1854 Cedar City Iron Co Utah Teritory.

Sister Calista in the name of Jesus of Nazareth by virtue of the Holy Priesthood in me vested I place my hands upon thy head to seal upon thee a Patriarchal or Fathers blessing which shall rest upon thee and thou shalt realize the fulfilment thereof. None have excelled thee in purity of motive and because of the integrity of thy heart and purity of mind thy sins are remitted unto thee Thy name is written in the Lambs book of life and inasmuch as thou wilt continue in faith thy reward and thy blessings shall be great. For all thy privations sacrifices and sufferings thou shalt receive many fold. Thy holy angels will be with thee and in their hands they will bear thee up and deliver thee from thy common enemy the evil on who seeketh the overthrow of the sons and daughters of Adam. Thou art a daughter of Abraham of the loins of Joseph and blood of Ephraim a lawfull heir to the blessings which pertain to the fullness of the Holy Priesthood according to thy sex which thou shalt receive in due time that thou mayest be able to act in concert with thy husband in the redemption of thy progenitors. Thou are a mother in Isreal because of the principles of light and truth which abideth in thee. Thou shalt delight thyself in the blessing of posterity which shall multiply and become numerous upon the earth. Thy children and thy children’s children arising after thee shall administer and bless and comfort thee in thy old age. Thy name shall be handed down to the latest generation in honorable remembrance of thee as a mother in Zion. Peace and good order shall rest in thy habitation. Thou shalt receive the dews of heaven and the fruits of the earth and all things needful to render life happy and agreeable. Thy mind shall be enlightened both by dreams and by visions and by administrations of heavenly messengers who will visit thee inasmuch as thou wilt exercise faith and humility thou shalt behold the redemption of Zion, the reign of peace upon the earth delight thyself in the blessing of the fruit of the vine and the olive yard receive many blessings and privileges in the Temple of Zion become a Queen and a Priestess unto the most high God receive thy crown. Dominion Power and Eternal increase which is the reward of the faithfull thy inheritance in Zion in common with thy Benefactor be thou therefore faithfull and these blessings shall be sure unto thee. I seal them upon thy head in the name of Jesus of Nazareth even so Amen. T. A. D.

Life Sketch of Calista Bass:

Calista Bass was born May 22, 1812 in Ashford, Connecticut to Luther Bass and Charlotte Rawson. This area was highly forested and clearing tree roots for farms was difficult. Calista's family lived in a small village in the middle of the forest.

Calista grew up in a God-fearing home, where modesty, Bible study, hard work, and obedience to parents was expected. Her mother taught her to card wool, knit stockings, and make butter and cheese.

Calista was born about twelve miles from Ira's birthplace in Thompson, Connecticut. Exactly how the two met is unknown, but they may have attended the same schoolhouse or had mutual friends. The two fell in love and Ira asked her father for permission to marry Calista. Permission was granted and Ira and Calista were wed on November 23, 1834. They lived with Calista's parents for almost a year after their marriage and then moved to nearby Woodstock, Connecticut. After the birth of their second child (the first child who lived to adulthood), they sought to find a new life for themselves out west and traveled almost 800 miles to Michigan. Upon reaching Litchfield, Ira built a two-story log home for Calista. She was blessed to enjoy a water pump which brought water right into the kitchen so she didn't have to go outside to draw water from the well.

Calista struggled with poor health for several years and has been described as an invalid. When Ira heard LDS missionaries preaching in February of 1845, he invited them home where Calista met them for the first time. The missionaries administered to Calista, and when she was baptized later that month her sickness left her and she remained in good health until the latter part of her life.

Ira and Calista traveled from Michigan to Nauvoo and then headed west for the Great Salt Lake Valley, arriving in the valley on October 30, 1850. She raised her family in Springville, then Cedar City, and finally in Cache Valley, Utah, with the help of Keziah and Cynthia, wives she consented to have added to the family.

Calista died on January 11, 1863 in Hyrum, Utah, just three years after the family moved to that area. She was 50 years old and had lived to see two of her children marry.

Calista's great-grandson, Reed Nielsen, has said of her: Her life was short in years but not in the experiences that make life meaningful and rich. She witnessed much, sacrificed much, gave much, and in essence, gave her life for what was most precious to her: her family, the Gospel, and the Savior. Calista Bass Allen was a remarkable pioneer woman. The joy of finding the Gospel of Jesus Christ made up for all the hardships she had to endure.