Allen Taylor (1815-1891)

by Juanita Kossen

January 17, 1984 marked the 170th anniversary of the arrival of a baby son at the home of William and Elizabeth Patrick Taylor, in Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky. Their second baby and a son whom they named Allen. To this union were born twelve more children to make their family circle number 16. What a great blessing to be born of good, strong and hard working family. Both of his parents became sincere, devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. William Taylor, Allen’s father, died 9 Sep 1839, leaving a family of 14 children, seven sons and seven daughters. Their names were:

• John
• Joseph
• Allen
• Pleasant Green
• Julia Ann
• William Warren
• Mary Ann
• Levi
• Louisa
• Nancy Jane
• Elizabeth Ann
• Amanda Melvina
• Sarah
• James C.

There is no mention of Allen Taylor’s childhood or in-between years before maturity. Yet in my mind’s eye I visualize him a fast and hard worker, accepting and sharing the heavy load of responsibility in such a large family. His father would surely need help with 12 children younger than he. His father had 16 to provide for and he was a good provider. After his father died he would have more responsibility to help his widowed mother as well as having a wife and children of his own.

At this point of time Allen Taylor was closely associated with the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. From the brief life sketch by Lelia Marler Hogan we read about this association: Loyalty was one of the predominent characteristics of that courageous soul, Allen Taylor. Name all the gifts commited to man and find one if you can that supercedes that of loyalty. The Savior of the world esteemed it as one of the crowning gifts from heaven. As John, the Beloved was to our Savior, so was Allen Taylor to the Prophet Joseph Smith. No task so great with seeming unsurmountable barriers to daunt the energies of our beloved progenitor in undertaking to surmount them if so requested by the Prophet of the 19th century.

Joseph Smith loved Allen Taylor and to him entrusted many important errands. On that memorable day when so many were so ruthlessly slain in Hauans Mill. Allen Taylor was commissioned by the Prophet to mount a horse and notify the saints who lived at a distance from Far West to move into town immediately.

How oft by day and by night he guarded the Prophet’s home, while the Prophet slumbered with the peace of heaven upon him and with no more concern than if he had not a foe in all the world. How oft he did it is not of so much importance as how well and how faithfully he did it. Did his eyes ever close in dull sleep? Or his nerves fail him while to him had been entrusted so sacred a duty? (or a duty fraught with so many possible consequences?) No, never!! When given a position of trust he was as loyal to it as the Angels who guard the gates of pearls upon the Golden Shore. And why not? Was he not guarding one of the most precious souls ever commited to earth? Only one ever superceded him in worth to the children of men since the days of Adam.

As descendancts of Allen Taylor let it be unto us a source of exquisite joy and profound happiness that our ancestor never slept, never failed when so sacred a trust was placed upon him. Like wolves in the underbrush, blood-thirsty men prowled about in the stillness of the dark, seeking an opportunity to deliver the tarnished kiss of betrayal or to shoot the leaden, poisoned missile that would stop the heartbeat of our Prophet for all of mortal time.

As Allen Taylor was to the Prophet Joseph Smith so also was he to President Brigham Young. Upon the plains and through the mountains he moved with such indomitable courage and gallantry of heart, he could most appropriatly be placed in a class with that illustrious and generous hearted pioneer, who died upon the open plains, William Taylor, father of Allen.

One granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth Redd Prince Davis, related the following: “A huge drunken man stumbled into a meeting where the Prophet was speaking. The man interupted by using foul language which became louder and louder with insults. He shouted that he was a better man than the Prophet and would show everyone. He loudly challenged the Prophet to a wrestling match. At first the Prophet tried to ignore the man, but as the insults became louder and more abusive, Pres. Smith turned to one of his companions, Allen Taylor, and said, “Allen, come up and throw this man.”

“The drunk was tall and looked like a heavy-weight wrestler and he struted up to the front of the meeting to show off his superior ability. His opponent was a short, light-weight man. Allen did not hesitate, he felt sure he could do what the Prophet had asked of him. He immediately tackled his opponent, threw him, and pinned him to the floor. Defeated, the bully got to his feet and made a fast exit.”

Under the direction and organization of President Brigham Young, Allen Taylor was given. immediate command of 100 families together with 100 each for Lorenzo Snpw, William G. Perkins and Zera Pulsipher. Captain Allen Taylor’s company consisted of:

Wagons—————————–190
Pigs—————————-66
Souls——————————597
Chickens———————–282
Horses——————————30
Cats—————————-19
Mules——————————-16
Dogs—————————-31
Oxen——————————-615
Goats—————————-3
Cows——————————-316
Geese—————————-8
Loose Cattle————————63
Doves—————————-6
Sheep——————————134

The history of the old trail alone forms a dramatic story in the history of the West. It must be remembered that the Pioneers were always in Indian country. It was imperative that a guard keep careful watch every night for the fear that the camp might he way-laid and people massacred. We were invaders on their territory as far as they were concerned.

The history of the old trail alone forms a dramatic story in the history of the West. It must be remembered that the Pioneers were always in Indian country. It was imperative that a guard keep careful watch every night for the fear that the camp might he way-laid and people massacred. We were invaders on their territory as far as they were concerned.

Allen Taylor had married in Kentucky on 5 Sep 1833, Sarah Louisa Allred (born 14 Nov 1817 in Kentucky; daughter of Isaac and Mary (Calvert) Allred) and they were the parents of six children when the family made the decision to move west with the body of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These children were: Isaac, Mark Elizabeth, William Riley, Sara Jane, Joseph Allen and Nancy Elvina. When the first great body of saints reached Fort Bridger, Wyoming, Sarah gave birth to her seventh child, Claaissa Elvira Taylor on 3 Oct 1349 (This baby was my grandmother and I know that some time, somewhere I shall personally thank my dear great-grandmother, Sarah Louisa Allred Taylor for carrying my grandmother from Winter Quarters, for sharing the great hardships with the other 596 souls in 190 wagons as they plodded across the plains and the mountains–for the great love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ they passed on to posterity.)1

Allen and Sarah had four more children, Orrisa Angela, Independence, Jedediah and Louisa Jennett.2

Besides his own family in the Company he Captained, his mother, Elizabeth (Patrick) Taylor with thirteen of her children were present. They arrived in The Great Salt Lake Valley on 15 Oct 1849.

Immediately after Captain Taylor arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, President Brigham Young commissioned him to brave the trails just completed and challenge the coming winter and return to Winter Quarters to deliver the great sum of $500.00 to some of the migrating church members who were in very humble circumstances and who must stay in the east and journey westward in the sprung. Allen strapped the money tightly against his body to minimize detection then made the return journey by horseback. He was a brave and loyal man and met the challenge well and completed the responsibility given him. He returned to Utah and his family as soon as possible.

His mother, Elizabeth Patrick Taylor, made her first home in Kaysville, Utah but lived her last yeaars with a son, Pleasant Green Taylor, in Harrisviile Utah. She died 25 Oct 1880. She was true to the memory of her husband and remained faithful to the Church. She felt the Church was a “staff for her hand and a light to her path through all the years.” (quote from Life Sketch by Lelia Marler Hogan)

He was later called and set apart as Bishop of Kaysville Ward which position he faithfully and untireingly labored for eight years. Allen’s entire life had been one of devotion, first to his families, second to humanity, and always to God and his purposes. He was the proud husband of four wives and fathered thirty children.

He was called to make a second great sacrifice, both financially and personally to migrate to Dixie Country. He was the owner of splendid peoperty, a good home and other real estate, with a nice start on livestock (sheep and cattle) in what was and is a choice section of the State of Utah.

Loyalty and obedience was again manifested. He disposed of his possessions in Northern Utah and pioneered Southern Utah, which in the beginning was very uninviting with a very meager and scant amount of farming land to be brought under subjection. Very true, climatical conditions were favorable for many verities of fruits. This industry, however, is carried on by very small tracts of land.

Allen Taylor was also a very liberal and frequent donator to the St. George Temple and was asked by President Brigham Young to build a large residence that the people would have a more hopeful incentive to follow and thereby become established.

This part of the State of Utah was known for the very small tracts of land builded by the early pioneers, This was the case for Allen and so his sons were obliged to hunt other locations where they could pursue the farming industry.

Again in 1883, Allen thought it necessary to make another move and so he homesteaded 160 acres of land in Loa, Utah.

Captain Allen Taylor life’s record was closed 5 Dec 1891 in Loa, Wayne, Utah, having been a loving son, husband, father and grandfather. He was a loyal and good servant to his fellowmen; loved ones and to his Church and God whom he served unreservably.

Here was a man who suffered much — both joy and sorrow; hardship and comfort. A man who participated in the expansion of a nation; the building of people and establishing a firm foundation for many families. flow thrilling it had to be on that eventful day of 15 Oct 1849 when they (the Saints) reached the summit and the majestic towering mountains bid them welcome home. Below was the beginning of a new life of freedom for them. A sweet homeland. Surrounded by these rugged mountains surely inspired G. W. Penrose to write words that can describe Allen Taylor’s love of the west also: “0 Yet Mountains Hight wheee the clear blue sky arches over the vale of the free. Where the pure breezes blow and the clear streamlets flow. How I’ve longed to your bosom to flee! O Zion! dear Zion, land of the free. Now my own mountian home unto thee I have come. All my fond hopes are centered in thee.” (pg. 145, LDS Hymn Book)

Yet another song’s words can describe this pioneer’s efforts and accomplishments: “…they were honest, serving God who bro’t them thro’. Nice log houses did they build, with large families they were fill’d. Oh, they surely builded better than they knew!” (pg 158, Pioneer Songs, Dau. Utah Pioneers)

1. Personal statement by compiler, Juanita Kossen.
2. See Addendums showing data on each wife and names of children.

ADDENDUM ONE
My Mother’s Tribute

My mother, Sarah Elizabeth Redd Prince Davis, granddaughter of Allen Taylor related some memories of her childhood days for his history. When Sarah was aged seven and her sister, Mary Catherine was aged two their mother, Clarissa Elvira Taylor, died and were left in the care of their father, Benjamin Jones Redd. But there were many times that their father could not be with them so they lived in the home of their maternal grandparents.

She said, “Never did I hear any quarreling or contention among his four wives. If a child fell down and skinned his knees, got stung by an ant or bee, or stubbed a toe or wanted a piece of bread and butter, he told which ever mother was the nearest to him.”

My mother remembered that there was a well organized, working schedule Each day of the week had special activities of work. The four took turns for wash day, etc. Two more little children didn’t seem to matter in this household. My mother felt a blanket of security around her through their tenderness and loveing care. It was a precious legacy of memories and training left to them by living in a home where love, peace and happiness was found therein.