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Support Our Research - Join The AFO! East Coast Allred Family Association Family Histories
and Stories |
Back to the main Newsletter page Newsletter Issue #5, pg 7, October 1990 Rachel's Warning by: Tessie J. Pyper (Rachel, Reuben Warren, James, William, Thomas) Rachel 1847-1894 In AFN #3, Pat asked if anyone knew the story of how Rachel had warned the settlers of an Indian attack. Recently I was given a copy of a history of Reuben Warren Allred, Sr., by Sidney and Phyllis Kelsey and in it was the story. This history was compiled by three grand-daughters of Reuben W. Allred Sr.: Emmeline Allred Stapley, Minnie Allred Barney and Emmeline Allred Jensen. Besides enduring hardships incident to pioneer life, the Indians in Sanpete and adjoining counties caused the settlers a great deal of trouble and uneasiness, driving off nearly all the animals owned by the settlers and threatening their lives. This little band of pioneers were of necessity forced to defend themselves. Reuben W. Allred, Sr. was made post commander of this settlement and at times took his men to the "hay bottoms" for target practice. One day the town was visited by a band of Indians who were returning from a raid on another tribe, having with them several papooses who they had taken from those they had been fighting with. According to custom, they were going to kill the children and did kill some. Among their captives was a small girl papoose. Reuben Warren, to save her life, bought her from the Indians. She was given the name of Rachel and was adopted into the family, where she was brought up and respected as one of their own. James T. S. Allred bought a small boy at the same time and he was named Nephi. Again, the Indians became hostile and came through Springtown on their way to take the squaws to the mountains. Some of the squaws came to grandfather's house and peered through the window. (note: the story has been handed down, according to Sidney and Phyllis that one of the squaws was the mother of Rachel and happy to see that she was alive and well.) They saw Rachel and told her that the Indians were coming back to kill all the white folks in the settlement. For some time after this Rachel kept walking around the house crying bitterly. She finally told the other children the reason for her grief. At this time, Springtown consisted of but thirteen families or houses, so there were not many men in the settlement. Children were sent out at once to tell every man the news so that they could prepare to defend themselves and their property. To do this, they drew in all the houses, placing them together to form a fort. (Their houses or cabins had been built on pole skids or made so the skids could be placed under them, then teams of horses could be used to move the cabins in the event of such an attack.) When their enemies came, they found the white men prepared for an attack. Although the Indians whooped and yelled, they neither killed or drove off any animals at this time. So, by buying and saving the life of one little papoose, the lives of the whole settlement were saved. |
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