Redick Allred's Poem for Lucina Azelia

August 28th, 1852—I went to Great Salt Lake City to attend a special conference, called for the purpose of selecting a number of Elders to go as missionaries to the nations of the earth. President Young, Kimball and others addressed the conrerence when one hundred and nine Elders were called upon to make speedy preparations to go as ministers of the Gospel to Europe, Asia, China, America and the Pacific Isles. Nine of the number were destined for the Hawaiian Islands, viz.: Wm. McBride, Ephraim Green, Eggerton Snyder, James Lawson, Thomas Karren, Nathan Tanner, B.F. Johnson, my brother Reddin A. Allred and myself. My cousin, Isaac Allred, with many others was to go to Europe—thus three of our family were called.

30th—From this time I began to make preparations for my journey and to situate my family as comfortable as possible; but being a man of small capital, I could not provide the many neccesaries which nature required to sustain a family in the absence of a husband and father, but as I had a very good span of horses I concluded to trade them for a more worthless team and use the money to buy some things for the present use of myself and family—take one horse to carry me to the coast and leave one at home, which was a large likely mare. All this I accomplished with unexpected success and the Lord opened the way before me in my attempts to go on the mission. My brother, Isaac M. owned one horse and as he had no one but himself, he agreed to put his horse with the odd one that I was to leave, live with my family, tend the farm, stock, etc., and take half of the income as a remuneration for his toils, which I thought would be a profitable job for him as well as a blessing to my family.

October 10th—I attended the conference ‘till it closed which was in the afternoon. I indeed enjoyed it much and the spirit of union prevailed throughout the thousands of Saints that were assembled and it was expressed by many that this was the best conference ever enjoyed by the Saints. I returned home and found my babe sweltering under a severe attack of fever and diarrhoea, I then hastened to administer to her myself and also to get the united faith of the Elders. At times she appeared to receive benefit and then again it seemed hopeless, until at least by being persuaded I sent for Doctor Lee to administer medicine to stop the diarrhoea and break the fever that was fast wasting her away but all this did not seem to have the desired effect.

20th—Brother Reddin and I went over to Bro. Nathan Tanner’s as he had made preparations to travel together, us four, N. Tanner, Thos. Karren, Reddin Allred and myself, each furnishing a horse to put to Bro. Tanner’s carriage of which I paid six dollars to assist in repairing. About 7 o’clock p.m. Bros. N. Tanner and Reddin started on their missions from Bro. Tanner’s and went to Bro. Karren’s on Dry Creek, Utah Valley. We had been compelled for some time past to keep a close watch over the child both night and day, and as Mary Webb, the girl that had been helping my wife was expecting soon to leave, I brought Lydia Jane Tanner home with me to stop with my wife ‘till the sickness of our babe should have abated.

21st—Notwithstanding the extreme difficulty of my family, I had to take my departure for a season and leave them in the hands of God. My friends had come in to bid me adieu for I could no longer stay as my comrades had left and would soon enter the settlements of the savage redskins. I called upon T.G. Hoyt to offer up a parting prayer, after which we lay our hands upon the sick child and rebuked the destroyer by virtue of the Priesthood and in the name of the Lord. I also dedicated and consecrated myself and family into the hands of the Lord and to his service, and about 10 o’clock a.m. I left my lovely little family consisting of a wife, a son and two daughters, the youngest of which was then laying upon her mother’s lap apparently lifeless—yet she breathed.

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November 1st—We went 5 miles to Parowan City the capitol of Iron County where we were kindly received by George A. Smith and all the Saints.

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2nd—The Saints were called together at 2 o’clock p.m. to give us a chance, as Elder G.A. Smith said, to sow our wild oats before we left the cities of the Saints, and hoped it would suffice till we returned to Zion among the Saints; the only people that had any right to dance. Our party lasted till 12 o’clock at night, was conducted harmoniously and all felt well. I felt to enjoy myself quite well in our time of recreation, yet I could not but reflect upon the situation of my family when I left but a few days before, but I felt to leave them in the hands of the Lord for protection.

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[January] 25th [1853]—Mr. Colgrove kept us until afternoon steamer and paid for our dinner; he continued with us till the boat left the wharf and appeared like a brother. We arrived in San Francisco about 9 o’clock p.m. and soon found the most of the brethren in a room rented by them and we were happy to learn that by the kindness of Bros. John M. Horner, Thos. Williams, Sparks and others the cash was forthcoming for the passage of each mission, being over $4000 and that our missionaries for the Islands had the engagement made with the ship Huntress, under Capt. Jas. Lambert for 50 dols. each cabin fare, except we furnish our own bedding. Bro. Wm. Hyde informed me that Harris Clark had come to San Bernardino and reported the death of my daughter Lucina Azelia whom I had left very sick at my departure. She died soon after I left on the 25th of October after I left the 21st of October ‘52.

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[February] 8th—While reflecting upon the scenes of the past, of the perilous situation of my family when I left home and the death of my children, I wrote an acrostic on the name of my first born [Isaac Newton, born October 1, 1844, died October 11, 1844].

9th—I composed the following acrostic on the name of my youngest daughter who died Oct. 25, 1852 just four days after I left home. Born Sept. 20th, 1851 and dedicated it to my wife.

Let me compose a line for you,

Upon the death of one we love

Called home to meet her brother, dear,

Into a world that’s free from care.

Now when I left our child was low,

And said I, “Lord , wilt thou bestow

A life of peace, and let her be

Zion’s fair daughter, kind and free.

Ending this prayer I went away,

Like many others—long to stay,

I had not left the ocean shore,

A brother says, she lives no more,

A feeling then I can’t express,

Like anguish came across my breast,

Let us so live that they may be

Restored to us in purity.

Eternal joys we then shall see,

Death cannot sever you and me

But with the children God has given

We shall with peace be crowned in heaven.