Ira Allen: Difference between revisions
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=== Later Life === | === Later Life === | ||
, more senior men were polygamously married such as [[William H. Dame|William Dame]], [[Isaac C. Haight|Isaac Haight]], [[John M. Higbee|John Higbee]], [[Philip Klingensmith|Philip Klingensmith]] and -- the most married of them all -- [[John D. Lee|John D. Lee]]. Ira Allen was among those involved in polygamy. In 1852, Allen had married a second wife, Keziah Bensen (1925-1901), the daughter of Alva Bensen and Cynthia Vail. She bore him eight children, only three of whom lived to adulthood. In 1858, he married Cynthia Elizabeth Benson (1841-1913), the daughter of Alva Bensen and Cynthia Vail. The following summer, their first child was born before they left Cedar City. Cynthia bore him nine more children between 1862 and 1883, after they had moved north and settled in Cache Valley, Utah. | Most of the younger men involved in the massacre were either unmarried or in monogamous marriages. Many of the older, more senior men were polygamously married such as [[William H. Dame|William Dame]], [[Isaac C. Haight|Isaac Haight]], [[John M. Higbee|John Higbee]], [[Philip Klingensmith|Philip Klingensmith]] and -- the most married of them all -- [[John D. Lee|John D. Lee]]. Ira Allen was among those involved in polygamy. In 1852, Allen had married a second wife, Keziah Bensen (1925-1901), the daughter of Alva Bensen and Cynthia Vail. She bore him eight children, only three of whom lived to adulthood. In 1858, he married Cynthia Elizabeth Benson (1841-1913), the daughter of Alva Bensen and Cynthia Vail. The following summer, their first child was born before they left Cedar City. Cynthia bore him nine more children between 1862 and 1883, after they had moved north and settled in Cache Valley, Utah. | ||
The dual disasters of the massacre and the failure of the iron works caused many to abandon Cedar City in 1858-59 for other parts. Among them was the Allen family. In spring 1861, they moved to Cache County in northern Utah, joining the rush of new settlers to that newly-opened region. They were among the original founders of the settlement of Hyrum. | The dual disasters of the massacre and the failure of the iron works caused many to abandon Cedar City in 1858-59 for other parts. Among them was the Allen family. In spring 1861, they moved to Cache County in northern Utah, joining the rush of new settlers to that newly-opened region. They were among the original founders of the settlement of Hyrum. | ||
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[[Image:Ira_Allen_2b.jpg|thumb|center|Ira Allen, c. 1860s.]] | [[Image:Ira_Allen_2b.jpg|thumb|center|400px|Ira Allen, c. 1860s.]] | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 08:01, 15 June 2011
Ira Allen, his personal and family background, and his involvement in the Mountain Meadows Massacre
[[Image:Ira allen 1.jpg|left|125px|Ira allen 1.jpg
Ira Allen
1814-1900
Biographical Sketch
Early life in Indiana
Ira Allen was born April 27, 1814 in Thompson, Windham County, Connecticut to Simeon Allen and Elizabeth Leavens. His forebears were New Englanders. Allens' father was born in Massachusetts but settled in Connecticut before moving west to Indiana.
Allen was born in Eel River Township in the recently formed and sparsely settled Hendricks County in west-central Indiana. His family were among the early pioneers in Indiana.
In 1834, Allen married Calista Bass. In 1835, their first child died in childbirth. Their second child, Andrew Augustus Allen, was born in 1836. Calista bore him six more children between 1839 and 1846. During that time, the Allen family relocated to Michigan where, evidently, they heard the Mormon message.
Immigration to Utah
In 1845, the Allen family joined the Mormon settlers in western Illinois and, following the difficulties there, they moved west to Iowa Territory. In 1850, the Allens immigrated to Utah Territory and soon moved south to the Little Salt Lake Valley (now the Parowan Valley) in southern Utah. In the early 1850s, the Allen family lent their aid to the newly-founded Iron Mission headquartered in Cedar City.
In the Iron Military District: 2nd Lieutenant Ira Allen, Company E, Isaac Haight's 2nd Battalion
In 1857, Ira Allen, 43, was the 2nd Lieutenant in a platoon in Captain Elias Morris's Company E. The company was attached to Major Isaac Haight's 2nd Battalion of the Iron County militia. Around Friday, September 4, Joel White and Philip Klingensmith left Cedar City for Pinto with an express, which, they claim, directed those at Pinto to pacify the Indians. They met John D. Lee who was bound for Cedar City. According to them, Lee reacted angrily when he heard of the message they carried. After delivering their express in Pinto, their returned toward Cedar City. They met Ira Allen carrying a new express. According to them, Allen said that the emigrants' "doom was sealed." During that time, Majors Haight and Lee had met secretly in Cedar City. This new express reflected the plans Haight and Lee had in store for the Arkansas company.
After the attack on the emigrants on Monday, September 7, Majors Haight and Higbee assembled several ad hoc militia detachments in Cedar City that rode to Mountain Meadows over the course of the week. Ira Allen was in one of these detachments. Allen was present during the Thursday evening militia council that sealed the fate of the emigrants. Allen was at the Meadows on Friday, September 11, and it seems likely that he was among the Cedar City militiamen who marched alongside the emigrant men when they left the protection of the wagon circle. However, Allen's actions during the actual massacre are not known with certainty.
The 1859 arrest warranty named, among others, Ira Allen "and son". It is clear that Ira Allen played in role in important events surrounding the massacre. But there is considerable doubt about his son Andrew's involvement in the massacre. In Massacre at Mountain Meadows, Walker, Turley and Leonard opine that Andrew Allen may not have been present.
Later Life
Most of the younger men involved in the massacre were either unmarried or in monogamous marriages. Many of the older, more senior men were polygamously married such as William Dame, Isaac Haight, John Higbee, Philip Klingensmith and -- the most married of them all -- John D. Lee. Ira Allen was among those involved in polygamy. In 1852, Allen had married a second wife, Keziah Bensen (1925-1901), the daughter of Alva Bensen and Cynthia Vail. She bore him eight children, only three of whom lived to adulthood. In 1858, he married Cynthia Elizabeth Benson (1841-1913), the daughter of Alva Bensen and Cynthia Vail. The following summer, their first child was born before they left Cedar City. Cynthia bore him nine more children between 1862 and 1883, after they had moved north and settled in Cache Valley, Utah.
The dual disasters of the massacre and the failure of the iron works caused many to abandon Cedar City in 1858-59 for other parts. Among them was the Allen family. In spring 1861, they moved to Cache County in northern Utah, joining the rush of new settlers to that newly-opened region. They were among the original founders of the settlement of Hyrum.
Allen remained in Cache Valley for the next four decades. Over the years, he worked as postmaster, canal builder, and road builder and held other civic or church positions. In 1900, he died at the age of 86, survived by his second and third wives and many children.
References
Bagley, Blood of the Prophet, 171, 172, 275; Bigler and Bagley, Innocent Blood: Essential Narratives, 70 fn. 14, 122, 235, 345; Esshom, Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, 714; FamilySearch.org; Fielding, ed., The Tribune Reports of the Trials of John D. Lee, 112; Lee, Mormonism Unveiled, ; Lee Trial transcripts; Ricks, The History of a Valley: Cache Valley, Utah-Idaho, 44-45; Turley and Walker, Mountain Meadows Massacre: Jenson and Morris Collections, 107, 119, 223; Walker, et al, Massacre at Mountain Meadows, 142, 187, 193, 201, 254, Appendix C, 256.
External Links
For more on Ira Allen see:http://www.mendonutah.net/history/cache_county/39.htm See also Alvin Allen, Ira Allen: Founder of Hyrum (1947)
Further information and confirmation needed. Please contact editor@1857ironcountymilitia.com.
