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Allred Family Organization
AFO Mission Statement
Identify and Unite the Allred Family Through
Gathering, Storing and Sharing Information

Family Histories and Stories
Being Updated

Submitted by: Sharon Allred Jessop 02/18/1999

THE FIRST CONVERTS

A History of James, Isaac and William Allred
by Karla Monson
(Missouri Era)

And also my servant John Murdock, and my servant Hyrum Smith, take their journey unto the same place by the way of Detroit. (D & C 52:8) Obeying this commandment, the missionary team of John Murdock and Hyrum Smith introduced the Allred Brothers, James, Isaac and William to the Gospel in the fall of 1831.1

Previous to his conversion in Missouri, Isaac had homesteaded with his parents in the Southern States. His birth on January 27, 1788 in Pendleton, South Carolina, occurred during the month when Georgia and Connecticut were convening to ratify the Constitution. When the family of William and Elizabeth Thresher Allred moved to Franklin Co., Georgia in 1790, Congress held its second session in Philadelphia. As friction with France and England culminated in the War of 1812, they migrated westward to Bedford Co., Tennessee.2

In Tennessee Isaac married Mary Calvert Feb. 14, 1811, two weeks after his 22nd birth-day and four weeks before her 16th birthday. They remained in Bedford Co., until Paulinus Harvey was a few months old, then joined their relatives in the Allred Settlement of Monroe Co., Missouri by the Salt River. Recalling the years in Tennessee, William Moore, the second son, wrote:

"My parents were very religious. I believe they belonged to the Presbyterian Church. I never had much chance for an Education and it was very old fashioned at that. I remember of going to Sabbath School a few times where I was born and went a few times to the Camp meetings but yet I was too young to understand much about doctrine."3

This same son describes the novelty of the first winter in Missouri. The snow fell two feet deep and froze so that he could walk on the crust. The deer were plentiful and with his dogs to chase them, William killed his first deer when he was 10 or 12 years old. He frosted his feet that winter and was obliged to stay inside while his brother John Calvert supplied wood to the house. His twin brothers, Reddin and Redick, having no shoes, were also confined to the house and William taught them to spell and read. Missouri was a new adventure for the family and Isaac purchased land close to the state road, "...the great highway from east to the west," three miles from one of the forks of the Salt River.4

Two years following their arrival in Monroe Co. Hyrum Smith and John Murdock preached to the Allreds, testifying that a new prophet, Joseph Smith, had organized a new church or rather the old one restored. They arrived on August 4, 1831 and taught the next day. John Murdock became ill and they spent a week at Salt River. According to Redick, his parents were exemplary Presbyterians and were taught that prophets and apostles were no longer needed. They thus regarded Elder Smith and Murdock suspiciously. The two Elders passed on to found the center stake of Zion, New Jerusalem in Jackson Co., Mo. Later Isaac opened his home for meetings as other Elders, bound for Jackson Co., stopped to teach. A year passed and the faith sown in 1831 took root as George Hinkle, Daniel Cathcart and James Johnson organized the Allreds, Ivies and others into the Salt River Branch. Nineteen converts, including Isaac and Mary, one or two daughters and William Moore were baptized September 10, 1832.5

As the Saints were amassing in Jackson Co., the Salt River increased in self-sufficiency. John Ivie baptized Reddin and Redick in March 1833. That year Isaac, intent on founding Zion with the Saints, sold his farm to relocate westward. However, in the fall the Saints were expelled from Jackson Co. Their departure was marked by the falling of stars, which Redick affirms, "...was witnessed in our locality in all its splendor, and many believed the end of the world had come." Awaiting the next gathering, Isaac rented the home of the buyer of his former property and stayed with the members of the Salt River Branch. At this time Isaac observed that Paulinus Harvey's mouth would draw down to one side when he laughed. Isaac called on the healing power of the Elders and Paulinus' mouth was normalized.6

Isaac's family met the prophet as he recruited men for the army to reclaim the lost property of the Saints in the spring of 1834. William defined his first impressions of the Prophet of Zion's Camp as follows:

"I thought he had a very noble appearance, very kind and affectionate. I visited the camp several times while they were stopping at my Uncle James Allred's farm. I know he was a true prophet of God, for I have lived to see many of his prophecies fulfilled and am willing for this testimony to go to all the world."

Joseph Smith specifies in the Journal History that the company arrived June 7, 1834 and camped in a grove by the spring waters of the Salt River, by a branch of the Church called the Allred Settlement. They rested, washed clothes and prepared for their journey until June 12. James Allred (Isaac's brother), Isaac and Martin Allred (James' sons) and Andrew Whitlock (James' son-in-law) joined the company formed to redeem Zion.7
Returning from his mission, Joseph stopped again in the Allred Settlement to urge the Saints to abandon their irretrievable farms in Jackson Co. and establish themselves in Clay Co. Isaac hastened to Fishing River in Clay Co. in 1835 and harvested one crop before mob spirit re-surged. Treated with more equanimity this time, the old settlers bought out the Saints farms and they moved to Caldwell Co. This county was sparsely populated and in 1836 was a refuge for outlaws. Nonetheless, Isaac prospered and in 1837, the year ground was broken for a temple in Far West, purchased land on Long Creek, 8 miles from Far West. On March 18, 1838 the Prophet and other Church leaders moved into Far West and the population swelled enough to cause the counties to split into Davis and Caldwell. As the Church expanded the natives panicked and violence was triggered on election day at Gallatin, Davis Co. Isaac had by that time three living daughters and nine sons. William declares that, "...we suffered considerable from persecution and exposure."8

Both William and Redick have vivid accounts of the turbulent months in 1838 when the prophet urged all outlying settlements to Far West for their protection. Preparing to withstand a siege, a company of men supervised by Captain Buchannan dragged a horse mill from Davis Co. into Far West. Redick, 16 years old at the time, took his father's ox team and assisted the company.
This is his recollection of the events on Oct. 24 and 25, 1838 as he returned to the city:

"I put up at Father Morley's not having time to go home, eight miles out, before night. I had just fed my team and was eating supper when father came to town with a report that the mob was making a raid upon the scattered settlements on the head of Log Creek. He told me to hitch up and go home as soon as possible to guard his family. It was pitch dark when I started and as I crossed the square Apostle David Patten was in his saddle raising his men to go out to protect our people. Having had scarcely any sleep for two nights, I could not keep
awake in the wagon, so I walked by the side of my oxen, and there I even slept as I walked, at the same time not knowing at what moment I might be in the hands of the mob. I got home at 1 o'clock and found all safe. Father kept on the alert, and at the break of day he heard the guns at the "Crooked River Battle", it being only five miles from our home. That morning we moved into Far West, and witnessed the approach of the army, the capture of the Prophet and others, the surrender of arms, etc., etc."9

William was listed in George Hinkle's company (the man who baptized him) during the violence in Carroll and Davis Co. The company marched to the town of DeWitt to aid a settlement besieged by the mob. Their opponents repulsed their aggression and William mentions, "...they commenced shooting toward us but the bullets went over our heads (it being a lumbered Country) but there were of us hit." They struck a truce with the mob and moved on to the support of the Saints of Davis Co. William saw the altar where Joseph revealed that Adam had offered sacrifice and built a breastwork with a detachment of fifty to defend the Saints from the Missouri militia of Generals Clark and Lucas. Capitulating to superior numbers, Colonel Hinkle agreed to surrender Joseph and Hyrum and his men's personal arms and property. As Joseph left for trial in Davis Co., mob threats increased and William joined a self-appointed group to protect him.10

Acquiescing to the defeat of the Saints, Joseph and Hyrum entered the camp of the Missourians and William recalls "....such a yelling and screaming and swearing I never heard, we could hear them up to Town." They held a court martial and condemned Joseph and Hyrum to death. William marched into the square in Far West with other Mormon defenders to sign away his property as compensation for damages to the Missourians and to relinquish his arms. General Lucas or Clark (William was not certain which one) advised them to leave the state in spring and not to hope for mercy for their leaders, for "Their die is cast, their Doom is Sealed."11

William Allred, Isaac's younger brother, also took an active stand against the enemies of the Church. As a Captain over ten mounted men he went to intercept a wagon of guns and ammunition, destined for use against the Mormon forces, in September , 1838. The wagon was hijacked and the guns scattered. Three men, issuing from the Missouri camp, were seized by Captain Allred who had authority from a writ to arrest any man abetting the mob. The culprits and the munitions were taken to Far West. The inhabitants exulted in having frustrated the machinations of the mob.12

In November, 1838, after the surrender of the Saints, General Clark brought William Allred, Martin C. Allred (James' son), and Andrew Whitlock (James' son-in-law) before Judge King and charged them with high treason against the state, murder, burglary, arson, robbery and larceny. They were incarcerated with Joseph, Hyrum, Sidney Rigdon, Parley P. Pratt and forty-eight other alleged war criminals at Richmond, Mo. Having found no evidence to accuse Andrew, Martin C., or William of a crime, Judge King discharged them on November 18th.13

Two months after his release from prison, a public meeting was held in Far West. In attendance were the Saints from devastated Caldwell Co. On a motion made by President Brigham Young, it was resolved to enter into a covenant to assist themselves and the worthy destitute Saints in leaving Missouri until all were out of danger of General Clark's extermination order. William, Martin C. and two hundred and twelve other members signed the covenant. William was compelled to move to Pike Co., Ill. where Hyrum ordained him a bishop. He had left over 600 acres of land in Missouri.14

As William (Isaac's son) returned home, destroyed crops and property littered his path. His father had only one or two teams remaining. The family left Far West by foot in the snow. One of Isaac's daughter's skits were frozen up to her knees. In a petition to reimburse the Saints, sent in 1839 to Congress by Joseph Smith, Isaac is named with James (his brother), Martin C. and Reuben W. (his nephews) as plaintiffs for financial loss. Isaac estimates his property damage at $3,300.00 and sues the government for redress.15

While his older brother was protecting the Saints in outlying districts, Redick was organized by Joseph into a regiment of the fifty men and boys remaining in Far West. They attempted to shield the city from the threat of Governor Boggs army of 4,000. Their minimal army disconcerted stray Missourians forming battle lines for the oncoming conflict. Redick writes that "...seeing our two companies charging into town on the east and west, they broke ranks and fled in confusion."16

Fearing recognition by the mobocrats, William left the state to spend a few months in hiding with his brother, John Calvert in Quincy, Ill. He returned to Missouri to help his parents evacuate. They rented a farm of a Mr. Stone in Adams Co., Ill. twenty miles south of Quincy.17

Despite the Missouri disasters, proselytizing continued. At the October Conference of 1839, held in Commerce, Ill., Reddin, Redick, and William (no verification as to whether this is William Moore or Isaac's brother) were sustained as Elders. The twins left in November to share the Gospel with John Napoleon Calvert, Mary's younger brother, in Williamson Co., Ill. They spent a month preaching and leaving a favorable impression of Mormonism. Redick states that ""He said it was scriptural and reasonable, but he thought he could get all the salvation he needed where he was by being a strict Presbyterian." A year later, after Fall Conference, Redick embarked by steamboat with Elders Daniel Gam and Jacob Foutz to proselyte in Cincinnati. He preached with Andrew Lamoreaux and eventually gravitated to Trenton, Indiana where he organized the branch. While he was engaged in missionary endeavors, Isaac, sometime during 1840-41, departed from Adams Co. to Nauvoo, Hancock Co.18

(Nauvoo Era)

Vis-a-vis fever-ridden Commerce, the Prophet reorganized his people and galvanized their energy for the building of Nauvoo. Anxious to own property in the city, Isaac placed himself under bond to Hiram Kimball, a local land owner, in order to purchase land in November ,1841. He signed his name to three petitions regarding his lot. First, for the Kimball addition to be included in the boundaries of the city; second, for a well to stand at Durfee and Hibbard streets; and third, for Kimball street not to open from Hibbard to Barnett street.19

An auspicious year for all the citizens of Nauvoo, the temple was begun and the Nauvoo Legion formed in 1841. William hauled into town the first load of stone quarried for the temple. Until the completion of the temple, he labored intermittently with joiners and carpenters in the workshops surrounding the temple foundations. Redick describes working on the temple part-time as a mason. Many of the workers were poverty-stricken and survived on bread and water.20

Examining the Temple Carpentry Shop Account Books proves that Isaac also worked as a carpenter. It is probable that he worked part-time in the Temple Stone Cutting Shop. James Allred also assisted in constructing the Temple and giving endowments.21

Accompanying the building of the Temple was the restoration of ordinances for dead ancestors. William expressed his feelings on baptisms for the dead:

"I was present when he (Joseph Smith) preached the first sermon on baptism for the dead. I remember my father said it was astonishing to him to think he had read the Bible all his life and never looked at it in that light before. I was present at the first baptism for the
dead."

The records of Nauvoo show James Allred as a witness for John Murdock and Benjamin Andrews when they are baptized on behalf of deceased relatives on August 4, 1844.22

Endowments for the living and the dead was the next step in the restoration of temple ordinances. At the time of that restoration, Joseph came to Elizabeth Warren (James' wife) with a sacred assignment:

"It was while they were living in Nauvoo that the Prophet came to my grandmother, who was a seamstress by trade, and told her he had seen the Angel Moroni with the garments on, and asked her to assist him in cutting out the garments. They spread unbleached muslin out on the table and he told her how to cut it out. She had to cut the third pair, however, before he said it was satisfactory. She told the Prophet that there would be sufficient cloth from the knee to the ankle to make a pair of sleeves, but he told her he wanted as few seams as possible and there would be sufficient whole cloth to cut the sleeve without piecing. The first pair were made of unbleached muslin and bound with turkey red and without collars."23

To guard his city, Joseph created the Nauvoo Legion in 1841. William was commissioned as Captain of the 2 Company, 2 Battalion, 2 Regiment, and 2 Cohort of the Legion.24

In March, 1841 James Allred was appointed as a supervisor of streets and as a high con-stable. In actuality, this was also a calling to be one of the Prophet's body guards. James was chosen again as a body guard to Joseph in the Nauvoo Legion. At April Conference he was sustained as a high councilor in the Nauvoo Stake. In addition to his priesthood duties, he would have shared with the other high councilors the task of guarding