Comments on: Wilford Woodruff’s First Mission, part 15 (Graphic History)

By: Curt A.

Curt A. — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:10:07 +0000

Yes, Bruce, Andrew Jackson Allen, the one who was 18 when WW converted the family in Calloway County, was with the 4th hundred (223 folks) under A.O. Smoot in 1847. Andrew began a regular journal in 1856 and began it with a retrospective of the conversion experience and continued through his journey west. He continues regular entries throughout his life. I have a copy. Makes interesting reading.

By: Bruce Crow

Bruce Crow — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:51:04 +0000

Wonderful, Curt A. I love to hear stories like that. Sounds like part of the Allen family were in the company of about two hundred souls with about forty teams that I have been looking at recently. Curt, is your source family records?

By: Researcher

Researcher — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:20:01 +0000

Very cool to hear some of the “rest of the story,” Curt A.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:01:05 +0000

Bravo, Curt A., for the long view!

By: Curt A.

Curt A. — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:50:17 +0000

Another thanks to Bro. Crow for introducing Elder Woodruff’s Kentucky mission. With Abraham O. Smoot, he ventured into Calloway County, just north of the Tennessee line. He found some interested families in the area of Wadesboro including the Rial and Margaret Allen family. Four of their children quickly accepted the message and the two oldest sons, James and Lewis were baptized. Andrew, then 18 and Martha, then 13, were refused permission by their baptist parents. James and Lewis went to Far West with Bro. Smoot in 1836. When the saints were run out of Missouri, James and Lewis and their families returned to Calloway County. It was not until 1862 that they were able to migrate west. But in 1846, Andrew, now independent, went to Winter Quarters via Nauvoo. Still single Martha went along, helping Andrew’s wife drive an ox team to Utah in A.O. Smoot’s company that arrived in the valley in September, 1847. Andrew later settled in Draper.

James and Lewis, finally made the trip in 1862. James finally settled in Cache Valley and Lewis became a pioneer to Southern Utah, Nevada, Arizona and was a stalwart in the United Order, dying in Orderville in 1883. Elder Woodruff’s short time in Kentucky is still bearing fruit with literally thousands of descendants of that family as well as from their neighbors, the Clapps, Thomases, and Smoots.

By: Hunter

Hunter — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:01:57 +0000

That’s OK, he has that insta-press knit suit!

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:50:36 +0000

Allison: I can’t agree more with you. In Arkansas we’ve gotten nearly twice the normal amount of rain this year!

It seems that WW is always getting drenched as he travels the South on his mission.

By: Allison

Allison — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:59:30 +0000

We still need that protection in the pouring rain along the Southeastern corridor this year

Thanks Brother Crow for the geography pointer.

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:39:46 +0000

Amazing.

Bruce Crow: Thanks for your insight into this.

By: ricke

ricke — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:21:37 +0000

Thanks once again.