Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Sarah Louisa Turner Allred

In 1936 Sarah Louisa Turner Allred sat down and wrote out her own personal history.  This is her story in her own words...

I was born September 11th 1854 in Provo (Utah).  My father, John Wesley Turner, was a pioneer of 1847.  He drove his father’s ox team all the way across the plains at the age of 16 years.  He and my mother, Sarah L. Fausett, were married in December 1853.

John Wesley and Sarah Louisa Fausett Turner

My father built the little log house which now stands on the North West corner of Sauette Park in Provo.  I was born in that house. 

Sarah Louisa Turner Allred in front of the cabin in Provo, Utah where she was born.

While living there the Indians were very troublesome.  Mother was been frightened by them many times.  When we moved from this place, my father had a yoke of oxen and a wagon in which he put all we had and moved to the corner of 3rd North and 2nd East into an adobe house, the adobes being made from clay dug from the ground now Souette Park.  At that time it was called the Adobe Yard. 

Father was a very industrious man and soon had plenty of peaches and apples growing on our own place.  At that time we dried our fruit and took it to Salt Lake and sold it to obtain groceries and cash.

I well remember the 1st calico dress (now called print) I had, how proud I was to have something besides linsey and deming.  The linsey being spun and woven at home.  The wool being obtained from the few sheep father had on his farm.

We were unable to buy soap, so we made our own lye from wood ashes.  We were very careful to save all our ashes.  They were put into a peach box or container made in a frame to stand upright.  When it was full of ashes water was poured in a small amount at a time.  Then the lye would begin to drip.  When there was enough lye, we boiled it with what grease and fat scraps we had and soon we had lovely soft soap.  We were proud to have it and very proud when we could buy a little store soap (we called it) to use for our hands and face. 

We also made our own candles of the tallow from our sheep and sometimes from a beef.  And matches were a luxury.  When we didn’t save a few coals buried under our ashes we would go to the neighbors for a few coals to start our fire which was made in fireplaces where we did our cooking.  We were surely proud when we were able to obtain a stove to cook on.

Sarah Louisa Turner Allred 1871 (age 17 years)

When I was about eleven years old my mother was very ill.  I being the oldest had the family to do for as only at times could we get help.  We did our washing on a wooden washboard very hard to wash on.  Then there was the sewing to be done.  I well remember the first dress I made for myself all done by hand with a flounce on the bottom 5 yards around all hemmed by hand.  Sometimes we could get a woman to serve a day or two at a time, to make father a suit and the boys a coat or pants.

When mother was better I had to go to the farm and drop corn for father.  As I dropped it he would follow behind and cover it with a hoe.  Then in the fall I helped load it or lay it in place on the wagon.  Also I had to help pick up potatoes, we picked them up in buckets and buried them in willow baskets made from the willows growing along the ditch banks.

Our school in winter only lasted a few months from late fall till early spring.  I was always glad when school started and always loved and reverenced my teacher.  One of my teachers was David John, father of David John, counselor to the bishop of the 1st Ward at this time.  Then Warren and Wilson Dusenberry were my teachers for several years.  At the end of our school year for recreation we would go up the mountain side to spend the day, gather wild flowers and play games.

On Sept 29th 1871 I was married to Silas Allred. 

Silas and Sarah in 1871

Wedding Certificate of Sarah and Silas Allred

We lived happily together 61 years.  We raised a family of 12 children; 8 girls and 4 boys.  On September 29, 1921 we celebrated our golden wedding while living in Pleasant View Ward.

Silas and Sarah at their Golden Wedding Anniversary
At this time, April 9th 1936, I have 33 grandchildren (and 2 great grandchildren.)  In July 1932 my little daughter (Sadie) passed away and in December 12th of the same year my husband.

In 1907 I was made President of the Relief Society of Provo 1st Ward, remained in that position until September 1909 or until we moved to Idaho.  We remained in Idaho 10 years.  While living there I was made President of the Carey Branch Relief Society which position I held 2 years.  After returning to Provo our residence was Pleasant View.  George S. Taylor being our presiding Bishop.  He chose me president of that Relief Society which position I held for 2 years or until my health was impaired.  In 1925 we moved back to the Provo 1st Ward where I am now residing.  It seems home to me as all my children were born and reared here.

In 1945 these additional notes were added to Sarah's written history.  The author of these notes is unknown...

While in Relief Society Presidency, Bishop O. H. Berg of the 1st ward asked the Relief Society President to make temple clothes and the sisters met one day each week to make temple clothes.  Since the passing of her husband, Sarah has made 30 star quilts, 20 all wool crocheted afghans, 20 temple aprons, 5 large crocheted  table clothes, besides a great many lacy doily cushion covers.  Also she crocheted and knitted several bead bags and at the age of 90 she is still busy making her own clothes and her daughter, Lillian’s white uniforms.

On her 90th birthday anniversary, 11 September 1944, all her family except two gathered at her son’s Charles’ home for a family dinner.  Besides being the mother of 15 children, 11 living at the present time she has 33 grand children; 54 great grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. 

Sarah Allred's 92nd birthday party
Sarah Louisa Turner Allred lived a long and happy life.  She loved her faith, her husband and her family.  She died on July 27, 1947 in Provo, Utah.