History of Lucy Diantha Morley Allen
Pioneer of 1848, in Brigham Young's Company
Written by Hattie Esplin, Grand-daughter
Salt Lake City, Utah 1952
The second child and daughter of Isaac and Lucy Gunn Morley Sr. is Lucy Diantha Morley Allen.
She was born in Kirtland (now Lake County), Ohio, 4 Oct 1815. The inhabitants of this county were mostly immigrants from Connecticut and Massachusetts, making the long trek overland by team and wagon, until they reached the Great Western Reserve, as that part of Ohio was then called, near Lake Erie.
She attended school such as the pioneer days afforded. Her parents taught her thrift and industry, to spin, sew, cord the wool, color, and weave and also to cook, make soap, lye, and candles. She was tall and slender of dark complexion with black hair and brown eyes; she had a pleasing personality, loving and kind, always helpful and energetic.
When Lucy was 13, she with her parents joined the Campbellite faith known as "The Church of Christ". The founders were Alexander Campbell and Sidney Rigdon. Later in the fall of 1830, Parley P. Pratt and his missionary companions came to Kirtland carrying the message of Mormonism. The Morleys' were converted to the true and restored gospel and were baptized 15 Nov 1830 into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
They made the acquaintance of the Prophet Joseph Smith and wife Emma when they stayed at the Morley farm for two weeks after their arrival at Kirtland from New York State.
The saints were driven from Jackson County, Missouri to Clay County, Missouri. The Morleys located in the Missouri bottoms, which proved to be an unhealthy place. While in Missouri, Lucy met and married Joseph Stewart Allen on 2 Sep 1835 by the Prophet Joseph Smith.
That fall and winter was spent in making preparations for the trek to the west; Joseph hauling timber and other materials for the construction of wagons, etc., and Lucy making clothing and procuring food for the long journey.
Early in Feb 1840 they departed, reaching Winter Quarters in June after much suffering from cold and hunger. They lost their two little girls, Calista and Cordelia, dying just three weeks apart.
In Jun 1848 they prepared to leave Nebraska and begin their march westward to the valley of Great Salt Lake. Lucy walked most of the distance across the plains and arrived 24 Sep 1848.
They lived in Sessions Settlement (Bountiful) for a year. In 1849 they moved to Manti, Sanpete, Utah, in the valley of the Sanpitch River, where they lived in a one room adobe house. While packing their belongings for their moved to Santaquin, a bullet rolled onto the floor. Little Hyrum, crawling, picked it up and swallowed it resulting in his death.
Forever on the move, pioneering, first one place and then another, with children and supplies tucked in the wagon. They again faced the wilderness of an unknown country and the savages, along the muddy river in Southern Utah (now Nevada). This call came in 1866. Here they tilled the soil and raised cotton, etc.
Their next move was to Long-Valley in Southern Utah. First they lived in the town of Mt. Carmel. Later in 1875, they moved to the new town site of Orderville, Utah and remained the 12 years of its duration.
Her husband died 25 Apr 1889 at Huntington, Emery, Utah. She spent the remaining years of her life with her daughter, Harriet Leonora Allen Esplin. Prior to her death, she suffered an injured hip, resulting from a fall from which she never completely recovered. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on the evening of 19 Oct 1903, age 93.
She remained a faithful Latter-day Saint until this life closed. There are 12 children, 61 grand children, 73 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.....