Respected Couple To Be Honored At Golden Wedding Anniversary
    Mr. and Mrs. John K. Allen will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary Tuesday, January 5th. Invitations have been extended to more than three hundred relatives and friends. Members of their family will tender them a wedding dinner at 2:30 at their home and the reception will begin at 8:30 in the Vineyard ward amusement hall, where dancing and a specially prepared program will be given with Samuel W. Hilton, a son-in-law, as master of ceremonies.
    Mr. Allen was born in Swansea, Wales, January 7, 1864, the son of Thomas and Mary Kirby Allen. When he was seven years of age he emigrated to America with his parents, and one brother and two sisters. For two years the Allen family remained at Pennsylvania, where his father was employed. In 1873 they arrived in Utah and settled in Salt Lake. At the age of sixteen Mr. Allen went into business for himself at Ogden, running a transfer wagon, later moving to Provo where he assisted his father on a farm. It was here he met Lydia Taylor, daughter of William Joseph and Mary Bowring Taylor of Provo, where she was born, September 13, 1867.
    They were married January 5, 1887, in the Logan temple and made their home in Provo for seven years. Later they moved to Lake View and then to Manila. They finally located in Vineyard in 1907 on the Lake Side farm where they have since resided. Where ever the family have lived, Mr. Allen's musical ability was in great demand. He taught music for two years in the Pleasant Grove schools, resigning to devote more time to his farm work.
    His untiring service as a music director extends over a period of fifty years, having furnished singing for hundreds of funerals, besides his concert and choir work. His entire family has been a great asset to the community in a musical way.
    Four sons and one daughter have filled missions for the L. D. S. church. Mrs. Allen's life has been spent in service in her home and devotion to her family. Ten of the twelve children born to this worthy couple are living and all of whom are expected to be present. They are: W. K. Allen of Vaughn, Montana; Thomas Allen, San Jose, California; Mrs. Mary Brinkerhoff, Bicknell, Utah; Mrs. Edna Robinson, American Fork; Mrs. Lydia E. Hilton, Pleasant Grove; Mrs. Priscilla Jensen and Leo Allen, Provo; Joseph T. and Elwood Allen of Vineyard; and Roy Allen, Watsonville, California. They also have thirty-seven grandchildren.
    Congratulations and best wishes are extended to them by their numerous relatives and friends.
The Sunday Herald | Provo, Utah | January 3, 1937
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John Kirby Allen
    VINEYARD--John Kirby Allen, 77, farmer and dairy man of this area, died Thursday at 11:50 p.m. at his home here of causes incident to age.
    He was born January 7, 1864, in Swansea, Wales, a son of Thomas and Mary Kirby Allen, early pioneers of this section.
    He came to America with his parents in 1872 and settled in Pennsylvania. Two years later the family moved to Provo and settled there until 1903, when Mr. Allen moved to Vineyard.
    Mr. Allen served for many years as a member of the Alpine school district. He was active in L D S church affairs.
    He married Lydia J. Taylor on January 5, 1887, in the Logan L D S temple.
    He is survived by six sons, Roy Allen, San Jose, Cal.; Leo Allen, Provo; Thomas and Elwood Allen, Pleasant Grove; Joseph Taylor Allen and Kirby Allen, Vineyard; four daughters, Mrs. Mary A. Brinkerhoff, Bicknell; Mrs. Priscilla A. Jensen, Provo; Mrs. Edna A. Robinson and Mrs. Lydia E. Hilton, Pleasant Grove; 41 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Thomas Allen, Provo, and a sister, Mrs. Hannah Cook, Salt Lake City.
    Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the Vineyard L D S ward chapel by Walter Holdaway, bishop. Friends may call at the Berg mortuary Saturday evening and at the family home Sunday prior to the services. Burial will be in the Provo City Burial park.
Salt Lake Telegram | Salt Lake City, Utah | February 7, 1941