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Show McAllister celebrates 93rd BIRTHDAY; RECALLS STIRRING EVENTS OF WEST He's 93 Tuesday : i " -. ; : t v : i : - -, nil. ffiiiWnritiW With more than 100 relatives and many friends from all parts of the state calling to extend best birthday wishes, William J. F. McAllister celebrated his ninety-third birthday anniversary Tuesday at the home of i his son, A. D. McAllister. In 93 years, Mr. McAllister' has ! witnessed many stirring events taken part in many. And he has seen still more remarkable changes i in science and invention and ways of living. He came to Utah as a boy of sixteen, six-teen, acting as a chore boy for on independent company of emigrants. The train became short-handed of drivers at Laramie, Wyoming, and he was given what seemed a "big chance", the privilege of driving an ox team the rest of the way to the Valley. He was born in Pottsville, Delaware, Dela-ware, August 16, 1845, a son of Richard Rich-ard Wesley and Elizabeth Elinor Bell McAllister. He marched in political and military demonstrations demonstra-tions in the stirring times of the Lincoln election, and did what part he could, though only a boy, to stand beside his father in the campaign cam-paign for Lincoln. His job of driving part way to Salt Lake City led to other jobs in the freighting line. In 1862 he drove 14 head of oxen back to Florence, Nebraska, Ne-braska, and drove four yoke back, and 18 passengers atop a load of stoves for Brigham Young. A carpenter, he helped with the building of the Salt Lake tabernacle. He was also a singer, and sang in WiUiam McAllister. j Courtesy Deseret News the old tabernacle choir. He also played in the old Salt Lake theatre, from the opening night on. When Brigham Young called for 150 men to go to St. George and colonize the Southern part of the territory, William McAllister was chosen. One of his particular assignments as-signments was to take charge of musical activities, and he organized a fine choir there. He helped with the building of the early church buildings there. He married Elinor Jackson Adams, whom he met in St. George, in the Salt Lake Endowment house. In 1875 he was called on a mission to the Zuni Indians. After returning two years later he was called to Kanab as Spanish interpreter. The last few years in Kanab he owned and operated a drug store. In 1880 he married Angeline Brown in the St. George temple. In 1928, after his wives died, he came to American Fork to make his home with his son and family. n |
