Albert Silas Allen (1878-1952) 52 Ancestors #10

For this post in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge from Amy Johnson Crow, I'm writing about my paternal great grandfather, Albert Silas Allen.

Albert Silas Allen (1878-1952)

Born: September 13, 1878 in Hyrum, Utah
Died: November 1, 1952 in Hyrum, Utah

Parents

Albert J Allen (1855-1932)
Finetta Ann Williams (1860-1943)

Spouse & Children

Margaret Maria Nielsen (1875-1957)

• Albert Merlin Allen (1902-1988)
• Wendell Gayle Allen (1905-1985)
• Andrew Thayle Allen (1909-1911)
• Alton Clain Allen (1911-1921)

Albert was the eldest of nine children of Albert J. Allen and Finetta Ann Williams, born in Hyrum, Utah on September 13, 1878. His son (Wendell Gayle Allen) and great grandson (me) were both born the day after his birthday on September 14th. Albert received a common school education in Hyrum.

Albert married Margaret Maria Nielsen in the Logan LDS Temple on February 5, 1902. Later that year, Albert'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.

Albert Silas Allen Family

Albert was called to leave his family and serve a mission to Great Britain 1915-1918 and labored in the Scottish and and Manchester conferences.

Albert'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.

Albert'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).

Albert Silas Allen was the third bishop of the Hyrum 1st Ward and was a carpenter by trade. He also worked as a custodian at South Cache High School.

Albert Silas Allen passed away suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 74 on November 1, 1952. He had been invited to speak at a funeral and got up to speak and said, "Brothers and Sisters, I'm happy to be here today." Those were apparently his last words, as he had a heart attack and died.

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. Their four sons are also buried close by in the Hyrum City cemetery.

Evelyn Hope Ashton (1920-1993) 52 Ancestors #9

This week, in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge from Amy Johnson Crow, I'm writing about my maternal grandmother, Evelyn Hope Ashton.

Evelyn Hope Ashton

Born: February 17, 1920 in Roosevelt, Utah
Died: September 20, 1993 in St. George, Utah

Parents

Clarence Llewellyn Ashton (1891-1971)
Hazel Bryce (1897-1985)

Spouse & Children

Bennie Schmiett (1915-2004)

• Female (living)
• Female (living)
• Wendy Rae Schmiett (1952-1998)
• James Clare Schmiett (1957-2002)

Evelyn & Bennie Schmiett at their home in Salt Lake City, 1970s

Biography

My maternal grandmother, Evelyn Hope Ashton, was the only living child of Clarence Llewellyn Ashton and Hazel Bryce Ashton (one other sibling, Helen only lived 1 day.). Evelyn was born February 17, 1920 in Roosevelt Utah. Her father, Clarence owned a hardware store in Roosevelt, and he was mayor of Roosevelt for two terms. She married Bennie Schmiett in Roosevelt August 6, 1939 and together they had four children.

Evelyn and Bennie lived in Roosevelt, Orem, Salt Lake City, and finally St. George, UT, where Evelyn passed away on September 20, 1993.

Links

Find a Grave Memorial
Wikispaces Site for Evelyn Hope Ashton

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.

Oda Juanita Larsen (1906-1993) 52 Ancestors #7

This week, in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge from Amy Johnson Crow, I've chosen to write about my paternal grandmother, Oda Juanita Larsen.

Oda Juanita Larsen (1906-1993)

Oda Juanita Larsen was born November 27, 1906 in Hyrum, Cache, Utah. She was the third child born to Ernest Andrew Larsen (Swedish heritage) and Anna Hansina Petrea Albretsen (born in Denmark). She had two older brothers (Garnel & Lavon) and seven younger siblings (Mabel, Melvina, Lloyd, Effie, Kathrine, Donna, and Ila Mae).

When Oda was only three weeks old, she had pneumonia and was very sick. The Elders administered to her and she recovered fully.

Grandma never liked her name. Oda was named for a Danish opera singer, and her middle name (Juanita) was for a girl in a novel that her mother had read.

Just before her 18th birthday, Oda and her nine brothers and sisters were sealed to their parents in the Logan LDS temple (November 14, 1923). That must have been quite a sight to see a beautiful family with ten children dressed in white to be sealed together in the temple that day.

Oda in her younger years

Oda worked as a telephone operator for several years at the telephone office in Hyrum, Utah. In 1932 she went to Logan to work as a telephone operator and stayed with her sister, Mabel and her husband, George.

Oda married Wendell Gayle Allen in the Logan LDS temple on November 29, 1933. They lived in a home on Center street in Hyrum east of the town square until 1952, when they moved two blocks south.

Grandma enjoyed going to the Logan LDS temple to do temple work. She recalls going to the temple with her mother-in-law (Margaret Nielsen Allen) and spending all day there, going through two sessions.

Oda and Wendell had five children (3 boys and two girls), all of whom are still living except for their eldest daughter (Gayle), who died in 2008.

Grandma was a quiet woman and never wanted to impose on anyone else. She never had a driver's license, and would always leave the driving to her husband or one of her children. She kept a diary, which contained very short entries on most days, but is fun to read. She also wrote a short life history, which contains a few more details and stories from her life.

In her later years, she had dementia and lived with her daughter, Gayle in West Valley, Utah. I remember that she would sometimes think my dad was her elder brother, Lavon.

I remember going to grandma's house in Hyrum and she would make really good homemade rolls. After dinner, she would often say "Did you get what you could eat?". When it got to be late at night, she would say "It won't be this in the morning."

My grandmother Oda Juanita Larsen Allen passed away July 14, 1993 in West Valley City, Utah at the age of 86 and is buried in the Hyrum City cemetery.

Wendell Gayle Allen (1905-1985) 52 Ancestors #6

This is the sixth post in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge from Amy Johnson Crow. So far I've been focusing on ancestors on my mother's side of the family. I'm going to be a lot more systematic about my writing from now on. This week, I've chosen to write about my paternal grandfather, Wendell Gayle Allen.

Wendell Gayle Allen (1905-1985)

Wendell Gayle Allen was the second of four boys born to Albert Silas Allen and Margaret Maria Nielsen. He was born September 14th, 1905 in Hyrum, Cache, Utah. I share a birthday with him and he was very proud that I was born on his birthday. I am also his eldest grandchild. Wendell had an elder brother (Merlin) and two younger brothers (Alton and Clain), both of whom died of pneumonia in childhood.

I don't know much about Wendell's childhood, but it must have been hard on him and his family to see his younger brothers get sick with pneumonia and die. Andrew Thale Allen (age 2) passed away in 1911 (Wendell was 6), and Alton Clain Allen passed away in 1921 at the age of 9 (Wendell was 15).

Grandpa's elder brother, Merlin, never married. He would often come over to see us when we came to visit grandpa Allen. I remember he always used to bring soda pop for us. I always liked to drink a bottle of Sprite that Merlin had brought us at grandpa's house. I remember that Grandpa and Merlin seemed to argue a lot. Merlin picked up some bad habits (alcohol) in the service, but I didn't know about it until recently. Merlin operated a gas station in Hyrum at one time, and my dad tells me about a time that he worked for him and saw him very drunk. This is a side of him I never saw. I do remember that his house was very cluttered and full of junk, and that he used to swear a lot (damn and hell).

Grandpa Allen was quite different from Merlin and maybe that's why I remember them arguing a lot. Grandpa was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints all his life. He served a mission to Germany. I don't know much about his mission, but I do remember that I loved the cuckoo clock at his house. I assume this came from Germany. It had a little bird that came out and would "cuckoo" every hour on the hour. It looked something like this:

Here's a picture of Grandpa Allen as a young man, probably about the age of a missionary:

After grandpa returned home from his mission, he married Oda Juanita Larsen November 29, 1933 at the age of 28 in the Logan, Utah LDS temple. Wendell and Oda had three boys and two girls, all of whom are still living except his eldest daughter (Gayle), who passed away in 2008.

Grandpa was a manager over custodians at Utah State University and he operated the sewage treatment plant at Bushnell Military Hospital (later the Intermountain Indian School) in Brigham City, Utah. He was also a temple worker in the Logan, Utah LDS temple.

One thing I remember about grandpa as a child was that he would firmly grab my leg above the knee and say "You've got a stick of wood!". He would also take his grandkids on his knee and bounce them and sing the "Hansa Dansa" song. I think this came from Denmark (through Grandma's family), but I remember him singing it.

He would also do this thing with our toes. He would grab each toe one by one (calling them by name) "Icky Pee, Penny Rue, Rudy Whistle, Mary Hostle, and Old Tom Bumble." Then he would do the toes on the other foot like this: "Tom a Tot, Slick a Pot, Long a Mon, Gulabron, and littly bitty Spielamon" (perhaps this was German?).

Grandpa had a nice home in Hyrum with a big wrap-around porch. He had a large yard and a big garden. I remember grandpa liked to watch the Lawrence Welk Show on TV (I could never understand why). I actually lived in grandpa's house one summer as I was attending summer term at Utah State University before I was married.

I remember going up to Hyrum with my dad to help mow the lawn in his later years (lots of grass to mow). Grandpa passed away at the age of 79 on March 17, 1985 (St. Patrick's Day). I was a senior in high school at the time. He is buried in the Hyrum City Cemetery.

Oda and Wendell Allen

Ellen Elizabeth Croxford Ashton (1848-1932) 52 Ancestors #5

Ellen Elizabeth Croxford

For this week in the 52 Ancestors Challenge, I've chosen to write about my 3rd great grandmother, Ellen Elizabeth Croxford. Ellen (or Nellie, as she was also known) was born December 22nd 1848 in Kingston, Oxfordshire, England to William Croxford and Ellen Loader. Ellen was the eldest of her siblings (Arabella, Estella, Ernest, and William).

Ellen's parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in England in 1854 and as a 6-year old, Ellen and her parents emigrated to New York in 1856 on the ship John J Boyd. The family eventually made the trek westward to Utah in 1862 with the James Wareham Company.

Ten years later on February 6, 1866, Ellen married William Ashton in Pleasant Grove, Utah. William and Ellen lived in a home that William had built for her in Pleasant Grove (the historic Ashton-Driggs home, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places).  Six children were born to William and Nellie in this home (Kate Maria, Leslie, William Stanley, Lynne, Reece Llewellyn, and Grace Ellen) before the home was sold in 1880 to Olivia Pratt Driggs, the eldest daughter of mormon apostle Parley P. Pratt.

Ashton-Driggs home in May, 2012. Built by William Ashton in 1865.

It's interesting to note that I worked in Pleasant Grove for about two years in the late 1990's and I had no idea that William Ashton had built this historic house just a couple blocks away from where I was working.

In 1880 the Ashton family moved to Ashley Valley (now Vernal, Utah), where the Ashtons became prominent pioneer settlers.

William and Nellie had three more children in Vernal: Ethelyn, Clarence, and Winnie Hazel.

After William's death in 1909, Ellen moved to Los Angeles to live with her daughter, Hazel (Ashton) Robinson. Two other daughters (Ethelyn (Ashton) Smith and Kate (Ashton) Brown) also lived near their mother in the Los Angeles area.

Ellen passed away at the age of 84 on November 24, 1932 at the home of her daughter, Hazel in Los Angeles. She is buried in the Inglewood cemetery in Los Angeles.

Final resting spot for Ellen Elizabeth Croxford Ashton in Los Angeles

From Ellen's obituary published in the Vernal Express:

The deceased fitted in well with the early pioneer conditions and was always helpful to her scattered neighbors in their times of stress. She became active in church and other activities along with her many duties as wife and mother. Her one great desire was to see an honorable family reared, which she successfully accomplished. Her pleasing personality won for her many friends among all classes of people.

Bennie Schmiett (1915-2004) 52 Ancestors #4

http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm/ref/collection/VE_Photos/id/6556

My maternal grandfather, Bennie Schmiett was born January 30, 1915 in Los Angeles, California to Benard Schmiett and Hester Abiah Beckstead Schmiett. Bennie was the eldest of three children born to Benard and Hester Schmiett. Bennie’s sister, Fay Schmiett (Dimond) was two years younger and his brother, Stanley Wallace Schmiett was four years his junior.

Picture of Bennie and siblings courtesy of Sherry Anderson, granddaughter of Fay Schmiett Dimond

The first name on Bennie’s birth certificate appears to be Bernard or Benard, but he was always known as “Bennie”. A letter from Bennie’s mother to her sister indicates that she named him Bernard Schmiett “after his daddie.”

Although Bennie was born in Los Angeles, he spent most of his life in Utah. Bennie’s father was a minor league baseball player in California and Utah. Before Stan was born in 1919, the Schmiett family moved to the Salt Lake City area (Midvale).

From his youth, Bennie was a leader and enjoyed serving in public offices. He was the student body president at Jordan High School in 1933, and later served in several other public offices, including Roosevelt City Council, Duchesne County Democratic Party Chairman, Board of Trustees at Utah State University and Southern Utah State College, Utah State Legislature (1959-1961), Utah State Senate (1961-1962), Orem City Manager (1962-1964), Executive Director of the Utah League of Cities and Towns (1964-1980), and President and Treasurer of the Ridge Homeowners Association in St. George, Utah during his retirement.

Bennie attended Brigham Young University and graduated in 1937 with a BA degree. Bennie was a musician and played the trumpet at BYU and enjoyed playing in a band for dances and other events. After graduating from BYU, he taught instrumental and vocal music in Uintah, Duchesne, and Jordan school districts.

Bennie Schmiett (on far right) playing the trumpet at BYU in 1936

Bennie married Evelyn Hope Ashton in August, 1939 in Roosevelt, Utah. Bennie and Evelyn had four children: Linda, Leslie, Wendy, and Jim. Bennie and Evelyn were married for 54 years when Evelyn passed away in 1993.

Bennie and Evelyn Schmiett at their home in Salt Lake City

In addition to teaching music and serving in various public offices, Bennie worked as an assistant manager of the Leslie Ashton and Sons store in Roosevelt, Utah for 25 years.

Since grandpa Schmiett lived the longest (and I lived in St. George at the same time as him), I feel like I knew him better than my other grandparents. I remember grandpa always being very cheerful and upbeat, even when my grandmother could be quite demanding. He had a great condo at the Ridge in St. George with a beautiful view of the red rocks and the temple in St. George. I loved coming down to St. George to visit my grandparents during my teenage years.

Shortly after Grandma (Evelyn) passed away in 1993, Bennie married Cleo Allen Mohlman (years earlier they played together in a band at BYU), but she only lived a few years before she passed away in 1997 and he was left alone again. After Cleo died, he didn’t remarry again, but joked that he needed a “nurse with a purse.”

Grandpa had a great sense of humor, and my mom always said that I was like my grandpa when I would laugh at some silly movie. I remember grandpa telling me that there was a picture or a plaque showing him as a Utah legislator, and he was listed as “D. Bennie Schmiett” (the “D” was for “Democrat”). People would ask him what the initial “D” was for and he would joke with them that it was for “Darling”.

Grandpa would often take us to the Chuck a Rama buffet when we came to visit in St. George. One time he took us there (in his later years after Evelyn and Cleo had passed away) and a lady who was sitting at the table behind him accidentally bumped into grandpa as she was getting up from her chair and profusely apologized. He said, “That’s OK. I quite enjoyed it!”

Grandpa had a firm handshake, and he would always tell me that I ought to get into politics with a handshake like that (he should know). I was always impressed with how sharp he was for his age. It was only in his last few years that he was stricken with Alzheimer's and he was not the same person he once was.

Bennie passed away in Ogden, Utah on January 11, 2004 at the ripe old age of 88. He was preceded in death by his wife Evelyn in 1993, his wife Cleo in 1997, his daughter Wendy in 1998, and son Jim in 2002.