Byron Harvey Allred, Sr.

1847-1912

Byron Harvey Allred Sr.’s parents were William Moore Allred and Orissa Angelia Bates.  He was their third child.  He was born 29 May 1847 at Council Bluffs, Winter Quarters, Iowa, during the Saints’ westward migration to the Rocky Mountains.

Byron Harvey Allred was a third generation Mormon, his grandparents, Isaac and Mary Calvert Allred having accepted Joseph Smith as their prophet in the early days of the Restoration.

Byron Harvey Allred Sr. married Phoebe Irene Cook and to them were born two children, Byron Harvey Allred Jr., and Myra Irene.  His second wife, Alta Matilda Rolph, gave him his largest family, bearing him 11 children.  They were Arville Albert, Melvin Calvert, Alta Matilda, Minnie Diantha, Ednar Jay, Cora, Eva, Orissa, Cyrus William, Orsen Parley and Rolla Olan.  His third wife, Mary Eliza Tracy added four more children to the family:  Henry Garcia, Lorain, Lavon Tracy and Mary Viola.  This made a total of 17 children.

The family went to Mexico in 1890.  They moved to the mountains, living in Colonia Garcia for several years.  They then moved to Poverty Flat, named that because of the hardships they went through at that time.  He taught school in Colonia Pacheco.  While living in Poverty Flat, Byron was digging a well.  One night he dreamed that the bottom fell out.  He decided not to dig the next day and, that night, it caved in and filled up nearly to the top.  He felt that it had been a warning to him.  From there they moved to the valley.  They lived near Colonia Dublan, then moved to Guadalupe around the year 1900.  They spent the remaining years that they lived in Mexico in Guadalupe.

Aunt Irene felt that they needed a nurse as there was very little medical help in the colonies.  So she went to Salt Lake City and entered the LDS Hospital, returning to the colonies after two years of training. 

Byron prospered in Guadalupe, providing his families with some of the good things of life that they had been denied through the years of their poverty.

Byron Harvey Allred Sr. had a keen sense of humor and was the life and laughter and spirit of the home.  He had strong convictions and beliefs.  He was a father to love, but also to obey.  He was President of the Guadalupe Branch. 

The time came in the summer of 1912 that the people had to leave the colonies because of the Revolution.  He had his homes well- furnished for those times.  He moved a friendly Mexican family into one of the homes to care for things until they could return.  He and his family left with the first group out.  After a few days in the “sheds” in El Paso, Texas, they moved into a house.  During this time, he sent his wife Irene to Blackfoot, Idaho to visit her son. 

While yet in El Paso with his families, they were in need of a tub and washboard so he went to town to buy them.  When he came back he lacked his usual cheery greeting.  A tired, weary man took his last few steps.  He died of a heart attack August 6, 1912, and is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in El Paso. 

Mary Viola Stout, daughter

Stalwarts South of the Border, page 13,

Nelle Spilsbury Hatch