The Almost Forgotton Mission to Bedford County Tennessee

While browsing the pages of the Messenger and Advocate I found the following entry...

To John Whitmer Esq.

Hamilton co. Illinois, Nov. 2, 1835.

Dear Brother

I left Clay co. M[issouri] on the 23 of December, 1834 in company with elder J[oseph] Holbrook, we travelled and preached until we arrived at Salt River church. From this place I journeyed with Elder W. Ivy, we journeyed as far as Montgomery co. Ill. preached by the way and baptized two. From thence we journeyed to Bedford co. Tennessee: we tarried in this State about two months. The people flocked from every quarter, to hear preaching, many were convinced of the truth, but few obeyed the gospel. We baptized five in this State; we left Bedford co. [Tenn] the first day of June; arrived at Hamilton co. Ill. the 8th day of same month, here we tarried, and labored in company with elders E[lisha] H. Groves and I[saac] Higbee about three weeks, and baptized 33. After this elder Ivy and myself baptized seven, after the afore mentioned brethren left us. Elder Ivy left here the 29 of September, since he left, I baptized two more, I expect to baptize a number more in this place, who believe the work of the Lord. The Lord is blessing his children here with some of the gifts of the gospel.

I remain your brother in the new covenant,

Milton Holmes.

As early Tennessee Mormon history goes this is interesting to me for a few reasons. First, Bedford County is in my local ward. So I'm a little more interested than your average historian. Second it predates any LDS activity in that part of Tennessee by decades. Third, it makes me wonder why have I never heard of it before? Or these two missionaries?

My first thought was perhaps it was transcribed wrong. For example in a William McLellin biography I found that he was living in Paris when he met the missionaries. He was born in Tennessee so I thought it was Paris, Tennessee, but what was meant was Paris, Illinois. Big difference. Anyway, Elder Holmes did go from Illinois to Tennessee and then back to Illinois for no apparent reason. Was this also a error of mistaken location? A quick check finds no Bedford county in Illinois, nor in the surrounding states. And Bedford county is named twice in this except. It took eight days to go 250 miles, doable if they went by riverboat when possible. So maybe it is not a typo.

Other missionaries at the time would redirect the efforts away from their primary assignment, sometimes several hundred miles, so they could teach members of their own family. It was a practice known to church leaders and often encouraged. Many early missions by members of the Smith family were directed to distant family members. Milton Homes did not appear to have family in Bedford county. He was from Massachusetts and New York. There is a note in the Joseph Smith Papers on 7 December 1835 about receiving a letter from Holmes (i.e. the above excerpt). The note does not, however, mention Tennessee.

W. Ivy, however, might have been William Shelton Ivie. William shows up in an index of Early Members of the Church. He is the only person with the right last name and the right first initial. But is he the right person?

William was born in Bedford county, Tennessee. It appears to have been the portion of Bedford county that later became part of Marshall county since his parents joined the Rock Creek Primitive Baptist Church and Rock Creek is entirely in present day Marshall county. So his birthplace is evidence in the "yes" column.

It is not likely that the five baptisms were among his family. First, his immediate family had moved to Missouri by then. Second, His father's family still lived in Franklin County, Georgia. His mother's family had moved with them to Missouri. But he was 18 year old when his family left Tennessee. He would have known many people and the people he baptized could have been friends. OK, this one isn't conclusive, but neither is it evidence in the "no" column.

A review of his immediate family finds that many of them were baptized after their death by proxy. But even William's baptism date is recorded as after his death. This is frustrating since it is caused by the practice of showing only the most recent ordinance date in Family Search. One brother, Thomas and his wife, received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple in 1846.

Parents:
Anderson Ivie 1889* = Sarah Allred 1889*
Siblings:
Polly Ann Ivie 1836  = Ezekial Billington 1888*
James Russel Ivie 1832 = Eliza McKee Fausett 1832
John Anderson Ivie 1889* = Anna Robinson 1970*
Elizabeth Ivie 1932* =William Hackley Allred 1880 (1832)
William Shelton Ivie 1889* = Julia Louisa Van Dyne 1992*
Isaac L Ivie 1889* = Melissa Long 1992*
Thomas Celton Ivie 1932* (E 1846) = Amanda Jane Moore 1836 (E 1846)
Sarah Melinda Ivie 1932* = William Long 1932*
Martin Joseph Ivie 1889* = Lucy Harrison 1998*

Name, Baptism date, * means by proxy

For the sharp ones out there, yes Sarah Allred is related to the Allreds I have written about already. The Allred family, and their cousins, the Faucetts and the Ivies were living in Salt River, Missouri when they were baptized into the church. It looks like they moved there in about 1829-30. Missionaries would pass by the Salt River settlement as they traveled between Kirtland and Jackson county. Soon there were converts and a branch.

Salt River also served as a reference point for early Church leaders. When Zion's Camp formed, it did so in two groups, one leaving from Kirtland led by Joseph Smith, and a second leaving from Pontiac Michigan led by Hyrum Smith. Salt River was where the two group were suppose to meet up. Some members living at Salt River joined as well, Including William Ivie.  Notice that in the above excerpt it was at Salt River that W. Ivy joined Milton Holmes. Another piece of evidence in the "yes" column.

William married his wife on August 2, 1835 in Hamilton Co. Illinois. According to the excerpt above, he was in Hamilton county on that date, although there is not a mention of a marriage. I'll put this as a tentative mark in the "yes" column.

There are also other connections to Montgomery Co. Illinois. named in the above excerpt.  John McKee Faucette - who was the brother of Eliza Faucett, William's Sister-in-law - was baptized in Montgomery Co. Illinois, on April 1834. According to one biographer, Moses Martin Sanders and wife Amanda Armstrong Fausett Sanders were baptized in Montgomery County, Illinois, on 28 January 1835 by their nephew William S. Ivie. Another mark in the "yes" column.

Then I found this in Joseph Holbrook's autobiography. He wrote...

"On the 23rd of December, 1834, I took my leave of my family and started in company with Amasa Lyman, Heman T Hyde and Milton Holmes. We preached on our way whenever we could get a privilege, sometimes going a day and night without food in the winter season across the praires with the houses 25 miles apart which made it very severe upon me until we came to the Salt River church where there was a conference held. On account of being lame, it was counseled that Milton Holmes, my former partner, should take William Ive and go to Tennessee and that I remain a few days with the church and Martin Allred and go a heart mission in the part of Missouri and Illinois."

This is more than just circumstantial like the other evidence that I have been wading through. A strong mark in the "yes" column.

Many of the Ivie family appear to have left the church at about the time the Mormons were expelled from Missouri. Only one went to Nauvoo, probably because Illinois was not a slave state and the Ivie's did own slaves. A couple did go on to Utah (those two were cut out of their father's will) and they did not bring their salves with them, but most stayed in Missouri. William started for Utah, but part way he changed his mind and settled in Kirkville, Adair county Missouri. He would later help bring the Christian (Campbellite) church to Kirkville.

So the big question. why have I not heard of this before? They were roughly contemporary with David Patten and Warren Parrish, and certainly contemporary with Wilford Woodruff.  Sure, Patten and Parrish were first. But I have two other theories. First, David Patten later became an apostle, and Wilford Woodruff, later became President of the Church. Second, Woodruff wrote about his mission service in his journal. Combine that with how most of the Ivie family left the Church, I guess it demonstrates just how much it matters who gets to write the history.

Cheerful letter from a missionary in the south

Abner, Lawrence County, Tennessee Dec 19, 1884

[to]
Elder George C. Lambert

Elder McCuistion and I have just returned from a three weeks trip into Giles Marshall and Lincoln counties where there had never been any Mormon” Elders before.

We met many Fine people who treated us kindly, and invited us back, while on the other hand we met some who showed us the door, (when they learned we were “Mormons”) and warned us never to darken it again.

At Talley station in Marshall Co., we held two meetings, and had the pleasure of speaking to about 150 people each time, who had never seen a “Mormon” before. We also attended a Baptist meeting thinking to get an appointment in the evening. Parson Creeks on learning that we were “Mormons,” very kindly invited us to preach which we consented to do. One gentleman, however, objected to us preaching, stating that when the house was built it was with the understanding that “Mormons” should not be allowed to preach there. Quite a number of men then arose and took our part stating that we had as much right to preach as any one else and if they stopped one sect they should stop all. After parleying for nearly half an hour they decided to leave it to a vote of the house. Parson Creeks then put the vote and the whole congregation voted for us to preach except four. Mr Creeks then gave the meeting into our charge and I spoke to them for over an hour on the first principles of the gospel.

Elder Thos. H. Robins is with me now and we will likely take a trip to Marshall County again in about ten days.
Elder Fuller returned home last month and I have been appointed to take his place as president of the Southwestern Tennessee Conference. I feel my weakness and inability in undertaking the task, still with the help of the Lord and the faith and prayers of the brethren I shall strive to do my duty and fill the position to the best of my ability.
On the 30th of this month it will be 15 months since I left home and the time has passed so quickly that it scarcely seems half that long. My health is good and I am feeling well in the ministry. Above all things that I prize my mission for, is for the increase of testimony it has given me of the truth of the gospel . I have seen the power of god made manifest many times in restoring the sick to health and have felt free in testifying to all men that this is the Gospel of Christ restored to earth again in its fullness.

The weather here is very cold and the ground is white with snow I have suffered far more with cold here than I ever did at home but the open condition of the houses is no doubt the reason of it many of the people here live in railed pens that you might throw a cat through; but the people are all noted for having good beds.

GEO J WOODBURY

October 1899: A Missionary Month in Tennessee

A snapshot of Mission news across Tennessee.

October 1899

Rachel L Baird who for some six or seven years had been an invalid was instantly healed by the power of God through the administration of Elders Reeve and Stewart. This occurred in Pickett county Tennessee. The sister had been confined to her bed for these many years but she arose was baptized and came up out of the water exclaiming “I am well now!”

On the night of the 4th President J. Urban Allred and Elder J. A. Kirk were holding meeting in Nashville [Davidson County] when a minister interrupted them and vilely accused them of being guilty of defiling houses. The Rev gentleman was promptly challenged to there and then prove his accusations but he suddenly disappeared.

Elders C. H. Wentz and Thos Halls while laboring in Fayetteville, Tenn. had notice served on them by the Dough Society of that place to leave the city. The Elders did not leave and were not molested.

The Elders in Marshall county Tennessee upon entering Petersburg, [Tenn] were notified to leave at once. The notice was served by a colored boy who said he was acting in behalf of the city police. This was the result of an agitation started there by a local preacher who swung high in the anti-Mormon crusade.

The Elders in Houston county Tennessee were denied the right of laboring in Erin, the county seat and even prohibited from remaining there longer than the calling for their mail required. Some of the citizens remarked that if this injunction was violated that they would enforce it not beneath masks or blackened faces but in the full light of day and in the garb of citizens.

(Excerpt from Southern Star, Volume 2:367)

Elder Allred Visits Lewisburg Tennessee

One of the missionary journals I have been reading recently is that of  J. Urban Allred. His journal is amazingly well written, making me suspect it is more like an autobiography based on his missionary journal than the journal itself. To be fair, it presents itself as a journal, so until I have evidence to the contrary I'll accept it as it claims to be. Either way, the information in it is a pleasure to read.

Elder Allred presided over the Middle Tennessee Conference in 1899. For him serving in Tennessee was kind of a generational coming home. Although he was born in Utah, the Allred family lived in this part of Tennessee prior to joining the Church.The family moved to Missouri where they met missionaries and were baptized.  In Allred's journal he recorded making a visit to his grandfather's home, just north of Lewisburg. This kind of nostalgic searching was so common among missionaries serving in areas in which they had roots, that it must have been not just tolerated, but sanctioned and possibly even encouraged. Although the doctrinal reasoning seems obvious given the genealogical opportunities, I have found no direct evidence explaining this.

(Lewisburg, Marshall County, Tenn.) In this county my grandfather, Paulinas Harvey Allred, was born over seventy years ago; where he lived until the age of two years. He went with his father, Isaac Allred, and family from this state to gather with the Latter-day Saints in their trials in Mo. and Ill., and subsequently to Utah. Bent upon seeing his birthplace I had come to Lewisburg a route somewhat out of my direct route to Giles County. In the morning I began a search for the place, guided by letters from Uncle Redick Allred, my grandfather’s brother, and directions from old citizens. Finally I went to my (2nd) great grandfather's (William Allred's) place. I found the old homestead and house exactly where it was when he left the state 68 years ago when my grandfather was only two years old. The place is six miles northeast of Lewisburg, five miles west of Farmington, and one and a half miles west of Verdona [Verona]. The house in which my grandfather was born and homestead is owned today by Mrs. Cary Cunningham. [Eliza M. Field, born 1826 in NC] It stands about 100 yards northwest of the old well used by my foreparents, but today unused and marked by a small evergreen tree on its bank and the sweep that is well preserved.

Uncle James Allred's old house stood about 150 yards in a southeasterly direction. His old log house is today moved across the road some distance of where it was when he lived in it, it is still occupied. The old oak trees on the west are very large. The church on the west is in ruins.

Mrs. Cunningham showed me the room in which my grandfather Paulinus Harvey Allred was born. The house has been remodeled by being weather boarded so that it has the appearance of a frame, rather than a log house, The place presents a desolate appearance partly on account of a protracted dry season. I could see by contrast how the Latter-day Saints were and are a blessed people. I felt to thank God that He had led my foreparents from this to a more blessed land. 

Lewisburg is my current home, so I couldn't resist the urge to go see the home for myself. Not having access to his uncle Redick's letters, I am hard pressed to track down the homestead. The census records are not specific enough to pin down a location of the Cunningham farm. But I know the general area. And the Cunningham family cemetery is in approximately the right spot.

I selected a Saturday, when I could take the time to walk around. The drive is not long and the countryside is beautiful. I passed by the cemetery twice before I found it. The trees inside it were fairly mature, some being over 20-30 years old. Underbrush had grown to cover all but the tops of two gravestones, the only two I could see from the road. There was no visible gate or entrance, let alone a place to pull over and park, so I stop in the middle of the narrow dirt road.

As I got out of the car, raindrops appear on my windshield. Quickly I assess my options. I was not dressed for bushwhacking or for rain. Most of the land around me is part of a large dairy farm. Barbed wire fences keep the cows in specific fields, and me from wandering. Crossing onto private property is not my idea of a fun afternoon. A hundred yards away was a mobile home with a few horses in the yard, but no cars. Sadly no one was home. Between the mobile home and the graveyard is a perfect rectangle of trees, perhaps 20 by 30 feet. The tallest ones are along the edge, like they grew along a fence line or perhaps a foundation. More trees and undergrowth make it clear there was something on that patch of ground that make it unsuitable for any other use, like grazing cows. In this part of Tennessee that means either a limestone outcropping, unlikely since it isn't that big, or an abandoned man made structure, like a house. Unfortunately it was on the far side of the fence.

It wasn't long before the rain drove me back to my car. As I ponder how long I will wait for the rain to pass, I think about the drought parched land that Elder Allred saw on his visit in 1899. The rain and mud are a different scene for sure. Judging from the clouds it didn't look like it would let up anytime soon, so I admitted defeat and started back home. My only consolation was that it isn't that far of a drive. I'll be back.     

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.]

Colonel Tucker's Wife - First Convert in Marshall County

I recently moved to Marshall county, Tennessee and began to look around for the history of the LDS church here. To be honest I didn’t find much. The Allred family lived for 17 years in what would become Marshall County, but then moved to Missouri in around 1829 where they joined the Church in 1832.

The oldest reference to converts in Marshall County comes from the writings of Elder J. D. Lee. I’m no fan of Elder Lee. There are plenty of places to complain about his later crimes, and the veracity of what he wrote about those crimes. This blog is not one of them. For my purposes I accept his accounts of his mission in Tennessee at face value, until I have specific reason to do otherwise.

According to Elder Lee, in 1842 he was “sent for” by Colonel Tucker of Duck Creek, in Marshall County. Colonel Tucker, a wealthy man originally from Virginia, wanted him to come and preach to his family. His wife’s family were Presbyterians, she having two brother who were ministers. According to Lee, the distance to the Tucker home was about 30 miles from Murfreesboro. By “Duck Creek” he must have meant Duck River, which runs through Marshall county from east to west. The main road cross the Duck River almost exactly 30 miles from Murfreesboro.

[ I haven’t been able to prove it, but this might be Allen C. Tucker and his wife Elizabeth Jane Bugg. They lived in the right area and were wealthy land owners as described by Elder Lee. But Mrs. Tucker would have a little young in 1842 (only 23 years old). And Allen has no military record I can find. So for now it is only a guess.]

Lee preached three sermons at the Tucker home, and made appointments to return the following Saturday and Sunday. He also left some LDS books with Mrs. Tucker, though he did not indicate which ones. Thereafter Lee returned to Murfreesboro. It was on his way back to the Tucker home that Lee was intercepted by a “New Light” preacher with whom he had earlier made friends. The preacher informed him that while he was gone Mr. and Mrs. Tucker had disagreed on the question of baptism. Mrs. Tucker wished to be baptized, but Mr. Tucker was set against it. Mrs. Tucker was insistent and send a message to Elder Lee that he should come and baptize her. Not wanting to start trouble Lee decided to simply not return to the Tucker home, But Mrs. Tucker sought him out, and demanded baptism. Although it was against Church rules, he allowed himself to be persuaded. In the presence of her servants he baptized her later that evening without the foreknowledge of her husband.

Mrs. Tucker returned home with her servants and the wife of Elder Lee’s friend took Mrs. Tucker’s wet clothing home. But they ran into Mr. Tucker along the way brandishing his shotgun. He demanded to know if his wife had just been baptized. At gun point they confessed that she had indeed been baptized. This enraged Mr. Tucker who swore he would kill Elder Lee. Hearing this from a distance, Lee hid in the cornfield, waiting for Mr. Tucker to calm down and return home. After all seemed clear he snuck into his friends home. While Elder Lee was changing his wet clothing, Mr. Tucker surprised him, gun in hand. He pulled the trigger, but the gun only “flashed” and did not fire. The two struggled, but Lee was able to gain the upper hand and extracted a promise from Mr. Tucker that he would leave him alone. Reluctantly Mr. Tucker left.

At about 1:00 AM Mrs. Tucker and some of her friends roused Elder Lee telling him that Mr. Tucker had rounded up some friends and were planning to waylay him as he tried to leave. Lee sent her away saying it was in God’s hands and that she should not try to visit him again as it would only angry her husband more.

At 4:00 AM Elder Lee arose and made preparations to leave, but as he did, Mr. Tucker and ten of his friends showed up and held Lee at gun point while they sent for the local Justice of the Peace, Esquire Walls. The Justice arrived shortly after sunrise with fifty or so witnesses.

After learning about the situation, Esquire Walls took Elder Lee aside and privately advised him to leave the county. He said he believed there was no law broken but that Colonel Tucker may resort to violence unless the Justice agreed to fill out a warrant for Lee’s arrest. Esquire Walls said he would delay completing the warrant by sending for his law books, giving Lee enough time to leave the county.

As planned the Justice sent his nephew to retrieve his books, and Colonel Tucker promised to restrain from violence. After the boy left, Elder Lee announced he was leaving, calmly saddled his horse and rode away with Colonel Tucker cursing and threatening to shoot Elder Lee with every step he took. But Colonel Tucker was bound by his promise which was enforced by the over fifty witnesses. Elder Lee never went back to Marshall County.