Margaret Maria Nielsen (1875-1957) 52 Ancestors #8

This week, in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge from Amy Johnson Crow, I've chosen to write about my paternal great grandmother, Margaret Maria (Nielsen) Allen.

Margaret Maria Nielsen (1875-1957)

Margaret Maria Nielsen was the fourth of six children born to Andrew B. Nielsen and Elizabeth Ericksen. She was born June 7, 1875 in Hyrum, Cache, Utah. Both of her parents were of Scandinavian heritage, her father being born in Denmark, and her mother was born in Illinois to Norwegian immigrants.

As far as I can tell, Margaret lived her whole life in Hyrum. She had a younger sister pass away when she was 10 years old (Emily Christine Nielsen on July 18, 1885). Two of her older sisters were married (Mary Elizabeth Nielsen and Anna Melinda Nielsen) when Margaret was age 14 and 15. Then her mother, Elizabeth (Ericksen) Nielsen passed away when Margaret was 16 years old on October 4, 1891. After her mother passed away, Margaret was the only girl left in the home, with her father, her elder brother (Andrew Henry Nielsen - age 22) and younger brother (Joseph Ilard Nielsen - age 9). Margaret likely took over her mother's role in the home until her father remarried (Helen Maria McBride) on April 9th, 1896, when Margaret was 20. Three more children were born to this marriage (Aleda Neilsen in 1897, Rulon Harlum Nielsen in 1899, and Harold Marriner Nielsen in 1902).

Margaret married Albert Silas Allen in the Logan LDS Temple at the age of 26 on February 5, 1902. A month later, her younger brother (Joseph Ilard Nielsen) passed away on March 29, 1902. Later that year, Margaret's eldest son (Albert Merlin Allen) was born on December 30, 1902. Three years later, my grandfather (Wendell Gayle Allen) was born on September 14, 1905. A third son (Andrew Thayle Allen) was born July 14, 1907, but he got pneumonia as an infant and passed away on December 8, 1911. A fourth son (Alton Clain Allen) was born August 11, 1914, but he also contracted pneumonia and passed away as a child on March 24, 1921.

Margaret Nielsen Allen Family

Margaret's eldest son, Merlin never married, but served in the army and operated a service station in Hyrum. He had diabetes and had to have his leg amputated later in life.

Margaret's 2nd son, Wendell Allen (my grandfather) married Oda Juanita Larsen on November 29, 1933 and they had 5 children (one of them my father). I know very little about Margaret, but I asked my dad what he remembers of her and he said that she would make really good raisin-filled cookies. My grandmother mentions that she and Margaret would go to the temple together.

Margaret's husband, Albert Silas Allen (who was three years her junior) passed away on November 1, 1952. Margaret passed away five years later at the age of 82 on September 27, 1957 and is buried in the Hyrum City Cemetery next to her husband. Her four sons are also buried close by in the Hyrum City cemetery.