 Duncan NcNeil McAllister LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson, Vol. 1, p.651-653
McAllister, Duncan McNeil, clerk of the 17th Ward, Salt Lake City, was born April 18, 1842, in Glasgow, Scotland. His ancestors were natives of the West Highlands. In childhood he experienced the hardships of extreme poverty, being insufficiently fed and clothed, and seldom having covering for his feet, even in winter. His mother became a convert to "Mormonism" when he was about six years of age, and remained devoted to her religion until her death, Feb. 23, 1861. His father was intemperate, and a rabid anti-Mormon; he died Nov. 10, 1875. Duncan's schooling was limited to about two years in all, but, by unaided efforts, he gradually acquired a fair education, in time becoming a good accountant. At eleven years of age he commenced working for wages, in a drug store. At thirteen he was apprenticed for six years, to learn the upholstery trade. He was baptized, in the river Clyde, by Elder John Scuttle, Oct. 25. 1857, and confirmed the same day by Elder Jacob Gibson; ordained a Teacher, by Elder John Reid, April 22, 1860; and ordained to the office of Priest, by Elder John Tobin, December 9, 1860. He served as a rifleman for three years, in the first regiment of Lanarkshire volunteers (1858 to 1861). At the end of his apprenticeship, immediately following the death of his mother he offered his services to travel and preach the gospel; President George Q. Cannon accepted his offer by calling him to labor in the Liverpool office. He arrived there June 5, 1861, and remained until April 30, 1863, when, having contracted lung disease, he was sent to Utah, arriving in Salt Lake City Oct. 22, 1863, after an eventful journey. The winter of 1863-64 was spent in Salt Lake City, working as an upholsterer and "property" maker in the Theatre, and as a compositor in the "Deseret News" office; the latter occupation he had learned in the Liverpool office. In the spring of 1864 he walked to Brigham City, Box Elder county, where he was employed by Judge Samuel Smith to take charge of the post office and store. He was ordained an Elder by Apostle Lorenzo Snow, July 27, 1864. The same [p.652] year he was appointed, by Gen. Chauncey W. West, to the office of adjutant by the Box Elder county battalion of cavalry of the Nauvoo Legion. He removed to Salt Lake City Oct. 22, 1865, and accepted a clerkship in the post-office, a position he retained four years. Oct. 20, 1866, he married Catherine E. Perkes, and in 1869 he entered upon the duties of invoice clerk in Z. C. M. I. He was ordained a Seventy by Joseph H. Tibbets, and enrolled as a member of the 17th quorum, Aug. 7, 1870. In 1870 be became the assistant manager and bookkeeper in the retail shoe department and factory of Z. C. M. I. That department, and all other retail departments of the institution, were closed down in March, 1874. The workmen employed in the factory organized a co-operative association to continue the manufacture and sale of boots and shoes, and they elected Brother McAllister secretary and treasurer; later, he was appointed superintendent. This business was purchased from the workingmen by Wm. H. Rowe in March, 1877. In October, 1878, Brother Rowe sold out to the Deseret Tanning and Manufacturing Association, and a few months afterwards that company transferred the amalgamated business to Z. C. M. I. In each of these changes Brother McAllister was retained by Manager Rowe in the position of foreman, and when Z. C. M. I. entered extensively into the manufacture of boots and shoes, and tanning, he continued to be associated with Brother Rowe in the conduct of those two important enterprises, to which was subsequently added the manufacture of overalls, etc. During the year 1885 Elder McAllister wrote a number of articles on the subject of storing wheat, which were published by the "Deseret News" and strongly endorsed in the editorials. These articles elicited considerable correspondence on the same subject, from other contributors to the "News," and it was made clearly apparent that it is the duty of the head of each house hold, of Latter-day Saints, to constantly have at his command a supply of wheat sufficient for the needs of his family for several years. From March, 1885, until April, 1887, Brother McAllister contributed an average of one column of reading matter weekly to the "Deseret News," on health. These original notes and compilations aroused a great deal of attention, and accomplished much good, because of the lucid explanations imparted concerning the laws of health, including the subjects of hygiene, physiology, sanitation, food, and the Word of Wisdom. Oct. 12, 1885, Elder McAllister received a transfer to the third quorum of Seventy. On his 45th birthday (April 18, 1887) he was notified, by Pres. John Taylor, that he had been selected to act as manager of business affairs at the Church Office in Liverpool, under the direction of Apostle George Teasdale, then presiding over the European mission. Although not in good financial circumstances, he accepted the call without hesitancy. Money came to him from unexpected sources, and he left home May 9, 1887, with the comforting thought that he was going to assist in the Lord's work, and that his family would not lack the necessaries of life. He spent two weeks in Boston and vicinity, visiting shoe factories and tanneries, securing information of value to Z. C. M. I., especially relating to plans and machinery for the new factory. After completing this investigation, and writing the results, he joined a company of Elders going to Europe, and sailed from New York, May 31, 1887. It was a coincidence that the fifty Elders composing that company sailed three days before the fiftieth anniversary of the sailing of Apostle Heber C. Kimball and his fellow laborers, from the same port, to introduce the gospel in Great Britain, and that they arrived in Liverpool a few days before the fiftieth anniversary of the crowning of Great Britain's greatest monarch, Queen Victoria. Elder McAllister spent two and one-half years on this mission and was occupied nearly all the time with the duties devolving upon him in the office, occasionally attending conference meetings, by appointment. He also visited Scotland, Wales, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, France, etc. In addition to performing the usual labors connected with emigration affairs, and bookkeeping, he wrote a number of articles for the "Millennial Star," and assisted sometimes in the editorial work. In one direction especially his labors proved profitable; that was in the changes he effected in the printing department of the office, with the consent of Pres. Teasdale. Bro. McAllister having some knowledge of machinery, [p.653] and being a practical pressman, as well as compositor, personally directed the work; and thereafter all printing was done on the premises, with a consequent large reduction in price of books and tracts, resulting in a considerably increased sale, to the great advantage of the missionaries. He left Liverpool Nov. 2, 1889, and arrived at home on the 16th of the same month, thankful to find wife and family well, and feeling that, under God's blessing, his second mission had been successfully accomplished. Within a few days after his return he was given employment as a bookkeeper in the general office of Z. C. M. I. At that time what is known as "The Boom" was at its height in Utah, and Brother McAllister, unfortunately, was persuaded to mortgage his home and invest, with others, in the purchase of a mercantile business which then presented flattering prospects of being a profitable investment. This soon proved disastrous. The business thus embarked in brought anxiety, care, and financial difficulties, culminating in bankruptcy, loss of home, and a burden of debt that is still likely to take years of rigid economy to cancel. There was a silver lining to this cloud, however. Elder John Nicholson, who had been appointed to the office of recorder for the Salt Lake Temple, selected Brother McAllister as his first assistant, and Pres. Lorenzo Snow, and the First Presidency, readily consented to his appointment. He was set apart accordingly, and entered upon the important and sacred duties of that calling, when the Temple was opened in 1893. It was after he had begun this most congenial occupation, and had retired from active management of the business above referred to, that the financial crash occurred. June 13, 1898, he was ordained a president of Seventy and was set apart as one of the council of the third quorum, under the hands of Pres. Christian D. Fjeldsted. Brother McAllister has taken an active interest in Sunday school work. He has been for the past ten years senior teacher of the advanced theological class in the Seventeenth Ward, where he resides; and is the senior principal in the First Intermediate Department of the Salt Lake Stake Sunday School Union. He has always been associated with choirs, glee clubs, and choral societies; and though not prominently gifted as a singer, takes great delight therein and has made himself useful in that direction. He has been identified with the Tabernacle choir since November, 1863. He assisted in organizing the Hayden and Handel Society of Utah, and has been secretary of Zion's Musical Society, the Union Glee Club, and Zion's Choral Union. He has some dramatic ability also, appearing occasionally on the stage of the Salt Lake Theatre, and elsewhere. He has, for several years, held the office of president of the Association of Veteran Artillerymen of the Nauvoo Legion, an organization established, with the approval of the First Presidency, in the year of the Pioneer Jubilee. Notwithstanding that Brother McAllister is unobtrusive in character, his life has been well filled with peculiar experiences. At this writing he is earnestly engaged in the congenial duties, before referred to, in the Salt Lake Temple, and therein he has proven a valued and efficient help. In the varied occupations and positions he has been placed, he has generally shown above the average ability, and in all circumstances the desire to do all the good he can has ever been prominent. |
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