Show Joseph S HYRUM mercantile STORE OPENED 1878 a few pages of Joseph S Only pocket-size- d ledger are out for the year 1881 bat they may offer a little bit of into the life of a Hyram busiinsight in nessperson the late-19century Then again they may say nothing because they're just notes on a page So look but don't leap too quickly to conclusions says Hyram resident lean Maughan whose husband Louis is the great grandson of Joseph Joseph's ledger contains notes about bills paid cash distributed and items purchased etc But one page stands out as somewhat odd It lists sales items he rang up for a few days in early January 1881 Let's see There were pears and nuts beer and cakes photographs wine and cigars beer beet cider apples wine and cigars stamps lead and candy lead pencil wine and cigars This was Hyram in 1881 ! “Remember they were sales items” Jean Maughan says wanting to make perfectly clear that Joseph Allen didn't buy those items for himself She laughs now about any potential misunderstanding knowing Joseph's reputation is impenetrable “He was always known to everyone for his kindness his gentleness" she says He also was known for his religious convictions so Maughan is comfortable passing along Joseph's journal far often to peruse Joseph Allen was an early store owner in Hyram opening Allen Brothers General Merchandise in 1878 Before it dosed recently Allens Mercantile as it became known in laser yean was the oldest general mercantile store still in business in Utah except for ZCML The store opened under the helm of brothen Joseph and Frank Allen They were sons th Page 66 Hwd aoumsy of Louis and Jan Itautfon Tha Alan Brothers Store opened on Main Strati In Hynan In 1878 of Ira Allen ooe of Hyram’s original set-tiers and the store pissed down through geaentions of the family until Louis and it offen some insist into his personality Jean finally retired The fbOowing journal entries are sepa- rated into two parts The fint is a family history detailing Joseph’s entry into the business world The second part contains erapts from his diary in 1891 It tells about his work in the store what he did in the evenings his church activities and Joe was 15 yean old when he left CedarGty with his father and famQy to go north to find swiu joined with them and on April 1st I860 they entered Cache VUkyndbegn the town of Hyram Here Joe was to see the See STORE on page 67 - f i |