Albert J Allen (1855-1932) 52 Ancestors #17

Most of this was taken from Albert's Find a Grave memorial:

Albert J. Allen was born April 26, 1855, in Cedar City, Utah, to Ira Allen & Keziah Benson Allen. He was the second of 7 sons in his family. His father, Ira Allen, was the founder of the city of Hyrum, Utah, and was also a polygamist with 3 wives, so Albert or "Ab" as he was often called, had many half-brothers and sisters as well.

Ab was 6 years old when he moved to Cache Valley with his family. At the age of 15, he learned from his father how to be a shoemaker. Later he acquired skills in carpentry, electrical work and plumbing. He was a hard worker and very industrious. He even raised colts for awhile and also tried his hand at mining in Arizona for a short time. As a young man, he played the bass drum in the town band.

At the age of 21, he married Finnetta Ann Williams on Feb. 5, 1877, in the Endowment House at Salt Lake City, Utah. She was only 16 years old at the time.

They were blessed with 9 children:

1. Albert "Silas" Allen (1878) (my great grandfather)
2. Ivy May Allen Liljenquist (1881)
3. Victor J. Allen (1883)
4. Truman Allen (1886)
5. Sylvia Floss Allen Peterson (1888)
6. Asael Lucian Allen (1891)
7. Pearl Keziah Allen Hughes (1894)
8. Russell Gale Allen (1897)
9. Fern Hope Allen (1901)

After their 7th child, Pearl, was born, Ab was called to serve a 2-year mission for the LDS Church in the Northern States Mission. Even though he had to leave his family, he did not question the call. He took all the money he could gather when he left, which amounted to $375, and was never sent another cent while he served. After he returned home, he and Finnetta had their last 2 children.

Ab served on the Hyrum City police force and was later elected City Marshall. He also served on the Hyrum City Council from 1908-1910.

For many years, Ab used his carpentry skills to make many of the coffins for the people who died in Hyrum. He became expert in planing and sawing all shapes of fancy wood ornaments and turning and grooving posts. He had a large wood shop built behind their home where he did much of his carpentry work. As a rule, he received 15 cents an hour for his work, and usually worked 10 hour days. He often smelled of freshly cut wood that he worked with.

Ab and his son, Silas, were recognized as two of the three main carpenters for the new Hyrum First Ward Chapel, which was finished in 1905.

People who knew him well described him as being religious and exacting; often times quite stern. Others described him as being strong and steadfast.

Ab never owned an automobile. Along with that, he refused to have an indoor toilet put in his home; he said that toilets did not belong in the house.

He was ordained to the office of Seventy in the LDS Church and was sustained as one of the presidents of his quorum before being ordained to the office of High Priest.

He enjoyed raising a large garden and was very proud of his cantaloupe and watermelon crop.

Towards the end of his life, Ab suffered a stroke and spent much of his time resting in bed. Though he was confined to bed, he could always find a peppermint in his pocket for his grandchildren when they came to visit. Some of his grandchildren called them his "high-priest mints."

Albert died on April 14, 1932, just before his 78th birthday.