9 Dec 1804 ...... 15 Jan 1892
Daniel Allen Jr., honest, pure in heart,
dedicated to his beliefs, was a man who loved both God and man and was much
loved in return. It is most important that we learn all we can of our
heritage, our ancestors, for we are not whole without them... nor they without
us, for they link us to the creator of us all. It behoves each and every
one of us to live lives worthy to receive the blessings bestowed on us at our
birth through an honorable ancestor, for life is a total waste without our
ancestry.
We are told that a "birth certificate proves
we were born, but a history proves that we lived." Daniel wrote much of
his own life in his journals, but this history will attempt to tell some of the
things he did not write.
Yes, we Allen descendents do have a Nobel
birthright, not only because we came through the royal lines of Mary, Queen of
Scots through Daniels mother, Nancy Agnus Stewart Allen, and his father, Dr.
Daniel Allen Sr., but because of the Nobel lives our pioneers, as martyrs for
their faith, their freedom, for the very lives they lived. Daniel was hard
working, honorable, admired and deeply revered through all his life by those who
knew him well. He did not put on a big front to impress people, but was
loved for what he did and who he was.
It matters not what kind of a home Daniel had
in the many places he lived, or what he made a living at, whether he made a lot
of money. It matters not that he rode only on a horse drawn conveyance,
for cars were not of his day. Had not God admonished his people:
"Seek not for the riches of the earth, but seek ye first the riches of
Heaven"? Probably no man, no woman in all our ancestry tried living nearer
to God and his teachings, which had been restored to earth, than our beloved
Daniel Jr., for he honestly did seek the "riches of heaven" first, and made no
brags about his accomplishments. Thru his own writings in his journal he
did tell of his three (3) missions, his many callings to help build up industry
in 9 different places and his true value as a man of God were shown, but never a
bragging word or situation.
Schooling was learned at his own mothers knee
and at the schools of Ohio and Penn., then later at the side of the Prophet,
Joseph Smith, yes, at the "School of The Prophets". There he sat among the
learned and the un-learned. He listened well and was taught and he also
taught in the Schools of the Prophets in various places later on, especially at
Parowan, Utah, where the records of early days record many things he taught
which he had heard the Prophet and other learned men tell. He prayed with
them and for them and blessed many with his love and tenderness. His faith
and gentle touch healed many as God's words fell from his lips when he laid
hands upon their heads an blessed them and he did bless and heal many through
out his long life.
No, I have not seen him, yet I know him
through his daughter, my beautiful grandmother, Harriet. And I have
searched and found him in old books and in memories of those near ready to greet
him. I have heard his quiet voice in the mountain winds as it came to me
over these many years thru things my grandmother told me of him. Yes, he
was indeed a man of God.
His beautiful busy life needs be recorded on
paper, not merely in the minds and memories of his loved ones. Daniel
would be 183 years old on 9 Dec. 1986, so it is necessary to revere his memory
before it is too late. Time erases many things for every one, even tho
many times re-told. History makes us aware of who we really are, for the
statement is true, that the un-recorded life is as tho there were none
lived.
By now there probably are several histories
of Daniel besides his own precious hand written journal. It is not my
intent to try to improve on anyones telling of it, especially of his own writing
of parts of it, but as I started searching for him in Salt Lake Library when I
knew nothing at all except my grandmothers memories, I still feel the desire,
yes and the need to try to weld the links between the past and future, for I
feel that in perpetuating his name for those of our families who are now here
and those who will come after, no stone should be left unturned to push forward
those things the Lord expects of us, namely, writing the history of our families
back as far as possible, starting with ourselves. We need to be reminded
of all our ancestors went thru for us as ancestors and as
Pioneers.
What are WE doing for our ancestors?
Are we each doing our part to honor them in prose, in son, in history? Are
we setting examples we desire our children to follow? It has been
said: "The faults of our loved ones should be written in the sand, their
virtues should be written on tablets of love and memory".
Our Daniel was born just one year to the
month before the Prophet Joseph Smith (Joseph Smith Jr. was born December 23, 1805 insert from this webmaster) and became associated with him at an early
age. He loved the Gospel and knowing the Prophet personally, he knew the
words he taught were true. Daniel was as a young and tender branch and
really got to know the gospel of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints and knew it to
be true.
green highlight is information on Daniel Jr Allen's parents and their family. This webmaster inserted to help reader know who the information is on.
Parentage: Daniel Allen Sr. M.D. and
Nancy Agnus Stewart.
Daniel Allen Jr. was born 9 Dec. 1804 to
Daniel Allen Sr., M.D. and his wife Nancy Agnus Stewart. Dr. Daniel was
born in Colrain Mass. in 1770. He and Nancy were married 12 Sep.
1793. Nancy Agnus Stewart was the daughter of Lt. John Stewart who was a
son of John Stewart Sr. and Rebecca Costa.
Daniel Jr. was the 6th of 10 children born to
his parents. Names of the children are: Linda, John, Rachel,
Rebecca, Ruth, Daniel Jr., Joseph Stewart, Albert Loomis, Caroline Dianthia, and
Diodema Amanda. The last child was born after they moved to Erie, Penn.
where the parents died.
Dr. Daniel became one of the first medical
doctors in the state of New York. He began practicing in Hamburg New York
in 1807. Altho he was a very well-learned and highly educated doctor in
his chosen field, there was most likely never much money while his 10 children
were growing up, because people in that period of time expected a doctor to come
care for them as a DUTY, rather than as a service to be paid for. It was
also a period of much "witchery" and "quackery" so some people were hesitant
about whom to pay. Also, many had very little money to give, so much was
bartered. Dr. Allen moved to Chatauqua County in 1807 and lived there
during the war with England in 1812. In that war he served his country as
a soldier.
There was a long period following that was
when most of the people had very little money in fact many were so poor they
were embarrassed during that period of distress and privation, for indeed it was
such a very poor period for most of the country. The effect of that war
was felt for a very long time, then too, the services of the physician were way
under-valued by the general public. Many of the doctors in the area who
belonged to the Medical Society took up other, more lucrative professions.
Apparently Dr. Daniel Allen loved it too much and was so dedicated to the
healing and care of people that he would not give it up, so he put up with the
inconveniences for quite some time. When the fires broke out in Boston he
went there to assist in any way he could.
As the country and the people became more
prosperous, so did the Allens, so that he was at last able to see that his
children received good educations for that period of time and each were held in
high esteem in the cities and villages where they resided.
Doctor Allen moved with his wife and children
to Montville, Geauga County where they lived the rest of their lives. Both
passed away in 1856.
