Elder J. Urban Allred

[The below biography was printed in the LDS Souther Star.]

Among the earliest settlers of the now prosperous state of Utah, but then the heart of the American desert, were the forefathers—the great-grandpa rents and grandparents—of Elder J. Urban Allred.

Sixty-eight .years ago they were gathered in the Gospel net, and left their home in Marshall county, Tennessee, to share the lot of a people whose good fortune it was to be driven from Missouri to Illinois, and subsequently to seek refuge among the valleys of the Rocky Mountains, where they assisted in surveying and settling Salt Lake City. All the hardships, deprivations and heroic efforts of those sturdy pioneers, the manifest fruits of which are now evident, were shared by his fore parents, who lived first at Salt Lake City, then at Big Cotton Wood, and subsequently were among the first settlers of Lehi, Utah county, Utah, where his parents, who are among the first of Utah's native sons and daughters, have since continued to live, and where he was born May 21, 1874.

During the first ten years of his life his parents lived on a ranch, where they engaged in stock raising and farming, at which he took a complete course. Later they moved to a better location of educational facilities, where he attended school during the winter season, and assisted his father on the farm during the summer.

At 19 years of age, by the request of his parents, he entered the Latter Day Saints' College at Salt Lake City, but attended less than one school year, when a call by the church for his father, Elder James Allred, to take a mission to Virginia, necessitated his leaving school and assuming the management of the farm work at home.

The desire for education had, however, been kindled, and was not entirely to become extinguished. In January. 1804, he entered the Brigham Young Academy at Provo, and continued during the winter months: as he did also the winter following.

In 1895 the return of his father from the missionary field created greater opportunities for education, and he continued his academic course at the beginning of the session, where he identified himself with the ecclesiastical and educational organizations of the institution. Much to his advantage subsequently he held official positions in several of these societies. During the month of July 1897, there came a call to do missionary work in the Southern States and the year following was the date made for him to leave. This permitted another year in the Brigham Young Academy. September of this year, 1897, he became a candidate for graduation honors, and was elected president of the senior normal class with whom he graduated in May 1898, with flying colors. No little disappointment was felt when, within one week of the date of his departure for his mission, there came a release from the First Presidency from his missionary labors to the Southern States, and a call to labor under the direction of Supt. Dr. Karl G. Measer. superintending a church school in Arizona.

When, however, he expressed a preference for a mission to a church school, and interviewed Brothers Measer and Reynolds at Provo on June 12, 1898, they told him to go on his mission, which he did: leaving home June 10, 1898.

Elder Allred arrived with the regular company of Elders at Chattanooga on June 20, 1898, and was assigned to the Middle Tennessee Conference.

The first month of his work was that of a canvassing Elder. At conference last July 24, he was chosen to travel among the Elders, which position he held until Nov. 15, when called to travel with President Larsen until the latter was released, Dec. 15, 1898, when he was installed as president.

Chose for his counselors, Elders M. A. Stewart, of Mesa, Arizona, and J. Preston Creer, of Spanish Fork, Utah, and later, March 26 Elder Charles II. Wentz, of Provo. Utah, to fill the vacancy of Elder Creer, when the latter was transferred to this office.

Elder Allred has enjoyed health and his labors very well since his sojourn in the south, and has a desire above all others to do his duty in the cause in which God called him. until it shall be said "enough." Elder Allred is a good, live energetic man, whose work speaks for itself wherever he goes. His reports indicate a careful, painstaking man; and the Elders all love and respect him, as do all with whom he becomes acquainted.

[There is so much more published about his life, which you can read here.]