A Brief History of Royal Clifford Tolman and Goldie Adams

A Brief History of Royal Clifford Tolman and Goldie Adams

Contributed By: jaredjamestolman1 · 27 May 2013 ·

THE EARLY YEARS

Having delayed writing somewhat of my history until I am now past 77 years, I feel that I must now write down some of the events which are yet so very clear in my mind, and which may be of interest as well as inspirational unto my children and their children after them, as they have been the means of shaping my life.

I was born unto Judson Isaac and Emerett (Bates) Tolman, their second child, (son) the 3rd of November, 1893 in the home built by my father of pine logs, hewn by his own hands as flat as though they had been sawed, and in the small town of Marion, adjoining Oakley and now a part thereof in Cassia Co. Idaho, having each come from Tooele, Utah with their families among the first pioneers to the Oakley valley.

When I was a little over one year old father was called to fill a mission for the Church to the Southern States Mission, leaving mother, my older brother and myself to keep things going at home.

My sister Alta was born soon after his leaving; making the four of us at home during the 37 months that he was away.

In view of the cost of missionary service today, I am amazed as to how he got along in the Field and how we were able to live at home. I don’t remember us going without food, only to the point we were always ready to eat whatever was provided.

We always had plenty of bread and milk, so that this was the most important part of our diet. Anyway we grew strong and were as hard as nails.

Of course while father was away he was only a mythical person in our lives. I still remember our feelings when he returned and would hold our mother on his lap and hug and kiss her, as it seemed to us by the hour. We were very jealous and would have loved to have strangled that man with the mustache who seemed to have stolen our place.

Of course we soon became acquainted and learned to love and appreciate him very much as we saw him labor so faithfully to provide for us.

Mother was of a musical family, and while father was away her sisters came often to sing beneath our bedroom window. They played on their mandolin and guitar andwhich they sang. “Then awake lady awake to they window appear, thy friends are awaiting below to sing thee a song thy sad heart to cheer and soon we must bid thee adieu.” Mother was always ready to sing us kids to sleep. While father was away he developed a fine singing voice as he sang the Gospel into the hearts of the listeners.

After his return home we all sang together as mother played the organ and that precious gift carried down through the families yet today and shall continue.

EARNING A LIVING

Soon after father returned home from his mission, he borrowed money and went into the sheep business so that my early life was tied very closely to the experiences of sheep and camp life. In fact, Mother and we kids were so much with Father that I got very little schooling during my youth. We lived through the years of the cattle and sheep war and had to be prepared for any emergency. Mother was trained to use the rifle as expertly as any man. We used to say that she could shoot the eye out of a fly at a hundred paces away, and if she was afraid when left alone at camp with us to care for, she never showed it.

While I was yet a young man and was left alone at camp in the mountains to care for the sheep, I shall never forget the comfort I got from the rifle as I clutched it in my arms even as I lay asleep. If I should put in writing one half of the experiences of those early years in my life following the sheep from winter feeding ground through the lambing season, the summer range and back to winter feed or range, (depending on the severity of the winter) it would be too long and perhaps very tiring. But suffice it, I followed and helped care for the sheep all over what is now Magic Valley—in the mountains south all along the Snake River from Milner to Hagerman Valley as well as in the mountains north including the Sawtooth Range and in the big and little Wood River areas. Fish were plentiful in all the mountain streams and wild game plentiful in almost any season of the year.

It was no trick for us kids to go out of camp for a few hours and come back with all the fish and wild chickens that we could carry. The chickens were killed with rocks as they perched on tree limbs. Rattlesnakes were everywhere and we learned to heed their warnings, especially the rattle. Although we knew the danger, we never let one get away even if we had to move rocks and brush taking an hour or more to get him. I guess we were supposed to live or the Devil didn’t want us.

I must here recount one experience. We were with the herder so much of the time that he often let us hold the gun after he had taken out all the cartridges and would let us work the lever and snap the hammer as though we were shooting. Well, it was spring andlamb marking time. The sheep were all corralled early in the morning. From daylight time until about noon we had worked to get the job done. A small number was cut off from the main herd into a small pen. Then Ivan and I caught the lambs, gave them to the herder and he held them up while Father did the marking or docking as it was called. As one pen full was completed the mothers were turned out and of course, went in all directions hunting their babies. When all was done, Father went in one direction and the herder in the other to bring them back together. As they left you can imagine what we thought about! Yes, you guessed it. Away we went on high to the camp tent where we knew the rifle was left. Ivan was ahead a few feet, grabbed the gum, dropped down to his knees, worked the lever and pulled the trigger. I caught hold of the barrel and looked down in it. For just a split second something had me turn my head just in time for there was a mighty roar. The bullet just ticked the end of my nose and went out through the tent. Sure enough, we were scared and put the gun back where it was. Father and the herder both came back to camp, each thinking the other had signaled the other. Then came the test. We were so scared that each denied even hearing a shot. Of course, Father knew better and began to persuade us to tell the truth. It took some doing and was very impressive. I recall Father saying that it hurt him as much as it did us. I guess it only fair to say that I was the first to break and confess.

I recall the times when it was market time and the lambs were cut away from their mothers and driven out through the hills, across the desert to Milner, across the river bridge there and then across the desert to Kamiah, the shipping point on the railroad. It was always in the summertime when it was hot so Father always picked the time when the moon was nearly full to give light during the greater part of the night so it was cool to travel and then we would stop during the heat of the day. Those were the days. During the day when it was hot, Father would sleep as the lambs rested, but not us boys. Then Father would roll us out of bed half-asleep and on to the trail again we went. I knew that we walked many miles sound asleep and only awakened as a toe caught on a rock or bush to send us down in a heap. We were always glad when the drive was over but just as ready when the time came for another one. Anyway, it was wonderful when the time came that the railroad was built through the now Magic Valley, and later when lambs were moved by truck from the range to the railroad station.

CHILDHOOD DISEASES

I noted earlier that we grew strong and hard as nails. I guess we had most all the childhood diseases but they didn’t slow us up much. Alta, Ivan and I all had the measles at once and Alta was seriously ill. The doctor, Father and Mother were with her and much worried, but not us boys. It had been wintertime and we had missed the great times we had during the summer in our swimming hole in old Goose Creek not far from our home. This day when we were finally missed Father seemed to know just where we would be. Yes, there he found us swimming. We were having a great time even though the ice was still around the edge of the water. This might have proved fatal but for the fact that we were warmed every step back to the house.

Again, Ivan and I had the mumps together. It was wintertime again and we were at the sheep camp where the sheep were on winter feed up against the hills about six miles south of home. We had built us a sled large enough to hold both of us. We would pull it up the hill high among the cedars, rocks and bushes then both get on and down we would go. Rocks wouldn’t get out of the way and as the sled struck them, we would be thrown down the hill fifty feet or more in the snow. Although our jaws and necks were swollen almost to our shoulders, it didn’t seem to hurt us any.

Well, at the risk of being tiresome, may I tell of two other threats on my life? When about four years old, I picked some flowers, which grew, along our yard on the ditch bank. They were very pretty and looked delicious, so I tasted them and they had a very pleasant flavor. I ate some, how many I don’t know, too many I suppose. It was toward the evening in the fall of the year and when I began to feel sick, I went to the kitchen and crawled under the stove. You know, one of those wood stoves, which served as both heating and cooking, and which stood on four legs a little above the floor. When bedtime came I was found there. I was quite peacefully unconscious. Through hot baths and doses of this and that which we not a few, I came out of it none the worse without even a doctor’s help.

Then there was the tobacco experience. It was sheep shearing time and we were far up near Fairfield below the Sawtooth range. Mother was cooking for the men and near by they had a large tent, which served for sleeping quarters. Well, one day we kids saw a full plug of chewing tobacco lying on one of the beds. We had seen the men chew and spit on their shears as they worked and they seemed to enjoy it. This gave us the idea. Yes, we swiped the whole plug and hid it in the woolsacks, which were piled nearby. One evening soon thereafter we had a fire in the sagebrush not too far from camp and of course, we thought of our cache and no sooner thought than done! We began to chew and spit and swallow like nobody’s business. Soon we began to feel dizzy and thought we had better go to camp. As we tried to stand, the ground just seemed to come up and slap us down. So we just crawled back to the fire and went to sleep for a few minutes. Then we started to chew again with more, spitting and swallowing. Father called for us to come in. Finally the herder came out to see why we didn’t come. With his help Ivan was able to make it, but I had to be carried all the way. We wouldn’t tell what was the matter and Father thought that we had found some smoking tobacco as he could detect the smell of it on our breath. They thought that it nothing serious. I became unconscious and it lasted for two days and nights but work went on as usual as there was much to done and they were sure that I would come out of it in due time. This I did as usual, fit as a fiddle. Only no more tobacco as I only had to think about it to become sick in my stomach.

WATER

As before stated, Father had trailed sheep back and forth across the country which is now the great Twin Falls Irrigation Tract. When the time came that the dam across the mighty Snake was completed at Milner (spring of 1905), and the water was to be turned into the canal system, he took Ivan and me down from Marion to see this great achievement. It would be exciting to see the closing of the gates in the tunnel through which the river was forced to go while the dam was under construction. We had many times watched the progress of the construction as we were in Milner with the sheep. A railroad was laid back from the river about half a mile and an electric train hauled great carloads of rock to the river’s edge where they were picked up by means of a great derrick, which was operated on the same principle as the hay derrick of the day. A large steel cable was stretched tight across the river about twenty feet above the ground level. The mechanism was hitched to the cars and the power, which hoisted the cars from their gears, sent them out into the middle of the stream. There they were tripped and the big rocks stopped the fast flow of water. Then smaller rocks and earth were dropped until all the flow was turned through the tunnel. The tunnel was lined with cement and steel and equipped with large steel gates, which could be screwed down to, shut off the flow of water. The water would then be backed up to form a great lake, which reached, up the river for nearly one hundred miles to greater or less depth. The city of American Falls at that time was completely covered.

Well, it is needless to say there were a great many people there who had come to see the sight. Others thought that when the water was turned from the channel where it had flowed for so many years and felt that there would be gold nuggets—plenty for the gathering. As soon as the rocks began to show in the water, or riverbed, planks were laid from rock to rock and a large crowd of several hundred people hurried across into the bed of the river. There was some difficulty in closing one of the gates and it was raised a little for adjustment, which allowed a large head of water to rush down the riverbed.

Someone shouted that the dam was going out and you can imagine the panic. The rocks were wet and covered with moss and slime. Large holes had been worn in the rocks by the action of the water and on smaller rocks, many of which were deeper than the height of man. You can imagine the sight as the word spread that the dam was going out. Men, women and children didn’t wait for room on the planks but took out for the shortest way to safety. There was much fright and plenty of ducking but nothing serious and when it was known what was the real matter, soon the crowd was back again searching. No gold of any great amount was found although they searched, dug and panned. There passed a very important day in the history of Idaho and especially what is known as Magic Valley.

LAND

Father visioned what the future of this great tract of land would become as the water was turned out on the land which was mostly desert—at least to a degree. Anyway, he was sure that he wanted a farm under this system to aid in his sheep raising. So with Mother he traveled over the entire area from what became known as Murtaugh, named after one of the contractors, to Castleford on the west end. He finally decided to buy a tract near the source of the water flow, which proved very profitable for the family and is still owned by some of the families. The fond and varied experiences of the family here are too numerous to recount, but surely very choice indeed.

FAMILY

Before the move to Murtaugh, two more boys were born to Father and Mother but they were only permitted to stay a short time and lie buried in the Marion Cemetery close to Oakley. Then came another girl, a charming lassie, who was given the name of Loa. She was born on February 27, 1906. She was just a baby when we made the move in the spring of 1906. Father had dug and rock lined a cellar to serve as a house for the family along with a tent until a house could be built. He “let” the contract and the first brick home was built on the Twin Falls tract. The brick was prepared and “burned” near the sight of the home and the house completed by fall and still stands as a great monument to a gallant and far seeing Father. The house has been remodeled somewhat and the border lines of the farm changed, but it is still owned by members of the family. I bought the farm from Mother and Father when they wanted to retire. After farming it for a time we sold to members of the family and Roger and his family still own it and live in the remodeled home as of 1970. Father had previously sold the sheep to the Lincoln Brothers and now moved to Logan, Utah where he and Mother worked in the Temple as officiators for many years.

THE FARM

To return to the farm — We first moved to the tract near Murtaugh, from Marion. It was covered with a growth of large sagebrush about fifty acres of which had been grubbed by hand by the previous owner. Although the brush was still lying as it was cut off, it still had to be piled and burned. Then there was the preparation of the soil for planting and raising a crop. Father bought two walking plows, arranged two three-horse teams for power and we two boys, who had never done such a thing before, went to work. The large sagebrush had big roots. The horses were not large and certainly not used to such work, so they had to go fast and then stop suddenly to rest often. As the plow often hit extra big roots they would jump out of the ground and the horses would forge ahead.

When we were able to stop them, we were unable to pull the plow back to its place and had to turn the horses around and start over again. Father was away with the sheep most of the time and we kids got the sixty acres ready to plant that spring. He came home long enough to scatter the seeds of grain and alfalfa by hand and we harrowed it in, corrugated it, watered it and had a neighbor who had a binder cut it. We then hauled and stacked it so that it was ready for the thrashing. Everything we planted grew in abundance and produced well. Surely this was a blessed and choice land!

STRENGTH

Again I must express my gratitude and appreciation for my heritage and the strong body with which I was blessed. So often Father and we boys were working in the field, fencing or the like and some tool was needed from the house. It was always, “Cliff, will you go get it?” Although it was half a mile or more away, off I would go on the high run there and back without stopping. Later when the whole farm was cleared of brush and with hay growing on most of it, I always chose to work in the field where we loaded the hay on wagons with low wheels and then unloaded at the stack by means of a “Jackson Fork” although only 15 years of age, I worked against some of the best men available, and there were some very good ones. While driving sheep on the trail, should a lamb lie down under a brush unnoticed until the herd was quite some distance away and then get up and start to return back to where it had been taken from its mother, I would go after it and when it began to run, I would just chase it until it became too tired to run farther. I would just pick it up and put it on my shoulder and carry it to the herd. When in High School at Oakley, it was just good pastime for me to take off and run four miles and back to fit me for track. The coach would often “pit” me against the next fastest four schools to run the mile, which they did in relay. What a dream now to ever think of it.

Well, anyway, I became the fastest man on the cinder track in Southern Idaho and this physical fitness has stood me well through the years.

GOLDIE

It was during my first year in high school, (1910) even in the first part thereof, that I met the girl of my dreams and knew for sure that she was the one as I came in company with a group of girls. Grandma Bates was with me as I was staying with her while going to school and this was Sunday evening as we were going to Sacrament meeting. As we were introduced I was absolutely sure, and have never changed my mind. Her name was Goldie Adams, the daughter of the famous John Adams who was known far and near for his horticulture ability, for his generosity and his friendship. Her mother was Anna Belle Warburton, a very stately woman of great faith and love for the Gospel. She passed away the 13th of June 1911 and left the family at the very early age of 51 years. This left Goldie to care for the home, her father, two brothers, Rome and Ross, and Uncle Dick. This was quite an experience for a girl of 17 years, but she did it well and it helped to make of her the wonderful homemaker that she still is.

Goldie showed an interest in me and there began the most wonderful courtship you can imagine. We were together a great deal while at school and during the summer months as often as possible with my work on the farm and tending the sheep camp for Father. I would ride over to Oakley, 27 miles on horseback after a days work, spend a goodly portion of the night with her and on Sunday and then back home in time to take my place in the field the next day. But it was worth it, as we truly loved each other.

Time slipped by and Father Adams began dating a Sister Mary Harper who lived at Albion. She had been widowed for several years and so we were a very much in love trio for Rome was courting Sarah Worthington. No one else can judge or imagine what a time father, son and daughter had dating at the same time. Father and Rome usually went out to their date’s home while Godlie and I stayed at her home. Well, of course, I couldn’t leave her alone, so I stayed until one or the other came. With the excitement of exchanging of experiences we would finally all be together in the exchange and then enjoy a lunch together. Oh, those lunches. They consisted usually of a bowl of bread and milk and cream with plenty of peach preserves made by my dear one’s hands. Perhaps it may have been the setting, but I thought that nothing else had ever tasted so good.

MISSION CALL

This went on until the spring of 1913 when I received a call to fill a Mission to the Northern States with headquarters in Chicago. She was in perfect harmony with my going and gave me the assurance that she would be waiting my return. She went with Father, Mother and me to Salt Lake City so that we might spend as much time together as possible. With hearts full of love and with joyous hopes of times to come we kissed goodbye and I mounted the train, which sped me away from her. The lovely times, which we had spent together and into the months when we must keep our love aglow through the faith and trust which we had in each other and in the media of the mail, the love letters flew. These are still enjoyed by our children.

A wonderful thing happened. Just six months after I left for my mission, Goldie was called to fill a mission in the Central States with headquarters at Independence, Missouri. She labored mostly at St. Louis in Missouri and Kansas City, Missouri. Another thing, while we were together in Salt Lake City we were introduced to President Ellsworth who was my Mission President, by Goldie’s brother-in-law, Johnny Ellison. When President Ellsworth visited her Mission, he met her again and a close friendship grew between the three of us. President Ellsworth seemed to get quite a “kick” out of teasing me about her while visiting my district. He learned that we were planning on being married on our return and there may have been some planning between the two presidents. (More about this later.)

A TESTIMONY GREW

My Testimony of the Gospel was well founded during my experiences in Murtaugh during my early life. It was a community of many Faiths. We all met together in a Union Sunday School in the morning and then a Bible Class in the Evening. I never missed a meeting and listened earnestly to the discussions between our members. Father usually took the lead because of his natural and great ability and understanding of the Gospel and the beliefs of the members of other faiths. I could readily see who understood the scriptures and knew the truth. This all was of great value to me in the Mission Field. The more I studied and the harder I worked, the stronger grew my testimony so that I had many great and wonderful experiences. Never once did I have to change my mind as to what I had learned during those years of my early life and it has stood me well. I have been so proud, happy and thankful for those experiences through these many years.

MISSION EXPERIENCES

During the greater part of my Mission, I served in South Bend, Indiana and it was while there, that I became suddenly very ill. This was unusual for me and I was puzzled. After two days of chills and fever with a very sick stomach, I decided to see a doctor. He informed me that I had typhoid fever. This shook me quite badly as I had met with several cases there in Indiana, which had proved fatal. I decided to go immediately to Chicago where I could get the best care possible. I took the train that same evening and while on the way the fever broke so that I felt better and nearly came to taking the next train back to South Bend. But I decided to go to the Mission Office while there and talk with President Ellsworth. He examined me and thought maybe that I had yellow fever and sent me to a rooming house to await developments. The Health Department was notified and doctors came, about a dozen of them, each on the wrong track. Then finally I began to break out and the doctor called it Small Pox and hurried me off to the isolation hospital. I was unable to distinguish between day and lamplight. I had broken out all over my body and it was so painful that I couldn’t stand the weight of the sheets on my body. The nurse tied the corners to the bedposts above my head. Then as the sores began to break and dry, the pillowcases were so soaked in the discharge from the sores that they would stand straight out when changed. For eighteen days I was the only patient in the hospital, which covered one-half, a city block and two stories high. The only thing that kept me from going batty was my ability to sing and so I would lie in my bed and sing through the nights and listen to my voice as it echoed throughout the halls from one empty room to another. The only other sound that I could hear either during the day or night was the humming noise as the Catholic Sisters were in prayer and running the Rosary. After eighteen days alone as the only patient, two other boys came in to keep me company. One had a very light case, but the other was nearly over it when the doctor ordered him to the hospital. Of course, I was over my sickness, the sores had nearly all dried up and I had only to wait the clearing and smoothing of my skin. I became nursemaid to the other two to make known their wants and carry their food to them as it came up from the basement on the dumbwaiter. The Sisters became very friendly as I kidded them a lot and they wanted to know if all the Mormon Elders were like me as there was another one whom they had become acquainted with there in the hospital.

After thirty-two days in the city of Chicago, I was released to return to my Field of Labor just in time to attend a conference of the District in Muncie, Indiana. From there I was sent to Marion, Indiana where I labored the rest of my time in the Mission Field.

EXPERIENCES

During almost all my Mission I served in the city as the Elders had been called from traveling through the country. The President felt that close contact was the best policy. While here at Marion my companion and I got permission to do country work for one week, I feel that some of our experiences might be interesting as they are so memorable to me. The farm homes were far apart in the main, which required a great deal of walking. We started early, tracted all day, held a street meeting in a small town that evening and had a good attendance. My singing voice did us well for it carried through the streets and many came to find out what was going on. The people were very friendly but when we told them at the close of our meeting that we were depending on some of them to care for us that night, they disappeared slowly away. Our meeting was in the street right in front of the town hotel. Finally when the crowd had all disappeared, the manager came out and asked us to come in and stay with him for the night. Of course we gladly accepted and when he showed us to our comfortable room and returned downstairs we fell into each other’s arms, cried a little and thanked the Lord for His blessings. We left tracts and books at the Hotel the next morning after breakfast, which was graciously given, and we were on our way. We walked about fifteen miles that day and did visiting and tracting along the way. We were unable to get anyone to listen to us or even look sympathetic. In the evening when we began asking for accommodations for the night, we found ourselves turned away for some reason or another. Each was sure that the people “down the road a ways” would keep us. Finally as we turned away and walked from the yard to the road, my companion dropped down on the grass and said he could go no farther. Well, I felt just like him too, but suggested that we ask the Lord to do something about it, which we did. As we started on, all at once I could hear music coming to us on the breeze. I was unable to distinguish the tune but I said, “There is our answer, and dear Lord, just keep that music coming and we will find the way.” The night was dark and it was hard going but I was sure that where there was music, certainly there would be friends. We walked a full mile south on the road and then came to an interstate section. I could detect a slight breeze from the east so we turned east and followed the music. Sometimes it seemed very clear and then would sink away to almost a whisper. Once it came through more plainly and I said, “that music’s coming from either an organ, accordion or a harmonica.” Soon I could make out that the tune was, “Home Sweet Home.” My companion finally could hear it and we quickened our steps for fear it would stop. Soon we came to a small home with an elderly couple setting out on the lawn in rocking chairs in the sweet fresh evening air. There were no lights and the husband was playing the harmonica with that lovely tune for us all the way. They of course, were surprised at our coming so far out there and when we told our story briefly, the wife offered to get us something to eat. We told her it was so late that we would be happy for a place to sleep and rest. They only had one bedroom, but said they would be glad to fix us a bed on the hay in the barn.

Of course, we accepted gladly and soon were fixed comfortably for the night and so thankful for the music that had led the way. The couple said themselves that they didn’t know why they had sat up so late but just felt good about it. In the morning we were given breakfast and after talking to them about our work and the message we had for them, we were on our way again with hearts filled with gratitude and thanksgiving.

As the hours passed we were hungry again and began asking again for dinner or something to eat. It seemed always with the same answer or excuse, “the wife was sick or gone” and at each place each excuse seemed justifiable. My companion had asked at the last place and the woman told us that she had a young babe and her husband was away and that she had not planned dinner. We excused ourselves, left her some tracts and went on. When we came close to the next house some distance away it happened that I was walking on the side of the road next to the house and my companion kept edging against me until finally I stepped behind him to the other side. All at once he stopped and said, “Elder Tolman aren’t we going in here?” I said “No for they are waiting for us down to the next house “ It was one half mile farther on. He looked at me as though he thought me crazy, but on we went. When we came near the house, a large man arose from a chair on the porch and came toward us down the path. My knees almost buckled under me, as he seemed in such a hurry. As he drew near, he held out both hands and said, “It has been years since two Mormon Elders has visited us. What has kept you so long? We have been waiting for you.” A bounteous dinner was set in a large dining room, with chairs around the table and hay hands waiting to sit down. We all sat and ate to our full and then the host said, “the men have to be to work but would give us one hour to tell our story. It was wonderful and it seemed that even Heaven could not be more grand. As we sat down he said, “First I want to ask you a question. Do you think that God will answer a prayer for just anyone when they are in great need and ask sincerely?” Of course. I told him our faith in this matter and how the restoration was brought about through this medium. He told us a very interesting story in his life and how his life was spared through an answer to prayers. This is the story.

When he was a young man, just a short time married, he with his bride was picking cherries from a large tree. He was up in the tree where the cherries were ripe and beautiful. He would pick them and drop them down to his wife with a spread out apron below. They were so happy and then all at once it seemed that a full swarm of bees lit upon him stinging him all over his body. He dropped from limb to limb to the ground and was in terrible distress and soon broke out in large welts all over his body. The doctor called it a bad case of hives and after a few days, it was gone but each year on the same day of the month this thing came again, each time with more pain and more severe, only to leave as before. Finally the doctor said that the next attack would be fatal and he could do nothing about it. They spent the year trying to be happy and hoping that something would happen to change this thing. Finally as the day drew near, they were very concerned and very anxious, especially as the breaking out was evident and the spots were appearing near the surface. That night before retiring, they joined in humble supplication to God for help and as they finally slept, he had a dream. It seemed that it was hay time and for some reason he was going to the field to the mowing machine carrying a can of kerosene in his hand. As he drew near, a large wolf arose from nearby and came toward him snarling and it seemed was ready to spring at him. He dashed the kerosene in his face where upon the wolf yelped and ran away. This startled him and he awoke. He awakened his wife and told her the dream and to get the kerosene, soak a cloth and begin applying it to his body. Along with his help, they covered his entire body and as soon as the kerosene had a chance to penetrate the spots and lumps began to disappeared and never returned. This has been a testimony to us and we have had many occasions to use this remedy in our family through the years, especially for the hives.

After the story I gave him the Gospel message and the story of the glorious restoration through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The men had gone to work, but we stayed beyond the hour allotted us. We held street meetings in town that evening, slept by the roadside that night and began our return home by a different route the next morning. Our experiences were wonderful in the country but we were glad to be back in the city.

TWO MISSIONS ENDING

During this time Goldie was laboring in Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri and was now to receive her release so that we both were to be released at the same time to return home and to each other. She having fulfilled a full time mission as I also had. We made comparisons of the train schedules and thought that we would meet in Denver, Colorado to go the rest of the way together. Our figuring wasn’t good for when my train stopped in Denver, there was a train which was just ten minutes ahead and one that would arrive a few minutes after my train was to leave. I waited until it was in motion and then went aboard. Well, I made the wrong choice for she was on the train behind. However I had a wonderful time between there and Salt Lake City as I paid the extra fare and took a Pullman car. It was World’s Fair time in San Francisco and the train was loaded with people who, for the first time in their lives were heading west. I joined with two ministers, Baptist and Methodist, and held meetings through the train since it was Sunday. When I was introduced as a Mormon Missionary who had spent two years in the east, many were interested and gathered around to ask questions. I talked as long as my voice could make me understood. Just a few minutes after arriving in Salt Lake City, May 25, 1915, Goldie also arrived. We were together for a short time that evening and made sure there were no questions in our minds. The next morning we went to the Temple and were married. Our Presidents had arranged with our Bishops for recommends to be there for us and Mother Tolman had come to Salt Lake to be with us and go through the Temple. Oh, joyful occasion as we began our honeymoon all the way home, which has, lasted the years till now. (April 12 1971) Goldie’s personal history is contained elsewhere on other sheets along with that of her father and mother. Our history shall continue together which shall take some doing to bring them up to date.

LIFE TOGETHER

We were thrilled to have Mother Tolman with us and to know she was pleased with our marriage. What a glorious experience, not only our experience in the Temple, but to know that we were really husband and wife. We belonged to each other for Time and Eternity and together we could make our lives what we desired and were determined to do. As we now, after fifty-six years of life together think in retrospect of the experiences through which we have passed, we feel sure that it is wisdom in the Creator that He withhold from His children the ability to see the end from the beginning with the events in between. Perhaps we might have tried to avoid some of those experiences which were very hard to bear, but which have proven very choice and valuable in our lives.

We took the train from Salt Lake City about midnight and arrived in Murtaugh (our home to be) at about noon the next day. After visiting with the family there and getting acquainted with them again. Loa, Bion, Roma and Inez had grown so much while we were away. We went over to Oakley to see and visit with Goldie’s family. The older ones who were married as well as Ross, the youngest, were there to bid us welcome home and wish us joy and happiness. When we were ready to leave to return to Murtaugh, Father Adams gave Goldie a check for fifty dollars to help us get started and set up housekeeping. Father Adams also gave Goldie a Singer Sewing machine, the latest model, and to this day after fifty-six years she is still using it and it stitches better than many new ones. My Father, not to be out done, also gave us a check for the same amount. Think of it, a whole one hundred dollars with which to buy furniture, dishes, pots and pans, and the other incidentals. How far would that go today? Goldie had all the bedding made and put away along with linens before going on her mission. We went to Twin Falls and bought an oil cook stove, table, chairs, what dishes were needed and pots and pans. Goldie’s friends gave her a shower in Oakley and my friends in Murtaugh gave me one. Mother let us use her “stand upright cupboard” for our dishes and a bed until we could buy one. Goldie used large dry-good boxes for a worktable and put bright calico cloth around it making the room look very inviting. Mother and Father had let us use the large front room for a kitchen and dining room. They had a spare bedroom upstairs which we used while living there. We were very happy as though we had more.

I began working for Father as I had done before going on my mission, only now I got fifty dollars a month for my labors. Of course, we had no rent to pay and from the farm had all the vegetables, milk, eggs, and meat we could use. We got along well. It was only about six weeks after our marriage that Goldie began to be very sick and we learned that there was to be an increase in our family, which materialized in due time. On February 28, 1916 there was born to us a lovely son, well and strong with a growth of lovely light blond hair. Goldie went to her sister’s home in Oakley, Florence Dalquist, to be near Dr. Oldham when the babe was born. The doctor said to name him the shortest name we could think so we called him Rex. The Dr.’s bill was $25 and we paid Florence a few dollars for her labor. Goldie got along nicely and we were soon home again together, the three of us.

OUR LIFE

I worked for Father during the years of 1915 and in 1916 Father sold his sheep to Mr. Ivan Lincoln. Then in 1917 my older brother Ivan and I rented the farm Father and I had worked, and we worked together during 1917 and 1918. Many things happened during those years. We moved from Father’s home into part of Ivan’s near the lake. We lived there a year. Then we bought the Frank Tracy home and small farm across the road from Father’s and Mother’s and moved into that home, the first we could really call our own. It was a delightful home. Goldie arranged everything so lovely. Father built a new home of brick on the north part of the farm and we moved into the home, which he built in 1906. In the fall of 1918 Ivan was accidentally killed by his saddle horse falling and rolling over him in the field as he was chasing pigs. It was the 10th of August 1918.

In 1918 the first great flu epidemic hit this country. It was very serious and many died of it as it struck suddenly and without warning. It was harvest time and we were hauling beets. The first I noticed was I began to chill, but I was following a walking beet puller all day with my knees seeming to strike together every step. That evening, I told Jack Roberts, our neighbor who was helping haul the crop, that if I was unable to get up in the morning, he should take over the pulling. I stayed in bed all day, was quite sick, but through the loving care of my companion I was better the next morning but Goldie was coming down with it. There seemed so much for her to do with the care of the children, there being two now, for on the 17th of May, 1918 the Lord sent us another choice son whom we named Roger Adams Tolman. My care was not equal to hers. Our homes then were not modern and she had to carry in the wood and water and most always had three to a dozen men to cook for. She went to the door to dispose of water as seemed necessary. The next morning she was very bad and we called the doctor from Twin Falls.

There was not much he could do and she steadily became worse. It seemed that almost everyone either had the disease among their families or were afraid to go where they knew it existed. Two of our neighbors, Lydia Neilson and her daughter, Katie Clawson came to our rescue. Sister Clawson took Roger, our babe, to care for him as she could see Goldie was unable to do so. We shed tears as our little one was taken for we felt perhaps that dear Goldie would never see him again. Mr. Roberts saw to the completion of the harvest. Goldie became worse by the day, so that the doctor gave us little hope that she would recover. The Lord was good to us, for through our earnest prayers, He blessed her and gave the doctor insight into a new medicine. This morning all hope of recovery seemed in vain as Goldie’s fingernails had turned black, her lips were very blue and she was going stiff. A knock came at the door and Dr. Leigh came in smiling and said, “Mrs., Tolman, we are going to make you better. We have found a new medicine. I know you shall be better.” What joyous words. The Lord had heard our prayers. That day the fever broke, Goldie began to rest, her body lost the agonizing pain, and from that day she began to improve. The Angels of mercy kept our dear son for two weeks. I had stayed in the house with her so that I had entirely recovered from my attack. It was six weeks before I was able to leave the house and then only because others needed me and I went to administer unto them. It was nearly three months before Goldie was completely out of danger and able to take over. Sister Clawson gave our baby back to us and he was as well as could be. We shall be ever most grateful to her and her girls for their loving service.

CHURCH

Shortly after Roger was born on the 17th of May 1918, the Murtaugh Ward was organized. It had heretofore been a Branch of the Marion Ward, Cassia Stake with William T. Jack as president. Pres. Jack came and the Ward was organized with Adrian Merrill as Bishop and Jerome Childs and Clifford Tolman as counselors. We served together until the fall of 1919 when the Twin Falls Stake was organized with Lawrence G. Kirkman and president, E.M. Guest and Jesse W. Richins as counselors. I feel this history would not be complete without mentioning the generosity of Father, J.I. Tolman who was presiding Elder at the time of the organization of the Ward. In the past all meetings had been held in a little red brick schoolhouse. In 1916 Father gave to the Church a building lot. Immediately a building was started. Hy Pickett, chairman of the building committee was heard to say, “Lets build a Church so when a stranger passes by and asks, ‘What Church is that?’ we can proudly reply, why that is the Mormon Church, by gad.” The basement of this Church was dug with pick and shovels in the spring of 1915 and the concrete was mixed and poured by hand. Old timers can still remember the heating system, a black potbellied stove that had the congregation roasting on one side and freezing on the other. How happy we were, after long hours of labor, to sit in a lovely church where peace and harmony and the Spirit of the Lord were there in rich abundance, and knowing it was all our own.

MOVING

Times were moving fast, the price of land was on the increase, and much publicity was given to the opportunities in California. Great farming development in the Sacramento Valley in Glenn County was much publicized. Father got the urge to go down and see and I was anxious to go along. So on the 29th of May, 1919, Father and I drove to Wells, Nevada and took the train from there to Oroville where we were met by the agents who were promoting the large tract of land through the drilling of wells. We were taken to Chico, then to Hamilton City and on to Orland. From there we were shown over the tract of land, which was covered with a bountiful crop of dry land wheat and stretched out as far as the eye could see. We drove through the fields where the wheat came level with the door tops of the car, the open kind before the sedans. We were very much taken with the prospect and made tentative arrangements to buy a tract each, with water developed. When we returned home, we found that on the 30th of May, just the next night after we had left, there was a terrible frost in the valley, which had killed all the crops to the ground. This was the deciding factor and we priced our land to our neighbors and relatives, sold it to them with a small payment down with a contract, and got ready to leave when the crops were off. We loaded machinery and cows, two of them, in a railroad car and sent them ahead. Then we took off in our cars with our families. Father had a 1917 Cadillac and we had a 1918 Cole Eight. We drove a little more that 1,000 miles over mostly graveled roads, through Boise, Bend and Burns Oregon and into California at Redding and on to Orland. Of course, we had no homes and to rent was not possible so both father and I bought homes there. We were expecting our third babe and must have a comfortable place to live. Soon we bought an additional farm with a home on it four miles south of Hamilton City right on the Sacramento River.

We sold our home in Orland and moved into our new home. Here on the 30th of December 1919 our lovely daughter was born. We named her Lova. She was just as glorious as California could produce and was such a joy unto us. We loved this home, as it was large and spacious, with many rooms and large living room, kitchen and dinette. The people moved out leaving all their furniture. Surrounding the house was lawn and all kinds of fruit trees and we had oranges, figs, apricots, peaches, pears, cherries and an abundance of wild strawberries and grapes.

In the spring of 1920 we had our land terraced and we planted with great anticipations. Everything was booming and everybody expected that such would continue. In the fall of 1919 rice had sold for ten cents a pound and all indications were that it would bring fourteen cents for the 1920 crop. Then came the CRASH. Instead of fourteen cents we were unable to get once cent for it. Thousands of farmers, big and little were caught in the “bind” for conditions were just as bad here as at home in Murtaugh.

Payments due us did not come and we were unable to make our payments in California. We didn’t give up but struggled on and planted Milo corn in 1921. We had a good crop but rain came so that it would not dry for threshing and we realized very little from our efforts that year.

We made many friends there, both Church members and non-members. Cousin Erin Tolman and his wife, Estella, came down from Idaho and bought next to us. George Tracy and family bought property in Hamilton City. The Belchers, Aunt Alveretta, and family came and stayed for a while. The Randall family with their daughter, Melissa, and husband, Charles Egbert, and others came also. Our nonmember friends were many as we lived among them. The *****, Duncans, Bushues and others. We naturally had the urge to be known as Church members so we drove to Gridley, fifty miles away, to a conference of the Branch of the California Mission. There we met the Mission President, Mr. McMurrim, and also the Branch President. We told them of the members living in Orland and soon there was organized a Branch in Orland with Erin Tolman as President with Mitchell Hunt and I as counselors. Goldie was chosen secretary. We held meetings regularly in a rented hall and though times were hard with practically no money and living sixteen miles away, we managed somehow and never missed a Sunday in attending our meetings. Many a Saturday we wondered if we would be able to go to Church the next day our dear neighbor who owned a large orchard would come and say, “Mr. Tolman, I am so in need of a few hours of work with a tractor. Could you help?” and we were able to buy gas. How grateful we were to our Heavenly Father that He had heard our prayers.

We decided to cut down on our operations because of lack of finances. The banks had no money to lend, only to those who already owed them. We let the pump land where we had grown rice go back to the company. We held our operations to the farm on the river. We almost lived off the farm as vegetables grew the year round. We had all kinds of fruit and our cows, which provided us with milk, cream and butter for ourselves. We even had some to sell to the creamery, which was a life savior. We improved the irrigation well by putting on additional perforated pipe to let the water come in. We planted ten acres of apricots, along with prunes, almonds and walnuts which were in demand and very popular. We purchased a Fordson tractor—a 1920 model—and I was able to work with it for an orchard company close by when not busy on the farm. This was a great help and we were able to get along.

FLEAS

It was here we had our first experience with the California fleas. Hold everything!!! That was some experience. Father’s family broke out in sores like boils. Father would come down to the ranch and then go home and take fleas with him. The doctor thought it was their diet and made restrictions, which of course didn’t help. Our boys, Rex and Roger—it brings a chuckle now to think of it—for even in play they would run about all the time twisting and scratching. At night they were not able to sleep even though we rubbed them with every concoction we could think of until they were totally exhausted. When they would sleep for a while the constant movement of the little critters would quit. We got along very well while working or moving about. Finally a schoolteacher and her sister who rented two rooms in our house asked us if we were bothered with the fleas. From them we learned the whole truth and that the house and out buildings were literally moving with these little pests. When we knew what to look for, we could see them and then not see them for their movements were quicker than the eye. We sprayed the house, out building and yard and then got insect powder with which we dusted our bodies on leaving the house. Father would get in the bathtub before going home and remove his clothes. There the little devils would show upon the white tub and couldn’t fly out. We found that the natives built up immunity against the fleas so that they didn’t notice them and we began to notice them less.

BACK TO THE FARM

Early in 1921 Father and Mother’s daughter, Roma began to fail in health. The doctors thought it might be the climate so they decided to leave California. They traded their home in Orland for a home in Salt Lake City and left us in sunny California. The history of what happened to Roma and their experience are included in Father Tolman’s history so will not repeat it here.

In the fall of 1921 Goldie and I with a “wagon broadcaster” seeded the entire farm, except the young fruit orchard, to barley. I harrowed it and let the rain do the rest while I went to work for the Orchard Company. We didn’t need to do anything in our fields until the barley was ready to harvest. We got a large combine with twenty foot cut which was drawn by twelve head of mules to do the harvest. The Lord was good to us, we had a bountiful crop. I sold it immediately to a produce company, hauled it with team and wagon to the railroad siding which was only one-fourth of a mile away and it filled a large railroad car. The price was not too bad and when I got my check, I took it to the bank at Orland, got a checkbook and paid all our small outstanding bills as I had told Father I would before he left. I also promised him that we would follow him out of California as soon as I was able to do this. It was not because we didn’t like California, for we did like the climate, the lovely fruits and vegetables which grew so abundantly, There were fish in the river and we could spear salmon up to seventy-five pounds in size during the mating season. The salmon we cured and smoked and had smoked salmon all year round. Wild grapes grew along the river and climbed on the oak trees so that in season we could climb upon the vines. They were so dense that we could walk for long distances, eight or ten feet above the ground and pick. These made delicious jelly and syrup. Then there were the wild geese that came into the rice and grain fields in the fall.

They were so numerous that there would be times when they would hide the sun, even on a bright day. Their honking was almost deafening so it was not difficult to get what geese we wanted to eat. Then there was the honey experience which we remember with much amusement as well as appreciation. I was plowing for our neighbor in a field, which reached down to the river, and quite a distance up in the field there were large oak trees with a spread of about eighty feet. The limbs were high enough to allow the tractor to pass underneath. I noticed sometimes that as I passed under the tree something seemed to pelt me on my hat. I thought it only some dry leaves dropping as the tractor passed under. Finally I noticed that it was honeybees rebelling my intrusion and as I examined the large tree I could see the holes in its side with the bees going in and out. I asked the owner if he had ever tried to get honey from the tree and he said, “Go ahead if you want as I stay as far away as I possibly can and they have been there fifteen years that I know of.” I told Father and Cousin Erin about it and they were eager to try for some honey. We got a ladder ready for the main hole was up the tree about twenty feet from the ground. We waited for darkness for then the bees would all be inside and then with a smoker ready, Erin went up the ladder. He scaled the tree from limb to limb to the hole and pumped smoke into the hole until the bees quit humming. Then with brace and bit we bore into the tree to find there was only a thin shell with the entire tree hollow. With an ax we then chopped a wide opening and found the entire tree filled with honey in the comb hanging as neatly as though it was in a hive. We could reach in the opening and cut out long strips of honey as they hung from the outside toward the middle of the tree. We made as many openings as necessary up in the tree and in the large limbs, which also were hollow and filled with the honey, until we got all of the delicious meat of the bees’ labor. We filled tub boilers and buckets, loaded them in our cars and called it a profitable day. Our home was close by and there we divided up the spoil. Mother Tolman and Cousin Estella, Erin’s wife, had come from Orland which was sixteen miles away, all in Father’s car with him and Erin. Their take was too much for the car and inasmuch as the next day was Sunday and we would be going there for Sunday School and had to pass right by Erin’s home, they left their share for us to bring the next morning. When we got there, they had already gone and we thought nothing would happen to the honey as it was in a large tub and copper boiler covered tightly with tablecloths so we left it outside of the house. Well, when meeting was over and we returned to put it inside, we found the tubs were light with only the wax left. During the three hours we were away, the bees found their way under the covers and had carried away all the honey. Well, we had to redivide, but still had a lot of honey and we have laughed about our experience to this day. The bees were smarter than we were as pertaining to their work. All this was so very pleasant, but we just couldn’t stand being on the razors edge, so to speak, financially. It was impossible to sell the farm, not that it had decreased in value, but no one had money to buy so we had to make up our minds. I called Mr. McGowan from whom we had purchased the farm and asked him to come and see me.

This he did, and I told him we had decided to give up the farm if he was willing to release us from the obligation. He said that the farm was in so much better shape and he would re-make the contract, cancel the year’s payment and make it so that we could stay. But we had just had it!! So, if he would feel right about us going, we would be happy. I told him how very much we appreciated his offer, but if he had offered us a complete gift of the place, we would not stay. Just one year from the time Father and Mother left, we were prepared to leave. August 20, 1922. We sold our equipment and most of our furniture, keeping only some of the pieces, which we had bought with our one hundred dollars given us by our parents.

MIRACLES

Before leaving California we must recount two incidents which were very serious and which, but for the goodness of our Father in Heaven, could have been most tragic. As you know from the dates of their births our three children were yet very young but most active and quick to observe and imitate. The boys were usually with their daddy and one day Roger had watched me draw kerosene from a barrel which was setting on a platform about two feet off the ground. This was done by means of a rubber hose inserted in the barrel, sucking on the other end until the oil started to siphon. This filled a five-gallon can that was to be emptied into the tractor tank. Roger watched me suck and start the flow, then raise the other end of the flow and drop it to land down ready to start again for a refill. The hose was just the right height for him to suck with his mouth as he had seen me do. As I was busy emptying the can of oil into the tractor, the first I noticed was a coughing sound and I looked around to see him struggling on the ground with the oil flowing freely through the hose. I, of course, called frantically for his mother who came running. We both worked over him, it seemed, for several minutes before he could get his breath and even as it came in short gasps we were unable to keep him awake or conscious. It was sixteen miles to a doctor, but besides praying with all our hearts, this seemed our only hope. Mother held him in her arms and tried to keep him awake but his jaws were set and there seemed to be little life left and he was turning blue. The doctor gave us little hope as it had been so long since he had swallowed the oil and said the oil was not only in his stomach and was to far to reach with a stomach pump, but that it was in his lungs also. He was able pry his mouth open with a metal spoon for a wooden one was not strong enough, and he poured castor oil down his throat to force a passageway through. Buy this time Roger seemed some better to our great relief and we just waited for the castor oil to work. This it did and soon we were able to take him to Mother Tolman’s for the night. The doctor didn’t think it advisable to be too far away until he was much better. We were a happy family and fell on our knees to think our Heavenly Father. To this day, 1971, after all these past years and the many experiences he has been such a dutiful son having grown into maturity, married and is raising a wonderful family

of six boys. He is serving now as Bishop of the Murtaugh Ward and as we see him and as he does so many acts of love and kindness for us, our hearts swell with gratitude and appreciation unto our Father in Heaven for His goodness in preserving the life of our son in preparation for his great mission. Then there was our first daughter, Lova, born in the land of sunshine and flowers, as radiant and beautiful as California’s fairest, born December 30, 1919 at Orland, California. She was a perfect babe, hardly ever cried and grew fast and ran and played with the boys. I had brought home a bale of twine in preparation for cutting corn, and left it lying in the lane just through the yard gate in front of the house. As they played the boys thought to try a pocketknife we had bought for them, it was dull on the edge but sharp on the point. They placed the blade under the rope, which held the twine bound, pulled up with all their strength to make the cut and the blade slipped off the rope with out cutting it and of course it went quickly upward. Lova was leaning over to see the operation and the point of the blade landed squarely in the center of her eye. It was in the evening and mother and I were sitting on the front steps of the house enjoying the cool of the evening and the laughter of the children. Suddenly there came a sharp cry and then the play went on, but as they came running up to us we immediately saw the injured eye for the inside had come out through the cut, forming quite a bunch on the eye ball. She didn’t seem to be in much pain but we left the boys with our dear neighbors who were non-Mormons but very kind, and took her to the hospital in Chico where there was an eye specialist. He operated on her eye, separating the various layers and covered it with a tight bandage. Goldie stayed with her in the hospital for three days, holding her in her arms, as she was so nervous she couldn’t sleep. Finally the doctor removed the bandage and was able to look into her eye. He assured us that the lens was not damaged and that she should have ninety percent vision from that eye. We were very much relieved then and very happy to return home.

MOVING

To return to our leaving California in the fall of 1922 and as before mentioned, the panic had struck in the fall of 1920 and was general throughout the country. If a person was obligated for any amount of money, if one had made a purchase of land obligating himself for payments of considerable amount, it was just impossible for him to pay. Therefore those unto whom we had sold our land when leaving for California could not make their payments to us, including both Father and me. They were friends and relatives and we didn’t wish to make it hard for them. So we just arranged to let them stay on the farms and pay as they could, or get from farming the land what they had paid to us as down payment. Of course, we expected them to keep up the expenses such as taxes, water maintenance, interest on the mortgage and the like. As I mentioned before, Father, Mother and the children had left having traded their home in California for a home in Salt Lake City to a doctor who had come to Orland to practice. We always felt the Lord’s hand in the move. Their hurried departure was on account of Roma’s ill health. Now they were living in a lovely home there. They had spent all their surplus money on doctor and hospital expenses for Roma, all to no avail and she is buried in the lovely Wasatch Lawn Cemetery. Father was given a job with the Sugar House Lumber Company with their friend, neighbor and Bishop as President. Father was given the job of driving a lumber truck at five dollars a day. When we had made arrangements to leave California, he arranged for me a job at the same place and salary. It is needless to say that we were happy for it seemed so long since we had had any income and to think of five dollars a day—why we just felt we would be millionaires in no time. We arranged for a small truck to haul our belongings to Chico. Then I gave our red model T to our neighbor if he would drive us to Oreville where we would take the Western Pacific train to Salt Lake City. The folks of course were glad to see us and took us in until we could find a home. Father had made all the arrangements for me to work at the lumber company and I went to work the next day.

After work we would look through the newspaper adds. I said, “Now Goldie, there is one thing we must keep in mind. We must find a home which would sell readily should we need to sell.” We found a lovely brick home on the corner of 39th South and Highland Drive. The price was right and the terms suitable, so we made the down payment and agreed to pay twenty-five dollars a month. We had a home again. Mother and Father were wonderful to take us in, five of us, when each was living on a shoestring.

Mother was able to take in ironings, sometimes we would iron four to five hours a day in order to make ends meet. It was at this time that Goldie noticed Lova getting more nervous and cried a great deal. She would take her to the family room and tend her so she wouldn’t disturb others. Mother often said, “I would give that child a good spanking then perhaps she would sit up and eat her food.” Goldie felt there was something wrong, as it was here she began to hide her face in the pillows.

We will always be grateful to Father and Mother for taking us in and caring for us. Lots of times Mother would baby-sit others and of course, Goldie helped with this. We wanted just any kind of a job to get enough to live comfortably. Our home we bought was across the city from where the folks lived. From our small reserve we purchases a 1915 Model T for $140 which I could drive to work and which would take us to see them and go places which we wished to see. We bought a clothes washer, a second hand one, not the kind we have today, but which served very well. We purchased a few pieces of furniture, which we needed and were again very, very happy. We hear about hard times today and the struggle, which young people have but I am sure that there are very few who experience the difficulties through which, we passed. Goldie took in washings and often clerked in a store across the road in order to get the extras. I must say here that through it all, my beloved companion never complained. She at times refers back to those days when our children cried for bread or something to eat, but never did she talk about what she had to go without. We still thank our dear neighbor from whom we bought milk. When Christmas came I was out of work, no money. She said, “Mrs. Tolman, have the children any Christmas?” Goldie said, “Only what I have made.” The next morning there was a basket with all kinds of fruits, candy and nuts for the children.

Goldie not only kept the home spotlessly clean and presentable to all who might call unexpectedly, but the children also as clean as possible for children that age and full of life and activity. She was also busily engaged in Church work and was never for long without a responsibility in some very important position, such as Relief Society Theology teacher or Superintendent of the Religion Class. Even to this day since she was fifteen years old she has taught some class in Sunday School. She has a special gift with the children. So as I write about my work and what I did, you must know that she was always by my side to give encouragement and without it I could never have made it.

I worked steadily at the Lumber Company and received the pay envelope each Saturday so we bought the necessities each week and got along without when our budget was spent. Then of course, there came winter and the business at the Lumber Co. fell off as business slackened and as I was the youngest there so far as seniority is concerned I was the first to be laid off. Here we were again without income. We just tightened our belts and I traveled the city over trying to find work. A week passed by. I had taken a correspondence course in electrical engineering and now I went to several companies and tried to get them to let me work to show what I could do and pay me accordingly. Of course they would not do it. I finally went out on the west side where a large sewer pipe was being installed. I found out who was the foreman on the job and asked if he could use my help. The answer surprised me for as he looked me over he said, “I sure can use come capable help. You see that crew down there about a quarter of a mile away?” Then he went on to tell me that their job was to pull the piling, which they had to drive along side the pipe as it was laid to prevent the sides from falling in until some dirt was moved in upon the pipes. This of course came upon the piling, a few feet, which made it quite hard to remove. The crew were this far behind the pipe laying crew which made it necessary to continually get more piling lumber. The boss said, “see what you can do.”

As I got there and looked things over I could see that most of the piling could be pulled by hand which left only one here and there upon which it was necessary to use the awkward equipment which they were using upon each 2 x 6 tongue and groove piece. I said, “You fellows pull what I am unable to pull by hand,” and went to work. It was muddy and slick and I was unprepared for such work with only my dress shoes and semidress trousers. But I didn’t ask for time to change but glad of a job. I was able to pull eighty percent of the piling by hand, throw them to one side and move on. There were three others in the crew and I soon left them far behind so that by quitting time I had caught up to the pipe laying crew. The others were still far behind. I returned home and my neighbor who was a carpenter building houses near where we lived, came to see me and asked me to work with him at the same wagers I had received at the labor company.

I agreed only that he give me one day to work where I was and let the boss know about my new job. When I met the boss that morning and told him what I had in mind and if this new job didn’t work out, I would be glad to come back. He swore a little and said, “Just when I get someone who likes to work, he finds another job.” But he assured me if I needed work anytime from now on he would be there with a job for me. The Lord again answered our prayers and I did carpenter work all winter until the lumber company called me to go to work for them again driving truck, hauling lumber, cement and slacked lime. Father was much perturbed when I would go out with a truckload of cans full of lime, 100 lbs each, and several barrels full, 600 lbs. These I had to get off the truck and where possible put them in the houses at the very hands of the workmen. I mentioned this to the men and they were very indignant, but I tried in every way possible to get them where they asked me to and one evening after I had a very bad time that I thought was very unreasonable, the boss chopped me off and told me in no uncertain language that so long as I was working for them I would do what they asked. Brother Ashton, the president, came to the door and asked what was the matter. Of course I told him what was said, thinking that he would fire me, but to my surprise he said, “Do you mean to tell me that you have been expected to put that lime putty in the buildings and carry it up several stories or floors?” He ended by saying, “From now on, drive as close as you can to the building and set it on the ground.” Well, I thought it was my time to move so I left the office. The next day as Father and I ate our lunches together, I told him of my experiences and he said, “Cliff, I just feel that one of these days we will be moving back to Murtaugh, and we should be prepared.” He always had the gift of foreseeing the future. So I went to the shop that evening and cut and painted a piece of compo board black. Then the next evening I took it home, wrote For Sale upon it and two days later sold our home. We got all our equity out of it and prepared to move again.

BACK TO MURTAUGH

I must tell you here, that our family was now one more in number; another daughter was born unto us on January 2, 1922. You know, when we moved to California Lova was born and when we moved to Salt Lake City Betty was born and I have often thought it was a good thing that we didn’t keep moving or that this thing didn’t happen each time we moved. We should have had a whole city of our own, as you shall see if we gained one on every move. Don’t misunderstand me—what in the world would we do without all of our lovely children. We found us a nice home on 5th East just off 21st South, which was much closer to my work, and so we rented it and moved in Wells Ward and enjoyed serving there. Now, we had an experience, which we shall never forget. One day sometime before this moving Goldie stood upon a chair to reach something on the high closet shelf.

The chair tipped and she fell to the floor. She knew she was hurt, but thought it nothing serious. During the following days the hurting in her back and stomach became more severe and we could feel a lump which could be moved around with the pressure of the hand. She became listless and sick at the stomach. We became worried and went to see a doctor. Dr. Martin upon examination found it to be a wandering kidney which had broken loose from its mooring in the back and was floating freely, hanging only by the cord and that an immediate operation was necessary. Without it the cord might become tangled, twisted or kinked which could mean her life. We didn’t have money to pay for such an operation, along with the hospital expense, but when I told the doctor, he just said, “It has to be done.” He said if we could pay the hospital, he would wait for his services. Early the next morning we were at the hospital and Goldie was taken to the operating room. Again Mother Tolman came to our assistance and took the four children and cared for them. With Goldie in the operating room, I was allowed to go in and witness the operation. Two other doctors assisted and soon she was “out” and ready. I watched as she was turned on her stomach. Without delay the doctor took the scalpel with a sharp blade and made a clean opening about two and a half inches long in the loin of the back all the way through so that with a little help, the opening was such that the inside of the body could be seen. The doctors excitedly exclaimed, “There it is!” Again our prayers were answered for the doctors fully expected that it would be necessary to use instruments to locate and extract the kidney. But there it was, directly in line with the opening. With a little pressure on her sides, out it popped right on her back. I watched for two and a half hours while the doctors peeled from the kidney the very thin transparent skin all around and half way down, rolling it as they went. This thin membrane formed a sort of band around the kidney. Then into this band they tied two strong insoluble strings, two on each side and one on each end. Then they inserted the kidney through the opening into the back of her body. They pulled it tight into the wound

in the back and with these strong threads; they sewed it into place and closed the wound over it. I must tell of the pain and suffering Goldie endured. I think I will lay aside my pen for a while and let Goldie tell of her recovery and the experience she witnessed with the evil one. Only those who have passed through such experience can describe it. Clifford has written of my operation and left space for me to tell about my suffering and pain. I won’t go into it, as it was terrible. I wish to tell you of my attack with the power of Satan and through faith and the administration of the Elders, Satan was rebuked and departed leaving my body and mind calm and peaceful, except for the pain.

As I think back on the operation I am glad it is over and forgotten. Cliff had to leave me the third day as he and Father were all packed and ready to go to Murtaugh so I was left in the hands of the doctor and nurses. They cared for me as if I were their own or a baby. I was visited at times by Cousin Lizzy Tolman and the Sisters of the Ward.

On the fourth day and night the pain was so great no medication would take effect. I was warned not to move off my back, only to move my head, arms and legs. But someone kept saying, “you can move, it won’t hurt.” Then I was taken up bodily and dragged out of bed it seemed. Then I could see him standing off and laughing saying, “we have you in our power now.” On the fifth day I gradually grew worse and felt I must give up. I could fight no more. I asked the nurse if she would call the Elders to come and administer to me. I didn’t know them but they were very sociable and humble. As soon as they laid their hands on my head I could feel a peace and a relaxing feeling. The elder commenced to give me a blessing but hesitated. Then in a clear gentle voice he said, “In the name of Jesus Christ and the Priesthood which I hold, I command you, Satan, to depart. You have had possession of this body for a few days but through her faith I command her in the name of Jesus Christ to be made whole and for you to depart, no more to enter or disturb her. She has been too weak to resist your enticing.” I felt that terrible feeling leave me. I grew calm, then the tears began to come and I thanked the Elders and then in humbleness, I thanked my Heavenly Father, and knew then I was to be well and be with my dear husband and children. I lay on my back for thirteen days. Dr. Martin came in all smiles and said, “Would you love to go to your Cousin’s?” I was thrilled and thought an ambulance would be called, but the doctor said to the nurse, “Will you dress Mrs. Tolman, I am taking her to her cousin’s.” As soon as I was dressed he picked me up in his arms and told the nurse that he wouldn’t trust me to anyone else.

They might make the wrong move and damage would be done.” I was laid gently on a blanket in the back seat of the car and when we arrived at Cousin Lizzy’s, he gently took me over his shoulder and carried me to the house and laid me in bad. He gave orders that I was not to move off my back for thirteen days and if I was a good girl, by then I could ride the train to Murtaugh. Lizzy and Lyman were extra good to me and treated me as their own. I will be forever grateful to them. I was really made whole. The doctors in Salt Lake City and the Clinic doctors here have taken every test they can and all say that the kidneys are perfect and functioning properly. I have had no trouble or pain. How grateful I am for the Priesthood and the faith I have.

All arrangements had been made before her operation or before we knew that it had to done, to move back to Murtaugh. It was important and imperative for we had received notice from the bank that no taxes, water maintenance or interest on the mortgage had been paid since we had left and that the mortgage company was ready to foreclose for payment. This of course, demanded immediate attention for the delinquent payments amounted to $1,780, of which amount we had but very little. I had deposited in the bank at Salt Lake City the amount I had received from selling our home and that was all we had except of course from Father and Mother’s home there in Salt Lake City, which wasn’t much as they rented it.

We rented a railroad car, loaded our furniture and belongings into it and were ready to leave. I must tell you here that when we decided to leave Salt Lake City, we went to the president of the Sugar House Lumber Company and told him when we expected to leave. We said we would be happy to work as long as they could profit from us. The President told us how he hated to see us go as we had worked as though we were working for ourselves. No day was too long or the work too hard and that they would use us just as long as they possibly could, according to their best interest. We had planned to leave in January and of course, their business usually fell off in November or December.

Well we cleaned the yards, painted fences and even painted the inside of the offices and anything to keep us busy. Then the day came that we were to load up and leave. They told us to take the trucks, which we had been driving, to move our furniture to the car. It took us all day Friday and until noon on Saturday. When we took the trucks back, they wouldn’t take anything for their use and even paid us for the time we were loading the things on the car.

Now to return—Goldie was in the hospital and Mother had our children. In the evenings I would spend some time at the hospital but it was so hard and I felt so helpless. She was under such strong medication that she hardly knew that I was there. Then just three days after the operation, I had to leave. The doctor told me how long she would have to stay in the hospital so I settled with them in full. I paid the doctor some and he assured me that he would take good care of her and she would be all right.

Mother took the girls with her and Father on the train, After lying on my back all night under the old Model T taking up the rod bearing in zero weather, the boys and I took off at 5 A.M. to drive through to Murtaugh. It was the first of January 1924 and the snow was deep. The road from Brigham City to Logan was closed, as was the road from Tremonton to Downey. Those passes were covered with deep snow. I was informed that sleighs had been running over the pass and the snow was solid so that we could make it.

Well, of course the sleigh tracks were narrower than the car and we had not gone far until we were off the road and buried in the deep snow. A man with four head of horses on a sleigh came along and agreed to help us over the pass for ten dollars. This seemed an awful lot in those days and according to what we had. Still I was thankful and away we went with the motor running and the car doing its best. The four head of horses were required to do all they could to keep us going. Sometimes the snow would back up in front of the car until we couldn’t see through the windshield but we made it to the top and from there we could go on over on our own. I was so thankful and felt that the ten dollars I paid the man was the cheapest bill I had ever paid. By the time we reached the valley the snow was melting and it became very muddy so that we had that to contend with until we reached Pocatello. The boys, Rex and Roger were great. I hadn’t slept any the night before and very little for several nights before that and I was almost completely “done in”. I was afraid that I would fall asleep and go off the road, so I told the boys to keep watch on my face and if I showed any signs of sleeping that they were to slap my face and not be afraid to hit a good one. This was quite a challenge to them but they faithfully did their job and had real fun in slapping me. We reached Pocatello that evening about seven o’clock. We got a hotel room and slept good until morning. The boys were anxious to get started again, so after a quick breakfast we were on our way, much rested and feeling fine. It doesn’t seem possible to think of it now for there were no paved roads then in these parts and the farther we went, it became warmer and the water and mud was everywhere. I think there was not a single Model T ford that could have made it. We had to go in low drive all the way and at times we had to back up and shoot forward to get any distance at all. Well, we made it to Murtaugh about four thirty that evening. (Now we can make it in two hours.) The folks were greatly surprised as they were very worried because it was reported that no cars could get through.

The boys and I were soon moved into our home-the one Father built when we first moved to Murtaugh in 1906. Mother kept the girls and the boys and I began cleaning and preparing the home for our loved one’s coming. I redid the ceilings with kalsomine, which Father and Mother had left over from doing their Salt Lake City home before leaving. (This will really slay you.) There was some white, some green, blue and pink, all of which I put together in a five gallon milk can. It looked awful but when stirred up it looked like mud. I had no idea what it would look like but thought it would have a clean look anyway. Believe it or not, when I got through and it had dried, it was something to behold. It turned out white as the driven snow with just a touch of pink, blue and green where small lumps had not broken down in the stirring. Some of the furniture needed working over a bit and this we did to busy ourselves until our Mother came home. Finally that day came and what joy was ours again as we met her at the train and found her as well as she was—far better than we had hoped for. The Lord had surely been good to all of us. In due time which was not long, we were able to have our lovely girls with us. They were shy of their mother, especially Betty, being so young and not having seen her for a month. Goldie shed tears but cuddled them closely and they were soon talking and loving her with joy. We will be forever grateful to Grandma Tolman for having been so sweet and caring for them. Soon all was well and things settled down to reality in the joy and happiness, which we had before and now shared together.

FARMING

As before stated we had some money from the sale of our home with which we purchased some equipment to begin farming. We bought the equipment from Merrill who had purchased and farmed part of the places sold in 1919 when we left for California. We bought one two-way plow, a harrow, a team of roan horses and three cows, all for five hundred dollars and the horses were the finest and served us well for many years.

That which was most urgent was to see the bank to find out if we could arrange a loan to pay off that, which had accrued against the farm. We were told by those who had moved off from the farm that it couldn’t be done, that the banks would loan nothing because of the hard times and the many who couldn’t pay. We went to the Twin Falls Bank and Trust Company and explained our predicament. We showed them the letter which we had received demanding immediate payment of the full amount which was eighteen hundred dollars. I am sure that the Lord was on our side again as was the fact that Father had built up an infallible credit rating with the bank. They didn’t hesitate but had us sign a note for the amount to be paid the 15th of November of the same year. Now we could breathe easy and have appreciated more and more the value of an unblemished credit. We bought four more head of horses, another plow and soon began to prepare for our 1924 crop. We had been without contact with the farm of two hundred and seventy-five acres since 1919 so that four years had passed and with it there had come some problems and many changes. It was almost as though we had no experience at all. At first as early as possible we planted sixty acres of wheat and then began preparing the ground for beets—fifty acres in all. The spring was backward, the day quite seasonable but the nights were cold and freezing. First thing we noticed that where we had planted wheat it began looking green and we felt good. Then when we looked more closely we discovered that the growth consisted of wild oats. There was some wheat so we thought best to let the field make what it would and worked toward the planting of beets. The ground was in good shape so the beets came up well and looked like the making of a good crop. We had seventy-five acres thinned by hand labor, then of course, we had them hoed once and then came the white fly. This pest had come while we were in California and we didn’t know how serious it could be. The beets were nearly large enough to fill the row with an almost perfect stand. They then began to turn yellow and shrink away. We had the field man of the Sugar Company come to estimate the damage and he said that they were gone and would not make a paying crop. He advised us to contact a sheep man who had bought some similar fields for fall pasture. This we did and received enough to pay for the thinning and hoeing already done. We agreed to water and cultivate the beets until fall. There was on the place one hundred acres of red clover, which had been such a good crop for seed before we left but now as soon as it began to bloom, the aphids hit every field destroying the prospects of a lovely and profitable seed crop. The alfalfa was growing fine and we decided to make all the hay we could. We cut two crops of clover, three crops of alfalfa and finally decided that the field of wheat and wild oats was only good for hay, so we cut and stacked that along with the rest. There was talk that fall hay would sell for as much as thirty collars a ton. We decided that no stockman could afford to pay that price and that we could take the first good offer.

Father and I spent many hours talking over our prospects and one Sunday afternoon at their home we were reading the Twin Falls newspaper and noticed an add where E.J. Hunt and Sons wanted one hundred tons of hay and a place to feed their stock, mostly mules, for the winter. We had known the Hunts while in California and served with them in the Church. They were contractors and had just finished grading for the railroad from Twin Falls to Rogerson. We called them on the phone and they came right up the next day to see the hay and look things over. They made us an offer of ten dollars per ton for all the hay we had and we measured it up and found that we had 190 tons and they gave us a check for the full amount. We went to the bank the next day and paid off our loan just one day before it was due. I must say here that by the love and grace of the Lord we were now again on our feet to climb slowly but steadily forward. The neighbors called us crazy for selling hay at that price, but it proved out that no one else we knew of anywhere received that much. The winter was mild and wet and the stock didn’t need so much feed so that everywhere the fields were filled with stacks of hay. So very much spoiled because of the rain and what was good was baled and loaded on the railroad cars and

shipped out for seven dollars a ton.

We were grateful and thankful to have our debts paid, even if there was only a little money left on which to live. We were able to raise our vegetables and had a cow, which supplied us with milk and butter but no meat. How each of us longed for just a taste but the money couldn’t be spent that way. One day we said, “Let’s go up to the head gates”. Perhaps we can catch some fish from the hole.” My how Rex and Roger hurried around to get worms and poles ready. We caught several which was enough for supper and fish had never tasted so good as it did that night. Soon we had a pork and a beef to kill along with deer so our appetites were satisfied. Do we want to go through it again? No! No!

To return now to Lova’s accident in California when she was hurt in her eye. She had grown and developed well and had complained very little about her eye. As she started school with the added strain of study, she began to cry with the hurting and of course, we thought it was the wounded eye giving her trouble. This was especially true in the evenings with the lights on. We were worried for we had noticed for some time that the beautiful brown color of her eye was changing and seemed to bulge a little. We took her to an eye specialist in Twin Falls. Upon examination he found that it was not her wounded eye that was bothering her as the opening into the inner eye was entirely colored but that the wound was such that had we available all the specialists in the world to serve her at the time of the accident, they could not have saved her eye. Deterioration was bound to set in. Sometimes it followed immediately after the accident and sometimes it was delayed and came slowly as in her case. Poison from the wounded eye was effecting the optical nerve and that an immediate operation was imperative. The doctor, (Dr. Parrot), called Dr. Donniher, an eye specialist in Salt Lake City and made an appointment for the following morning at 9 a.m. We hurriedly got in shape and were in Salt Lake at the appointed time. He was very busy for the office was full of patients. We waited until afternoon seeing the nurse call one after another while we tried our best to comfort and console our dear child. Finally I went to the office door and called the doctor who was very upset when he learned that we had been there all day. He said that the nurse had been given instructions to bring us in as soon as we arrived. Upon examination he told us that had we been one day later, Lova would have lost her sight in both eyes. The doctor made arrangements for removing her eye the following morning. I stood at the table for two hours and watched the operation. This was surely hard to take realizing that she would never be able to see from that eye again in this life. But what a joy as she was again the sweet and happy little girl with no pain. Late that night the doctor said we could take our lovely child to our room as she was doing so well. We stayed with Uncle Herbert and he treated us so royal, seeing to all our needs. Just once did Lova cry out and said there was a stick in her eye but was soon assured and comforted in the loving arms of her mother. The next day we had an appointment with the doctor to check the dressing and the wound. As we walked down the walk toward the office, Lova said, “Oh, Mommie and Daddie, let’s go to the show.” We were surprised as it had been a long time since she had wanted to go to a show as the lights had hurt her eyes and she hadn’t been able to stand to watch a picture. While in the doctor’s office we told him of this experience and he said to take her for it wouldn’t hurt at all. In a few days the wound had healed, she was fitted with an artificial eye and we were ready to return home. We were the most thankful people in the whole world. It would require a whole volume to tell of Lova’s experiences, most of which I expect she will write in her own history, but let it suffice here that I mention the problems which we faced as she grew and needed eye replacements. To secure one which fitted her lovely face and the sweetness of her joy and laughter. One time as she was walking to school on a cold wintery morning, the eye just popped and broke right in the socket. There were no bad effects. She came running home and we put another in and off she went to school. We had always kept an extra one in case of emergency. We got so that we could pick the right eye from a collection of fifty or more, all arranged in a box. She advanced extra well in school, was started in music by her mother until she was prepared to take lessons from a teacher. Grandmother taught her for a year and one day she told Lova, “you are ready to play for the choir.” Lova was frightened but Grandmother was by her side to give her a loving pat. She advanced rapidly in music learning to play the piano, the flute and piccolo. In our book at least there is none other in the whole country her equal on the piano in playing and in teaching others. She graduated from high school, took some business training, worked for a dentist and then a music store.

She was prepared and received a call to serve as a missionary for the Master in the Central States Mission where her mother had served before her. She filled a full time mission honorably, met a young man also serving in the Mission Field and they were drawn to each other as they served so ably and faithfully. Then when they returned back home, they courted and were married in the Logan Temple, a joyful and happy couple. They have prospered and have seven lovely children, an honor both to them and to us.

It was while in Salt Lake City with Lova’s operation that we went to see Dr. Martin who had performed the kidney operation on Goldie. He had been so very gracious to us at that time and we wanted to express again our appreciation in person. He was so happy to see Mother, how well she looked and how good she was getting along. Although it had been three years since the operation, he remembered that at that time he had warned us that she was not to have any more babies. Now he said “I am sure that she is able and that you should have two more.” We took him for his word and nine months later a lovely girl, Ruth, was sent to us March 28, 1927. I recall my mother saying as she held the newborn in her lap (those days the doctors came to the home to deliver the babies with the help of someone in the home. With the crown of golden hair on her lovely head, “What a blessing. God knew what He was doing when He sent her here into this home.” We were expecting a boy but all these years we have been so thankful for her bright sunny disposition and willingness to help.

Goldie got along very well and was able to care for her baby along with her many duties and responsibilities so that Ruth grew rapidly and was such a joy unto us. Her coming to us had been a wonderful miracle and then when she was about one year old, pneumonia struck suddenly and without warning. The first indication that anything was wrong was because she became listless and just wanted to sleep. We administered to her and then called Dr.Weaver at Twin Falls. We gave him the symptoms and he told us to wrap her well and hurry to his office. Upon examination he found pneumonia in both lungs. Now another miracle, for this was before the many drugs, which we have today to combat such a terrible condition. The doctor in his office had an electric machine by means of which he applied heat to her body up to the maximum temperature the body cold stand. This treatment lasted for one-half hour after which he sent us home and told us that she would be all right. The heat was supposed to destroy the disease germs and that she would be worse before getting better for she would have to cough up the congestion. We were to come to see him the next morning. The great miracle was that she was so blessed of the Lord that she had no cough. The fever was gone and she was bright eyed and awake.

When we took her to the doctor’s office the next day, he fairly jumped to meet us, caught her in his arms and said, “Oh, she is better and she has no ill effects.” It was about this time that electricity came to Murtaugh and was available to the rural areas. I got George Goodman who had taken a course in electrical wiring to help me and we wired the house, the brick home that Father had built in 1906. We then bought an electric stove, water heater and refrigerator which made it so much easier for Mommie as before this she had had to get along with a wood stove cooking not only for a growing family of five, but much of the time for ten and fifteen men who were helping in the harvest of the various crops, beets, hay, potatoes and clover seed. This was such a terrific burden and besides this she had many responsibilities in the Church. She served either as Mutual or Relief Society President at the same time and taught the children in Sunday School classes.

With all this we never lost sight of Dr. Martin’s counsel, so we prepared for another baby. Four years after Ruth was born God sent us another golden haired beauty who just had to be named LaDawn. She, like Ruth, was born at Murtaugh in our lovely, brick home the 13th of June 1931.

It was about this time that the spinal meningitis epidemic struck the valley, which killed and crippled so many. The public was given warning that when fever and coughs were indicated they were to call the doctor at once. All of us of course were frightened and our oldest four had all the symptoms. We prayed earnestly and Mommie doctored them so faithfully. The school nurse came and said they must go to the hospital that night but Mommie said, “not tonight”. That night another miracle was wrought and all the fever had gone and they were smiling. We fell on our knees thanking the Lord for hearing our pleadings. Many who called the doctor had their children taken to the hospital, and put in an isolation ward with others who for sure had the disease. They also contacted the disease whether they had it at first or not. Some died and others were left deaf and otherwise afflicted.

LIFE GOES ON

Those were busy years as father and I worked the farm together and shared equally in the results of our efforts, which proved such a great blessing to us. We were all able to serve faithfully in the Church, which was such a great joy and happiness to us.

The next few years from 1926 to 1929 were profitable years for we paid off most of our indebtedness. We took wheat to the mill at Oakley and the miller traded it for flour. We killed and cured meat and canned a great deal along with all kinds of vegetables and fruits. We stored them in places of security so that when the panic struck in the early 30’s and so many people were in want, we had plenty and some to spare. During those years when so many lost their property and had such a terrible time to get along, we had good crops which was not unusual and followed the practice of selling good crops as soon as they were harvested. This proved very wise instead of holding for higher prices.

We got along fine and were able to meet expenses, taxes, interest, maintenance and the like and at the same time pay off the mortgage on the farms. This was the time of food rationing and those who had to buy from the stores were required to buy substitutes such as barley and bran flour in order to get what they wanted. We passed through the years of Government help and were not required to seek any of it. In fact, this program was a curse so far as we were concerned. It became almost impossible to hire a man and get an honest days work from him. If a man took a job and went off the W.P.A. or Government relief, regardless of how long or short the employment, it took him months to get back on relief. This made it so that they would rather stay home, receive dole, have food and supplies carried to them, than get out and try for themselves. During these years I served as Counselor to Bishop David G. Moyes in the Murtaugh Ward and through those years served faithfully the membership. Of course I was not so much by myself, but with my wife as my companion and encouragement we were able to do many things. She was a darling unto all, especially to those in need. Many times we were called to the home of the sick and dying and after closing their eyes in death, we took care of the body. Some of us remained with it night and day until the funeral. Those were the times when a great deal of love and sympathy had to be given.

In 1932 I was called to serve on the Stake High Council then as Stake Young men’s Mutual President and then to serve with President Richins as counselor in the Presidency. These were rich experiences. During this time Goldie and I, along with Mitchal Hunt and his wife would take a covered dish to Sister Richins at Stake Conference. There we would have dinner and converse with one or two of the General Authorities. This was a wonderful experience, as we got so much closer to them as they related their faith promoting experiences. Visiting the different Wards, I got to know all the membership of the Church, which has been so rewarding throughout the years.

LIFE AT HOME

Goldie knew everybody’s needs in not only the Ward but also the community and served relentlessly for their comfort and welfare. It was during this time that the Ward had so many deaths. The Egbert boys were drowned, which was a terrible tragedy and since the parents were such good friends it was almost more than we could stand. Mabel and Cleve stood up under the heavy load of losing two sons at once for they had two girls to consider. Florence Lee, the Nelson and Moyes babies died at the time when there was no hospital so each was cared for in their homes. It was because of this relentless energy and desire to serve during these years of need that in 1932 or 1934 she had a nervous breakdown. Her heart muscles gave away so that her heart ceased to function normally.

The first attack came suddenly. Betty came to call me from the field and I knew it was serious. As soon as possible I took her to Twin Falls to see Dr. Wilson. As soon as he listened to her heart he said, “I can do nothing, and she may live six months but no longer.” He gave us some medications and told us to take her home and put her to bed.

After a few days we decided to see Dr. Vosika, a nature healer and chiropractor. He gave us the same diagnosis, but said he could help her and gave her a treatment. (He had a special healing in his hands when he would rub over a patient.) She felt better and so she had twenty-five treatments but along with those we never ceased praying and pleading that her life might be spared. Although she was much better, still she was so very weak that we took her again to see the medical doctor and as he then examined her he said he couldn’t believe she was the same girl he had examined a few weeks before. He took me aside and said that I must get used to the thought that I must be prepared to get along without her for six months was the longest time her heart could last. We pleaded again so earnestly with the Lord to spare her for she was so precious to us and so terribly needed.

She didn’t only trust in the Lord but was determined that she would get well to continue caring for her six lovely children and her dear husband and assist me in my responsibilities. It is a long story and a serious one as for nearly a year she had to give up all activities and stay in bed most of the time, only taking a little exercise. She directed the girls from her bed or from a rocking chair in doing the housework, even to the making of bread and all else that was necessary. The girls and Roger became very proficient even at their early age and it has been such a great blessing to them in their own homes.

Lova and Betty watched her closely to see that she was well cared for and Goldie was very careful not to over do. LaDawn, our baby. Was her constant companion on her bed, as Goldie couldn’t stand for her to be outside. This way she would know where she was and LaDawn learned her letters and all the nursery rhymes.

About this time Oakley, Idaho, a city just east and south, had a typhoid fever epidemic and so many people were getting it and dying. Goldie’s brother’s wife and baby got it and died and her brother Romelyn got it but it took so long and was so hard on his system that he had to learn to walk again but died a few years after. This left a family of six children who stayed with Grandpa and Aunt Mae Adams and with some of the sisters. We had another member of the family who proved such a blessing. Their daughter, Beth, came into our home as a foster daughter. It was our blessing to have lovely Beth along with our four daughters as they grew up. Although she now has a lovely family of her own, we still claim her as one of ours. She was such a great help along with the other girls in caring for the home and Goldie. I can still see their antics and hear their cheery cries of laughter as they played or as they worked.

Lest my work should be doubted, Goldie gives our Heavenly Father unquestionable credit for her recovery for she had blessings pronounced by the Priesthood, her name put in the Temple prayer circle and we trusted in Him with all our hearts. At last Goldie was able to take over the responsibility of the home but each one has learned a very valuable lesson that has been of great worth to each during our life times. Goldie and I will always give great thanks to the kind friends that came and helped when fruit canning time came, especially Fay Perkins. My how the children scampered around when Fay came to our home and said, “We have a hundred quarts of peaches to can. Get the bottles Rex and Roger; Lova and Betty get the water so you can wash them. Beth, you get the kettle on the stove with water in it so the peaches can be scalded and we will soon have them in bottles.” That night 110 quarts were lined up on the kitchen table through the capable hands and know how to manage children that Sister Perkins had. She bade me good night and my how my heart swelled with gratitude to the kind and willing ladies. Goldie shed tears of joy and thanksgiving and said that had been a hard day for her not being able to even lift a plate to have her dinner placed on it. The doctor who gave her a few weeks to live has long since passed away and has been forgotten. (This is Goldie writing) Each night as I bid my dear ones good night, I felt that it was the last time I would see them on this earth.

In 1937 I purchased a band of sheep from Mr. McMurry of Oakley. One thousand head with range rights to go with them. This required so much of my time and effort along with the farm work that I felt it not fair to President Richins to continue my work as his counselor and told him that when he could find it convenient, I would appreciate a release. He agreed. Almost immediately I was called to serve as Bishop of the Murtaugh Ward. This was a glorious experience, which Goldie and I shared together.

Rex was called to fill a mission to the Eastern States. He labored in many cities and then was called to the office by President Evans. Here he served as Secretary of the Eastern States Mission and worked in the office in New York City. There was a lovely young lady missionary from Logan, Utah working at the same desk by the name Vera Dunn. Well, you can guess, they became very attracted to each other—we might say that they fell in love. Rex returned one year sooner than Vera and then when she returned she went to school at BYU rather than the College at Logan. Her father said, “Why Vera, there is a college right here.” She answered, “most girls go to the ‘Y’ to get a sweetheart, but I am going to keep mine.”

They finished their college at the same time and graduated. When school was all over, they all went to Logan to the Temple and Rex and Vera were sealed for “Time and all Eternity” Vera is writing Rex’s and her history so we will read his life’s story from that. Roger was our second son. He stayed with us on the farm and we worked together. This gave me more time to spend with the sheep. We made an agreement, which would be to his credit when we should separate and he would take over the farm. He was such a faithful help and support and we got along very well. At the risk of boredom I must tell some experiences which Mother and I had together up in the mountains caring for the sheep. First I want to tell you that in November 1937 we bought a band of sheep.

One thousand head from Ray McMurry of Oakley. Along with the sheep came two ranges, which were located above Oakley at the head of Trapper Creek, a portion of the land at the head of Goose Creek over into the head of Rock Creek and Dead Line Ridge. It also reached down Trapper Creek to the boarder of the forest line. We had already purchased a homestead claim above our home in Murtaugh on the foothills south reaching up to the government forest. This furnished enough pasture for both spring and fall. We fitted a camp on running gears, which we were able to take most places in the canyon by pulling it behind the pickup. At first we had a 1917 Ford, which did very well for a while. However, it had only a three-speed shift and it hadn’t the power to go over bad places very easy.

Roger’s addition to the story: When I was sixteen or roundabouts, we had to move two sheep camps. One was in Shoshone Basin and one was at Dead Line Ridge. On the southern end of Dead Line Ridge was a steep grade into the Shoshone Basin. After we got through moving the camp on Dead Line Ridge our time was short because Dad had to be to a meeting at four o’clock in Twin Falls. We were using a Model A Ford pickup because it had high wheels so it could get over the rocks better. The two front tires were almost “shot: and we wondered if they would hold up for the trip. So we debated. We figured we could go down the grade in the pickup because it was a wagon road. We would save an hour if we went this way rather than going back to Rogerson and then up to Shoshone Basin to where the camp was. So, we decided to go down the grade. We knew it was rough—others had tried it–but we would go slowly.

We sat at the top and looked down. No problem. About halfway down it made a sharp turn to the left to go around some big rocks and a lot of sagebrush that you could barely see around.

Away we went—we began to pick up speed. I looked down and we were going forty miles an hour and we were approaching the sharp turn. I knew I couldn’t make the turn, so I picked the cleanest “shot” over the rocks and sagebrush. I could hear the sagebrush crackling and breaking and the rocks scraping. About that time we shot out the other side onto the road. It was about another three or four hundred feet to the bottom.

We reached the bottom and stopped. We picked up our lunch and went a little way from the pickup, sat down and proceeded to eat our lunch. There were about five or six cowboys there sorting cattle. They all came over and were looking at us. One of them said, “How did you do that? There is no way you could make it through those rocks and sagebrush and down the hill. No one could do it. We watched you come the whole way. No one could do it!“

We could hardly move, but we went over to the pickup and inspected the front tires. They were okay. It was a miracle they had gone through those rocks and sagebrush and hadn’t blown. We went from there, moved the camp at Shoshone Basin and got home in time for Dad’s meeting with no trouble at all. Roger’s wife, June, asked Roger what he and his father said to each other after this incident and he said, “Dad and I traveled so much doing this sort of thing (meaning the work) that we ran out of things to say. This time was no different. We just went on our way”.

ANOTHER INCIDENT

We had the sheep camp upon the top of Medley (a high hill south of Murtaugh). Stormy weather had set in. We were worried about the ewes with their lambs. We had gone up to check them and Dad told the sheepherder to cross over Medley and down into Cold Spring Canyon. I was to move the camp and Pete, our Indian sheepherder, would take the sheep.

Early the next morning I took a team of horses (I’m riding one) up to Medley to move the rubber-wheeled covered wagon. Dad said to get up there as quick as I could so I could get across a rocky, shaley spot before it snowed and the horses wouldn’t be able to make it. I made fairly good time and when I arrived at the camp, I hooked up the horses and started down across Medley and up the rocky side. It was now snowing quite a bit. I got up about a third of the way and the horses could go no further. Their feet would just slip out from under them. While they were holding the wagon, I got down and put rocks behind all four wheels. I unhooked the horses and tied one to the wagon, got on the other and went on and found the sheep and the sheepherder who was sitting on a rock with his slicker and sheepskin coat pulled over his head. I told him I had to go and get more horses and would he be all right until I got back and he said he would be all right.

It was dark now. I got home about midnight. I told Dad how I had tried and tried, but the horses just couldn’t do it. Dad said to go and get some sleep and that he would get another team ready and with four head of horses, I could do it. “But,” he said, “I don’t think you will need them. I’ve got to go do the Lord’s work and when I’m through, I’ll bring a load of hay up but I’m positive that that little spot you are on will be bare and dry and two head of horses will take you over.”

There was about four to six inches of new snow when I got there and I thought four head wouldn’t even be able to do it. Especially with the wagon about a third of the way up. As I reached the wagon, I remembered what Dad had said how it would be bare and dry and about his doing the Lord’s work. I was amazed as I came over the ridge—there that spot was—about a hundred feet square-bar and dry—with snow all around. I hooked up one team to the front, the other team to the back and where it was bone dry; I went right to the top. At the time I couldn’t fully understand how my Father’s promise was fulfilled.

I took the camp down to Cold Spring Canyon where the sheep were and took the two teams of horses back home. Roger’s experience with his Father: I think I was between eighteen or twenty when this incident occurred. Dad and I went up by Bosteader in the South hills to cut and bring down poles for two hay derricks. We had a four wheeled, rubber-tired wagon behind the pickup. When we got it all loaded, we couldn’t get out of the little canyon because of an uphill road. So, we put a couple of hundred pounds of rock into the pickup to get some traction. We did get out of the canyon and up the road to the top of Big Cedar. We stopped and looked at the first steep grade. We had brakes for the wagon, but decided that with the rocks in the pickup, it would hold it. So we started down, I had it in low gear and thought I was holding it. I glanced in the rear-view mirror and realized the wagon was out-running me and was pulling up beside us and if it came much further, it would flip us over. So, I out-ran it I put the accelerator to the floor. I knew that at the bottom of the grade it flattened out for two or three hundred feet. So, down we went and outran the wagon to the flat spot then I made a swing in the pickup to stop it. Boy, had we thought wrong. We spent an hour hooking up the brakes. With the brakes, we made the next eight miles down the hill with no mishaps. In thinking back, I am amazed that I was inspired to do what I did to get down the hill.

Roger’s Stamina: Probably around the time between my twelfth and fourteenth birthday we were coming home from a church meeting in Twin Falls, I was cold. There was Mother and Dad for sure. I don’t know if there were others. The car quit just before you would get to the viaduct, which wasn’t there then. Dad said that if I could run down to Stastnys, about a mile, maybe they could come and pull us home. I jumped out of the car in my Sunday clothes-oxfords, good pants and shirt and jacket—and started running down the road. I got to Stastnys, knocked loudly (it was ten or eleven at night). Mr. Stastny came to the door and was shocked by my appearance. “Good heavens (that’s not exactly what he said) you are froze to death!!!” His thermometer said three below. My ears were doubled in size. He called his son, Boris, to get the car out of the potato cellar and go get the Tolmans. He told me to stay right by the stove. He soaked some cloths in water and put them over my ears. He said that my ears would probably fall off. He said that he had never seen ears frozen so badly. Boris pulled my parents home and then came back and got me and took me home. My ears did not fall off. Knowing my father, I’m sure (I was “out of it” by then) he gave me a blessing (another blessing, I had quite a few) and knowing mother she probably used some “remedy” that had been “handed down” to her. Every spring and fall when the seasons would change, for years, my ears would swell way up, bleed, hurt and get big water blisters. I finally outgrew it, I guess. Roger could probably tell you more about it all.

BACK TO THE CLIFFORD AND GOLDIE STORY

Besides running the farm, I ran a herd of sheep for some of the neighbors along with mine and had to be gone from home and my dear ones a few days at a time, which I dreaded very much. One day when I was going to camp, I persuaded Goldie to ride with me in the pickup. She seemed to feel pretty good at first but as we ascended up the canyon to the higher levels, all at once she choked and found it hard to breathe. I managed to turn the pickup around and head back home. Her breathing became easier as we descended to the valley and was much better by the time we reached home. As I carried her into the house, the girls were so frightened and they immediately said, “Daddy, let’s pray for her.” After this I assured them she would be all right, that she couldn’t take the high altitude. When we tried it again we were more careful, went slower and stopped occasionally until finally she was able to take it to the highest peak in the south range. Of course, we rested often and at the top lay in the sun on the grass. Oh, what joy and happiness that she was with me!

With the help of the Lord and Dr. Vosika’s treatments, she regained her strength. After a year of carefulness she was able to take over her responsibilities with the help of her dear ones. She was again able to do her housework and labor in the Church. At the risk of boredom, I must tell some of the experiences which Mommie and I shared together on the mountains caring for the sheep.

We were headed down hill with the camp wagon behind when the bolt broke. Luckily we reached a flat place. It cramped the wagon so that it stopped without much harm. Then again, how were we to get the wagon over a strip of rocky places where we wanted to go? At last we decided to fasten a chain to the wagon, then give the wagon a shove in order to make room for the pickup to pass the wagon. When I drove the pickup to the side of the wagon to pass, it seemed to turn just right as the pickup passed buy. I cut an aspen tree and fitted it in the upper side of the wagon, got on the upper end of the tree to ride as Mother drove the pickup and away we went. Goldie became very efficient when needed and we were able to meet every emergency.

LOST SHEEP

In the early 1930’s under the Government programs of the W.P.A., a great deal of work was done in the area of our range as well as others. This made our range very accessible to the public for campgrounds; fishing and hunting, also sporting areas were developed. This also made it easier to place camp where we wanted it and took less time to make the trips. It also made it possible for many undesirables to travel the range, visit with the herder and interfere with his work. This gave me no little concern, but I had confidence in the herder and we got along well for several years. All this time the range was getting more and more public. Our herder was a Mexican Indian and loved his beer and whiskey. He was all right with his drink so long as he was alone. He loved to drink with others and would stay with them as long as they wanted. We still got along and I kept as close a watch as possible on the sheep. The feed was good and all seemed well.

Then in the spring of 1940, we cut out and sold our first lambs on the 24th of June and they were fine. We counted the balance from the corral, both lambs and ewes and turned them back on the range for the lambs to further develop. Just one month later on the 24^th of July I made arrangements to sell the balance of the lambs. I told the herder to have them at the corral early in the morning. I arranged for the truck to haul them to Oakley to the railroad for shipping. Well, when I reached the corral the sheep were there but no herder. I could see that all of the sheep were not there. Mother was with me as always and we drove to the high points but could see no signs of the sheep or herder. The time was near when the trucks would arrive, so we returned to the corral and found the herder was there. He said that we were out a number of sheep, one bell and one black. Just how many we could only know by a count. We decided to cut out what lambs we had so that the trucks could be on their way. We hoped and prayed that the herder would find the remainder of the herd in time to get them off with the rest. We counted them out very carefully and found that we were 125 lambs and 100 ewes short from our count just one month earlier.

We did our best to find them but were unable to find a trace. We had to let the trucks take what we had with the assurance that we would find the balance either on our range or in another herd adjoining us. As the herder said, he had counted both blacks and bells the day before as they had passed through between two thickets. Other herds were on our south, north and west and the lower country on our east down toward Oakley. We knew they wouldn’t take that route that time of the year, so the search began without avail. When we had about given up one morning, Father and Mother Tolman drove in from Logan, Utah where they were living. After the regular greetings were over, Father said, “Cliff, how are things with the sheep?

When I said ok, he countered me with, “You are out quite a number aren’t you?” When I admitted it, he said that he could find them, as he knew places they would go more than I did. He had run sheep on the same range for years. I tried to dissuade him, telling him we had been everywhere, but to no avail. He said he had dreamed about our loss. This was not unusual for him in matters of importance. I recall when he was in the business and took a relief herder up to permit the regular one a vacation, the regular one said to the new herder, “Don’t think you can put anything over on J.I. for if he doesn’t catch you at it, he will dream about it and find you out anyway!” Well, we rode the range faithfully on horseback but without success. We examined each herd adjoining us but no one had seen them. It seemed that we had done all we could and that our sheep had been trucked away and what made it worse, we didn’t know for sure if the herder was in on the steal or not or whether someone who knew his habits had one man drink with him in camp. Then the others had set up a panel corral with a chute then cut off this much of the herd, load them and drive away.

Anyway I was sick at heart. As we drove home Mommie would say, “Lets offer a word of prayer for our deliverance. On reaching home we looked at our lovely home and as the children flocked about us giving us hugs and kisses, our hearts were full of gratitude and thankfulness for protecting us and bringing us safely home. We pleaded to our Heavenly Father for enlightenment in what course to pursue. A strong feeling came to us, almost as if our Heavenly Father had spoken, that we were to sell the sheep, remain at home and farm the land, take care of our family and do our church work, which was more essential than a few sheep. I contacted Gene Pickett and asked him if he would be interested in buying as his range joined ours on the east, One of his sons gave his entire time to the sheep while others ran the farm, milked a herd of cows and kept the financial records. Gene was interested, especially since he needed this range adjoining his because it reached out to the mile road. We made the deal, counted the herd and Mother and I were out of the sheep business. I guess we were not destined to be rich as we had survived several years of low prices and now things changed and the price of sheep and wool rose back up. We had traded our pickup for a new 1940 Chevrolet and changed the regular wheels for some oversized tires. This gave us enough clearance so that we could have gone almost anywhere, and could even pull the camp wagon and park it where it would have been very difficult to take it with good horses. Now we began to think of different fields of endeavor.

LIFE AT HOME

Life in Murtaugh was very sweet although we had many trials and problems. Yet we kept true to the Gospel and served the Lord. I was ordained as Bishop of the Murtaugh Ward and my counselors were, Cleveland Egbert and Mark Dayley. We immediately felt that a new addition should be made on the church house so as to give more classrooms, a kitchen, Relief Society room and a nursery. A big, black stove with a chimney that ran from the center of the room to the tall ceiling and then out the back just had to be changed. We called the members of the Ward together and asked their advice.

All were willing. So with pick, shovel, horses and scrapers the basement was soon ready for cementing. This was a hard job for the cement had to mixed and with wheelbarrows carried to where it was needed. How happy we were to see the framework started and soon the roof was on and before long all was in readiness for meetings. There was one more thing—What about Pews? We had started out with homemade benches and then had purchased from the Roxy Theater in Twin Falls sort of benches of chairs hooked together. We called the members together and asked about getting new pews. All were willing so we called for donations and before the meeting was over, we had enough money promised to purchase them. We went to Salt Lake and in deciding, we sat in each one displayed being sure it was just the right fit. How happy we were to have our new addition so comfortable and lovely. I enjoyed this position as I was home with my dear wife and children for they were constantly by my side helping me and giving advice.

Goldie went with me constantly to visit the sick and those who needed advice. Many times we closed the eyes of those in death. We brought nonmembers into the Church and many lay members became active.

LIFE GOES ON WITH WAR AND CHANGES IN LIFE

In December of 1941 World War II was declared and we, as a nation were engaged in the conflict on both sides, east and west. Our first son, Rex was teaching school, all according to his plans throughout his life and was now teaching in the college at Price, Utah. The service draft pressed hard although the draft board in Utah advised him to stay put. He finally could stand it no longer so enlisted in the Navy. He was sent east to Cornell University and received a commission as Lieutenant J.G. in the Navy. He served with many dangerous experiences until the war was over and was near Japan when the Atomic bomb was dropped on Japanese territory. When he came home we talked of buying a tourist court. So we sold our home and purchased the Evergreen Lodge on Kimberly Road in Twin Falls. We had previously sold our farm in Murtaugh to our son, Roger, and to our son-in-law Earl Watts, and moved to Twin Falls. In the late fall of 1944 we had purchased an eight acre lot on Elizabeth Boulevard and remodeled the home that was on the place. We made three bedrooms, a dinning room, kitchen, and bath. The most attractive room about the home was the living room that went across the front of the house with an entrance about eight feet wide and six long. It was a delightful place for flowers and an entrance. Because of the war all the stores in Twin Falls were out of carpeting so Mommie and I jumped in the car and went to Salt Lake City. They had very little as well but one piece attracted us to it. It was royal blue. We bought enough to cover the entire room. The room was beautiful to behold especially with the beautiful white drapes. No one could wish for a lovelier home than this. As the children came to visit they would gasp with joy and happiness that we had such a beautiful home. Ruth and LaDawn had their bedrooms and were so happy. I remember their first dates. It was a school function. LaDawn went with Ralph Arrington and Ruth with Junior Hansen. The boys were startled to see the beauty of the home and they each expressed their love for it.

The Evergreen Lodge contained about three acres of ground, 800 feet frontage, sixteen motel units, a grocery store and service station. There were eight single and eight double cabins, a nice little home with one bedroom, a living room, bath and closets. For all of this, we agreed to pay $31,500, with $16,00 down and $500 a month. Almost everyone thought us crazy for obligating ourselves for that amount and going into a business in which we had no experience. Even Father and Mother Tolman who were in California at the time, expressed themselves that Cliff had finally lost his shirt this time and we thought he was smarter. The place was only semi-modern even at that time in 1945 but we went to work with determination. We built two additional rooms on the home, a large dinning room, and bedrooms with closet. This made it very lovely giving Ruth and LaDawn each a bedroom. There was the hired help, a married couple who were already working there, a Mr. and Mrs. Frank Justman who were so surprised to see us take over and do even the unpleasant things like working with plugged server lines, clogged toilets and sink drains. The previous owners had them do all such work. They were wonderful help for us as they belonged to the Catholic Church and on Sunday morning they would go to Church or early Morning Mass and we would do some of the necessary work.

When they came home, they would take over and we were free to go to our meetings and responsibilities. When we needed to leave for a day or two, they would take over completely with the girl’s help.

There was a large bedroom and dining room with a kitchen in the back of the store in which Rex and Vera stayed until better arrangements could be made. We were so thankful to have Ruth and LaDawn with us for they were so good to work with Mr. and Mrs. Justman. I do not wish anyone to think that I was smarter than others for we have always acknowledged the blessings and guidance of our Heavenly Father.

Before Rex was dismissed from the Service, Vera and Karen came and lived in the back of the store. She and Karen enjoyed being with us. Vera was a great help as she took care of the store and books when we were busy. We remodeled the units, redecorated, planted flowers and blacktopped the long driveway. The lawn was inviting to weary travelers in the summertime. Of course this was wartime. There was restricted travel, gas and food rationing so that everything pointed to less travel and therefore less income.

It didn’t turn out that way for the Government was sending workmen to California, Oregon and even Washington to work in the defense plants. It seemed that so many were going and coming back that we never had enough room to take care of them. They would stop and beg for a bed they were so tired. Many times we gave up our bed that they might rest and we would sleep on the couch. Although we gave them our bedroom in the house we never did miss a thing. As the war ended Rex came home and we sold him part interest in the business. Then we went to work to enlarge the Motel for we had enough room along the west line. We did most of the work and added fourteen units double-decker with a two-bedroom home for Rex and Vera. This was a good year as groceries were in demand. Especially all kinds of meats and the people had plenty of money and would buy and buy. We had stoves in the units so they would say, “Now we will have a good meal”. In 1947 the uneasy bug hit us and we sold the Motel to the Briggs of Burley, Idaho. They had two married daughters who with their husbands cared for the place. Mostly the husbands worked for the girls were not used to working. What were we to do now? Rex and Vera took their share and went into the grocery business and we bought a lovely home on 244 Blue Lakes Blvd. No decorations were needed and we were happy but when that was done, we were lost and yearned for something to do. For a while I took a job with the County Weed Control. Mother helped Rex some with the store and the girls found work at the department stores in Twin Falls where they were very happy.

Finally I heard of a farm for sale three miles east of Twin Falls and traded our home for it. Now we had plenty to do for the grounds were covered with noxious weeks and the house needed remodeling and this was a must. It was a railroad station building and was moved in from the Salmon Tract where it was no longer needed. The ceiling was high, the room’s small, and the windows high and small. The first time Mommie and the girls went in to look at it, I was looking the fields over and as I came back to the car Mommie said, hurry and get in and lets us get out of here!!” They were just plain sick. Try as I might I just couldn’t get the place out of my mind. Even at night I couldn’t sleep for thinking about it. Mother finally said, “Well, go and make the deal so we can get started”, Bless her heart. “We will see what we can do with the house”. She was still a wonderful homemaker and still, is which was the secret of our success in the Motel business. Now she had the ability to vision what could be done. We changed the entire inside of the house, knocking out walls one at a time. As I would tear down a wall she carried lath and plaster out in a basket to no end. I was surely glad when the last basket was carried out. (Imagine how Mother felt) I knocked out the side walls in places to get what we wanted which required overhead bracing and tying making it possible for us to enlarge the rooms and break the oneness in appearance of the outside which was just one oblong shell. We moved the furniture so much that it would of just about learned to run it fear. Of the total 1800 square feet, I laid short and half-inch oak flooring except for the kitchen and bathroom. There were three bedrooms, a dining room, living room, a bath and a hallway. When finished it was beautiful to behold and enjoy. All this time Mommie kept the kitchen in good order so that our meals were always served in good style. The girls loved to come home to see how things were shaping up and were anxious to see how their rooms were going to look. Well, when finished, rugs down, drapes up, it was beautiful.

We didn’t enjoy this home for long. The Real Estate man called and asked if we would like to sell and then buy the Evergreen Lodge back. We hadn’t yet gotten the Motel business out of our minds and every time we had passed the Lodge on our way to town, we would look longingly at it. We could see that it was not being “kept up”. I asked how much and when he gave me the figure, I said, “nope, we would like to have it but not at that price. Then I told them I knew it had gone down hill, but I would give them what they had paid for it,”$75,000 and they were asking $95,000. I hung up the phone and knew they would take much less. Two weeks passed with no further word and then another phone call stating that they would come to $85,000 for it. I told him to forget it, that I only had had a crazy thought when I made the offer and that I just wasn’t interested and hung up the phone. In about an hour he called again and said they would accept the $75,000 offer. I was so sure they would that I had already written the Justmans in South Dakota and asked if they would like to come back if I bought the Motel again. They said, “We are on our way”. So we sold the new farm home that had become so dear to us as it was so lovely. Goldie was saddened to leave our home after all the hard work she had done to make it so beautiful and comfortable. There was no complaining; she said, “If that is what you want all will be well”. With her talent, hard work, determination and natural ability, the Motel was soon on a paying basis and we were happy. We made friends of all who came so that they remained longer than they intended and recommended it far and near as they traveled and we enjoyed meeting new people every day. We showed them the interesting places of the city and the Falls doing our best to make them comfortable and feel at home. All in all we did very well. But again we were not destined to stay very long for one day two men drove in and asked if we would consider selling and for how much. Without a second thought, I said “yes for $85,000.” Again we were in the process of moving.

It was here at Evergreen Lodge that Father and Mother Tolman came to live with us. What a glorious experience to have them come to live so close to us. They sold their home in Logan, Utah to their daughter Inez Waldren and her husband Eldred. Mother and Father Tolman had been working at the Logan Temple but Mother’s health was very poor and needed help. This was early in 1948. We fixed up an apartment for them close to our home. They had brought some choice pieces of furniture so they would feel at home. They were happy to watch the activities of the court. Father would empty all the waste paper baskets and do odd jobs. He raised chickens so we would have fryers to kill and then pullets left to lay what eggs were needed. This was a joy to him. Mother would help as she could and when the work was done each day, they were happy to come into our home to rejoice with us. They talked about the Gospel and Mother would recite the poems she had memorized while in the Temple and the great experiences they had had.

They most always bore their testimonies before leaving, which strengthened ours and brought joy and happiness in our lives. Father enjoyed good health but Mother was not so well. They each enjoyed going with us in the car for a ride and sometimes Mother could go to Church. Father maintained his strength in speaking and was always ready when called upon to give a talk on the Gospel without even a note and quoting scripture from all the Church Works. I have often said that there wasn’t another man in the Stake who could compare. I have often noted and have already experienced in my life as I am nearing the age he was then, what a shame that we must grow in years to where it comes the “age of youth” to take over when there is so much room for wisdom and learning from long experience. Of course I realized this must be so in order for the youth to grow and expand and that we shall look forward to a greater sphere of activity. During this time we were all busily engaged in the work of the Lord. Rex was counselor to Bishop Noah W. Arrington, Goldie was Relief Society President and I was counselor to the President of the Twin Falls Stake. We were thankful we had such good help so we could perform our callings in a pleasing way.

EMERETT

The summer went busily by and was very pleasant even in the winter of 1948 and 1949, which was very severe. The snow was deep and the wind blew all the roads full much of the time. The temperature dropped below zero and presented new problems.

Often people living within a few miles of town, coming into a meeting, show or shopping were unable to get home. We were constantly called upon during the night to take care of the people from the storm. We had joy in doing it. As winter came on, Mother began failing and was under the doctor’s care. With our help she was able to do her cooking. Goldie always saw that a hot casserole or some warm food was in their home for their dinner. We were anxious about her and did our best to care for her every need. Finally came the time when they were to celebrate their birthdays—Father having been born the 21st of January 1870 and Mother on the same day three years later. All arrangements were made, invitations sent out to friends and relatives, the apartment decorated, refreshments prepared and all in readiness for this very important event. Goldie and I spent the evening before with them and had a glorious time and stayed to be the first to wish them a happy birthday. We went home and to bed thinking of the wonderful day and evening and that all was well. We had been in bed less than two hours when the door bell rang and Father was there asking us to come quickly as Mother was very sick. We hurriedly dressed and ran. We found her in terrible distress, unable to sit or lie down and it being very difficult to breath. We worked with her until finally we were able to get her into her rocking chair, pull her close to the heater, as it was very cold at night. We put her feet on the footstool and she seemed to feel better. We called Dr. Marshall who had taken care of her and he came right over. After examining her, he called it a stroke in reverse and as he held her wrist, he told father that he could give her a shot, which might bring her out again to live perhaps a day or even three days. Father said, “no, don’t do it”. It was evident that she was having no pain and her pulse were steadily growing weaker. She went peacefully to sleep and slept all day. What a Birthday! Father and Goldie were constantly at her side waiting and praying. At just six P.M. she opened her eyes looked about and said “Father, Goldie” smiled sweetly, closed her eyes and went peacefully away to answer the call of her Heavenly Father and make her report. All was in readiness for her life was without blemish and had been filled with constant service as she gave much of her talent for the blessings of others. She had prepared her burial clothes and had them all neatly folded and placed ready for wear. These she had taken from the drawer the day before and showed Goldie as she tenderly replaced each piece in perfect order. Then she had arranged her funeral services naming each one she wanted to take part. She even asked me if I thought I could sing a solo. “Will you sing Oh, My Father”? I said “Yes, Mother. Anything you ask”. It certainly can be said of her that she had left nothing undone and went without fear or regret into the presence of her Heavenly Father and loved ones who had passed on before.

 

MOTEL HELLO

When we sold the Lodge, we had taken as part payment a lovely home a few blocks down the street on the corner of Kimberly Road and Walnut St. It had a large vacant lot between the home and Kimberly Road. I told the Randall’s that if I had to take in this property as part payment that we would build a motel on the corner and he laughed and said, “Go ahead for there isn’t room”. Well there was and we built a lovely but small motel. There was only room for eight units with garages between. It was built of brick with radiant heat, kitchenettes in each, carpeted and nicely decorated. We went to Portland with Rex who owned a furniture store at Ontario, Oregon and bought all the furniture. He gave us a good price. It was the newest and most modern in Twin Falls at the time. We felt this was where we would stay. In searching for a name we decided upon the first greeting to a guest, “HELLO”. So we had a large beautiful neon sign made, “Motel HELLO:” We had the entire driveway paved with cement, flowers grew in every corner and also along the units to the doors.

Everything was beautiful. The first night the units were filled and it was that way as long as we owned it. Our home was beautiful and spacious, especially after doing some refinishing. We were happy for it, for we even built and furnished a kitchen and bedroom for Father as we wished him to remain with us and be comfortable when he desired to be alone. He always had dinner with us. There were three other bedrooms, one for each girl and ourselves. There was a large room for just living and dining. All went well but we hadn’t counted on one thing—Ruth and LaDawn were bound to find their mates and leave us alone. Sure, that is just what happened. Ruth met a great young man, Willard Lanning from Filer one night at a dance where she and Maurine Moyes had gone to dance for a while. Willard danced with Ruth and walked her to the car. He then asked for a date. She rushed to mother telling her she had met a fine young man and he asked her for a date to a show. The first question mother asked was, “Is he a good Latter-day-Saint”. “No, he is a Baptist”. Of course mother talked to her saying “unless he will give his consent for Father to teach him the Gospel, you must not make anymore dates”. He came for Ruth and appeared to be very intelligent and fine. The next night Mother met him at the door and said, “You know we are Mormons.” I know and respect you for it. Willard was a good student and soon accepted the Gospel. Ruth was a wonderful daughter and was an obedient child. Ruth wanted a Temple marriage so waited a year so they could be married in the Temple.

Ruth and Willard were married the 19th of July 1950 and began their life together. It was a joyous occasion. Willard worked for the John Deere tractor company and they lived in a comfortable home in Twin Falls.

LIFE IN CAREY

Addition by Lova: We were very comfortable and happy in our “Motel Hello” and many wonderful things happened there. LaDawn had gone to Brigham Young University to school and while there came in December asking if she could get her “endowments” as she could go with a group to the Salt Lake Temple to do Temple work. We gave our consent but that didn’t last long for she next came asking to be married. She had met Elden Jackman and he was also a fine young man, full of the Gospel and ambitious. We gave our consent again and they were married 1st of February 1951.

Elden finished his college education and we helped them move to Los Angeles where he went on to school. The last of our six children had flown the coop. We were happy here but it was up to both of us to do the work necessary on Sunday so we were forced to divide our time by going to separate Wards to Church. This was a situation impossible for us and so we decided to sell it. It wasn’t hard and we bought a lovely home on Addison Ave.

Written by daughter, Betty

Morgan: It was the spring of 1951 and equity in the Motel was traded for equity in a place on the Wood River near Carey, Idaho. My Father wanted Ray to help run the ranch. As we went to see the town,  surroundings and the home, we smiled a bit at the “wild uninhabited” looks of Carey. We stopped at the mercantile store, which was the “hub” of the city, snickering a little at the old west… Our home was a gray shaked, small home, but so cute and livable that right away we fell in love with it. We moved in right away and soon had neighbors of the best kind. Mother and Father were soon living in a white, two bedroom home, built and moved in by a lumber yard. It was really exiting the day the big trailer pulled the home into the yard put it in position and just like a miracle, there was the second home.

A barrack was moved in from Pocatello for the barn to house and milk sixty head of cows. The land was planted to grain, peas and dry farm grain on the ranch consisting of two thousand two hundred acres. The cultivated crops totaled three hundred and fifty acres. The crops were irrigated by flooding, (which was a new experience,) with ***** to hold the water as it flooded down the field. Water ran around the clock, going all night whether a person wanted it to or not.

The set up for the work was quite an experience… Mother, Father and Grandfather Tolman came each Monday from Twin Falls, staying until Friday or Saturday and driving back to Twin Falls in their big Cadillac which was comfortable and very impressive.

One Saturday Father was going to bale some hay and a badger hissed at him from behind a rock, Father was such a good shot that he picked up pliers and with quick aim hit and knocked the badger off his feet. Thinking the badger was only knocked out, Father sneaked it into the toolbox of the tractor, thinking that it would “come to” and scare Ray. When Ray came to help, Father said, “Get the pliers out of the tool box will you? Guess who was surprised! Father was…the badger was dead. He always was a good shot and fun to work around because of his endless humor, even when tired and hot.

The cows proved very profitable, with the milk checks buying lots of ice cream and cheese for all of us and our company besides paying bills and keeping the families in good shape. Much grain was on hand when fall came, so father thought we would purchase a bunch of guilt’s, twelve to be exact. Soon we were in the pig business. We started our nursery in the month of February. The weather normally would have been good, but this year was very different. The snow came down like goose feathers from an exploded pillow. It seemed continually and we had snow almost coming out of our ears.

Finally the snow was seven feet deep on the level and drifts so high that we couldn’t see out of the windows. When cars were on the street, the drifts hid them from view. Yes, it was a white year to remember! In the meantime the new little guilt’s were having their babies. They were beautiful little white babies that the minute they were born, would jump right up and find their way to the mother’s dinner. Sometimes, because of all the snow, the dampness and the cold, the new babies would get chilled. Father and Ray would see what could be done Heat lamps were installed in all the nurseries but sometimes the little piglets would get chilled from straying from their mother. I can still see my Father with a huge fur coat buttoned up around his stomach and reaching to his boot tops, cap pulled down on his head, and a basket full of little pigs to be warmed by the vent in the house and sometimes we would warm them by putting them right under the warm water tap. When they started to toot around, out they’d go again with Father walking right over the fence tops and gates to the pens, gingerly putting them by their mother. When the snow left the ground, it was late in the year but we ended up with 149 little pigs. There were heavy losses but we came out all right with much more experience. Summer came; the guilt’s were running around so we needed a fence to keep them from running away. Ray had an electric fence that he had brought from Kimberly but it wasn’t powerful enough so an International Chopped was purchased with a weed chopper on it. That thing had a bite…One day Grandpa Tolman was coming from the garden and Father said, “Let’s see how good this one is!” Grandpa usually never felt electricity so they watched to see what this new powerful fencer would do to him when he crossed it. Sure enough, he grabbed the fence to push down and cross and never jumped at all. He walked right along to where the men were standing and said, “Man, that’s got a tingle to it”. It would have knocked any other man to his knees. This was another of my Father’s fun things…

Grandfather Tolman was in his eighties and didn’t do the farm work but he certainly did a lot of the work with the food supply. He was given a big plot of ground for a garden and thinking about it, I think it must have been close to an acre of land. Carrots, squash, corn, cucumbers, beets, potatoes all grew to be a beautiful sight for this was river bottom soil. When harvest time came, we could have supplied the whole community. We did give some to the neighbors. Mother, Father Grandfather and all of the Morgan family came and sat around a big pile of corn higher than their heads. They shucked the corn while telling jokes and just enjoying each other while the beautiful ears of corn filled the baskets. Mother, such a hard worker, saw that we dried it after cutting the corn off the cobs.

Mother and Father with Grandpa Tolman’s help brought in the carrots, washed and readied them for juicing. So cute to see them with the big juicer sitting on the table with carrots all over the top of it. Soon big bottles of carrot juice were waiting to be chilled and then to the delight of all, a big fresh drink of carrot juice. I think Mother and Father about turned orange from drinking it. Winter came and straw was put over the carrots to keep them from freezing and would you believe it, we did have juice all winter.

The Folks loved chicken so between us, we bought two hundred chickens. We had fryers and plenty of hens to be put in our freezers. We had thick cream skimmed off the milk for Father to top his favorite meal of bread and milk. I can think of him saying as he added a little more bread and milk to go with the onion he had left. “I can’t make it come out even!” he said as he broke more bread.

Father and Ray shot a snowshoe rabbit one day. They dressed it out and Mother cooked it golden brown. We all sat down to a delicious meal. As we ate Grandpa suddenly choked and headed out the door. He didn’t get far without Mother who sensed something was wrong. Grandpa couldn’t get his breath. It was a tense time with Grandpa pleading with his eyes for some help. Mother quickly put her finger down his throat as far as she could reach. Lodged in his throat was a bone, which she gently but quickly pulled out. It was a weak but grateful Grandpa that Mother helped back into the house and Grandpa finished his meal!

Living on the Wood River Ranch of 2200 acres was a real experience. One day the ditch rider asked, “Do you folks like fish?” Then he told us about going up to the “diversion” to get lots of fish at once for the water was being turned out. Father and Ray were excited over the chance to get such a catch. They fixed a net made of netting and hurried up the canal to see what they could do. Father got in the water and “spooked” the fish toward Ray who was ready with the net and before long one hundred and nine fish were in happy possession of the men. What could we do with 109 fish? We decided to have our scripture club come to see us (ninety miles from Carey. They were our old hometown friends from Twin Falls who loved and appreciated Father and Mother for the companionship and the teaching they gave us twice a month in the scripture club.) They were happy for the invitation and you should have seen Mother frying the fish a beautiful golden brown and then slipping them into the oven to keep warm. What a good time we all had eating the delicious fish and salads and having a good time remembering all the special times we had together.

Dry farm grain was hard to thresh because it grew with long beards on the stalks and sagebrush shooting up once in a while along with the grain. Our old combine groaned with the burden of threshing it. One day the men came to the house all grimy and wet with sweat to ask Mother and myself to take a load of grain to the little town of Peek-A-Boo down the highway about ten miles. There was a mill and we were to take the grain to be milled for the cows. Mother and I got ready to spend a little trip there and back in about an hour at the most. We delivered the truck to the men who drove it to be unloaded and told us to rest awhile as they finished the work and brought the truck back to us.

Mother and I sat in the shade of the store and visited after an hour we began to get restless and after an hour and a half we began to question the whole thing and paced back and forth. A man finally approached us, “Ladies, your truck load of grain has plugged up our elevator and we are just getting it unplugged now. Soon we will get the grain ground and you can return home.”

Red faced, Mother and I returned home to tell the men that we thought they had pulled this trick on us because they didn’t want to take the grain themselves. Twenty years later we were still accusing the men of doing that awful thing to us but we laughed with them.

Mother and I did many things for the men, and spent many hours together talking as we did them. One day we headed for Peek-A-Boo to take another load of wheat and grain to be ground. The old truck groaned with the load as we started up the winding hill going into the small town. We heard a sound like a gunshot and sure enough, we had a flat tire. I hadn’t been trained for such calamities and especially on a big truck. I also knew Mother hadn’t. We giggled a little at our predicament and then I climbed out of the truck and looked as helpless as we felt. It wasn’t three minutes until someone in a big truck passed us, slammed on his brakes and pulled to a stop. Grinning, a big man came running back to where we were so helpless and said “here, let me help you: and in just a few minutes he finished and was ready to leave us. We tried to pay him for his time but he refused and left us to go on our way. All the way to the little Peek –A-Boo town we laughed at our helplessness and ourselves but also marveled at the kindness of the man who help us….

This life in Carey was a fun new life for all of us-horseback riding to count the stock upon the mountain, horses shying at the sound of rattlesnakes behind the rocks, pushing little wobbly calves into the barnyard after being born out on the range, not to mention the hot days bailing hay and stacking it for sale. We had many evenings together sitting and telling stories about the youth of my Father and Grandfather Tolman.

We laughed a lot and were so close to one another at those times. One evening as we talked, we talked of Father selling the ranch and moving back to Twin Falls—back home so that less time was spent on the road traveling back and forth. Once that decision was made it didn’t take long and Carey, Idaho became a memory that we remember as a very special place and a special time in our lives.

THE FIFTIES

We settled back to normal in our special home on Addison. Addison Avenue had long rolling lawns, sprawling homes and was a very lovely street. We were happy to be there. Soon everything was back to normal with people calling on us to chat and to get good advise and the children coming and going at all times of the day.

The fifties, oh the fifties. Sometimes one wonders if things happen to us to show us we are still full of faith and believe that all will be well if we strive to overcome. For years Goldie had a little swelling near her neck on her shoulder. Suddenly it became progressively worse. Dr. Marshall said it must be removed immediately. So with apprehension, she entered the Clinic. Dr. Marshall warned her that even with great care that after the operation, she may not and probably would not have a voice. I remember her eyes wanting so badly to communicate with us after her thyroid was removed and the pain she had to endure, vomiting often. One day she was so bad that the doctor refused to let anyone in to see her. President Merrill was called to help give her a blessing. We pleaded with the Lord to strengthen her and help her to regain her voice and be with the family again. What a joy to have her come home and to nurse her back to health and a greater joy the day she whispered and I knew her voice would be back. Guess who did all the visiting with those who came to call on her.

OUR DREAM HOME

During the fifties, I worked several different jobs-real estate business, county weed control and others finally deciding none of these fulfilled my need, so the lovely home on Addison was sold and some land was bought on which to built a dream home. While the home was being built our life was made very simple by living in a little one bedroom home on the farm where Betty and Ray lived–Grandpa Tolman, Mother and I.

Many afternoons were spent under the cherry trees, eating and watching the little grandchildren swim in the pool. The home was crowded with furniture and people but filled with love, laughter and singing. We watched as each brick was put in place and the finishing touches made on the new home. It was beautiful with large rooms warm with the love that was put in them by the decorations. I said as I moved into the home, “I promise you Mommie, that this is the last move you will have to make.” Real estate men wouldn’t believe me and kept coming back to see if I was ready to sell the new home yet. I kept my promise. We enjoyed the life there for we had cows, calves, chickens, pigs and several cats that followed us wherever we went.

Young people called all over the Stake to ask if they could hold firesides in the lovely, huge living room. Soon the home was filled with laughter and singing.

We had a group from Kimberly that was formed to study the Scriptures and Father was called on to be the instructor. Ten couples joined together and for one hour Father and Mother directed the study with the group. After the studying we always talked for an hour and had refreshments served by the host couple. I remember one New Years party held at the Olsen home in which “big John Bennett” was carried in by “little Garth Morrill” Big John represented the little New Year coming in, but all he had on was a diaper and Garth had a hard time holding on to just Big John. He dropped him and ran out. We had many times like that through the years that followed. Finally a few of the couples moved away and some had callings in the Church that took them away, so with one last great party, we ended the meetings. Two lovely pictures hang in the dining room as a reminder of the good times. These pictures were given by the group in honor of Mother and Father. (Written by Betty Morgan)

A MIRACULOUS HEALING

Written by Betty Morgan:

It was a beautiful September day and most of the crops were in. Ray and his son, Clifford, were using a wagon to haul the straw in from the field. Father came over to pick up his tractor and take it home but before he did, he walked along so happy and threw on ten or twelve bales to help finish out the load. He joked as he always did and crawled on top of the load to sit beside Clifford on a bale of straw to ride to the barn. They visited as they rode along and once Dad called out. “Let’s take it faster” and Ray answered back “O.K. as soon as we turn the bend in the lane”.

The tractor turned the bend and the load was straightening out when the wheel of the wagon went into a dip in the road. The wagon lurched and with nothing to hold onto, Daddy was thrown to the ground head first narrowly missing a big rock. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. He got to his feet and as I ran to his side, he staggered and fell. Ray was there about the same time. We had him lie down. I ran to the house to call Mother and the ambulance, giving them directions. I don’t know how I did it, but I did.

Then back to Daddy’s side I ran. By this time his nose was so swollen he could hardly talk. There in the dust Ray and I knelt at his side shielding him from the rays of the sun. We prayed and begged our Heavenly Father to spare his life. Mother was at his side in less than ten minutes although she had to travel three miles. There was such a peaceful expression come into Daddy’s eyes as he saw Mother there. We heard the shriek of the ambulance and saw the lights flashing and were so glad to know our Loved One would soon receive more help. He was lifted gently into the ambulance and Mother stayed at

his side to give him assurance that all would be well. They went the seven miles to the Twin Falls Clinic Hospital and I followed with the car. As we went into the Clinic, Mother said, “We are Latter-day-Saints or Mormons and I would love to have him remain in the room until the Elders come and give him a blessing.” Mother rushed to the telephone and called President Schenk and Brother Merrill who had offices close by.

They were there in a few minutes and what a wonderful blessing our Dear One received. He was promised that his mission on earth was not yet finished and he would get well and perform a great mission. I’ll let Mother finish as she was with Daddy almost constantly.

Thanks Betty. What would I do without you? Daddy was wheeled away for x-rays and by this time he was terribly sick. He started to vomit which continued almost constantly. The nurse said, “He is in shock”. We knew by now his injury was very serious so were not too shocked when Dr. Elwood T. Rees said, “He has a broken first Cervical bone at the top of his spine and will have to be in traction for thirteen to fourteen days. After all the tests, he was finally placed in bed with a collar about his neck and head with a fifteen pound weight hanging to his head so as to keep the bone in place and so he couldn’t move and cause more damage.

By now Lova, Roger and Ray were there and we all united in prayer asking that our Dear One’s life might be spared. Betty, Ray and I stayed with Daddy until 11 p.m. as he was so sick and needed the washbasin almost constantly. Finally the nurse said, “I’ll take over now if you will be here by eight a.m.” I was there at the allotted time and found my dear husband still very sick. The vomiting continued. It took a basin the size of a large dishpan to hold the fluid and this continued for five days but gradually he lay at ease. The pain continued for he couldn’t turn his head and had to lie perfectly still. It took a great deal of massaging to help him rest. Betty, bless her heart, was there most of the time to relieve me and give encouragement to her Daddy.

One night after a very strenuous day, Brother Jay Merrill came to see how everything was going. This he did each evening. He said, “Sis. Tolman, when you are ready to go home, I wish you, Betty and Ray would come to my home. I think you need a blessing from our Heavenly Father. At 11 p.m. we went to his house and they showed us much kindness and even served us a light lunch. Brother Merrill said, “Oft times those waiting on the sick need the Lord’s blessings as much so as those who are ill. Tonight we are all uniting our faith and prayers in behalf of Sis. Tolman who has been so faithful in caring for her dear Husband.” He asked Ray to anoint me, then asked Betty and Sis. Merrill along with he and Ray to lay their hands upon my head. As the administration was pronounced by Brother Merrill, I felt my whole body tingle from my head to the soles of my feet. A great load lifted from my shoulders and body and I felt the Lord saying, “Be of good cheer, all will be well with your husband for he yet has a great work to do.”

After ten days, the weight was changed to an eight pound, which eased the strain on his neck. Daddy was full of faith and had such a strong desire to get well, he would laugh and say, “Can you use the scratcher and ease my stomach?

Rex, Vera, Elden and LaDawn came from Ontario, Oregon, which gave him courage and he knew he was loved. Of course, Roger and Lova came often but had responsibilities at home so they couldn’t stay very long, but gave their love and compassion.

At times Daddy would say, “Mommie, I can’t stand the strain longer”. I would give him a kiss and lay my hand on his head and pray and soon he was smiling. Finally the day came when the doctor said, “Mr. Tolman, I think you are ready for the cast and will be relieved of the weight.” I shouted for joy, little realizing the great ordeal he would yet have to go through. Daddy said, “I can really go home and be with my dear ones!” Dr. Rees wheeled him into another room and sat him on a table with his head in a “noose” hanging from the ceiling. The two doctors started to plaster him. It was only a few minutes until he was covered from the top of his head down past his waist with only a “peep hole” though which he could scratch his head. Two for his eyes, one for his nose and one for his mouth and one near the navel. These openings permitted him to scratch or rub his body by use of the scratchier.

Although he had the cast on, we were so thankful to get in the car and be on our way home where we could be together. My dear one looked about the home and then we knelt in prayer and thanked the Lord for sparing his life and permitting him to come home.

Daddy managed pretty well during the day for we could take walks and ride when he became nervous or sing songs or read. At night he had nightmares and at times was unable to remain in bed. I would read to him, take hold of his arm and walk the floor until he was tired or sometimes go outside where he would pant for more air until the frantic feeling passed. At times he would start to tear the cast off but through our prayers and my loving him, he would relax. Oft times during the day we would walk the fields and one time he even wanted to drive the tractor but he wasn’t ready for that. I was so proud of him as he attended his Church meetings and sang, even though his voice was muffled.

Three months finally passed and then came the day. The doctor said, “I think the bone is healed enough so that the cast may be removed. What joy to see my dear husband without it, even though he looked like a wooly hippie. His hair had grown as well as his whiskers and the doctor wanted a barber to come and cut his hair and shave his whiskers but Daddy said, “No, Goldie has done my barbering for years.” As soon as we got home, the hair came off from his head and his face shaved. There was my loved one shining in all his glory and Oh, so happy. My joy cannot be expressed! As he looked in the mirror and saw himself, he was delighted. I hugged and kissed him many times. He said, “Why did I have to be so careless?” I said, “Never mind Daddy, this suffering I am sure is for some great purpose. It has taught us patience, perseverance, humility and faith. There is some calling in the Church for you yet to do and you have prepared yourself for it. This was in the year 1953 and he has suffered arthritis in his neck and has had headaches, but was always thankful to be with us. I tried to ease the pain by rubbing his neck with Deep Heat and using the ******** on it.

A SACRED CALLING

In the year 1954 a grand and glorious calling came to my dear Husband. It was conference time in the Twin Falls Stake. President Schenk asked Brother Tolman to come to his office. We wondered why for he had filled every office but the one of Stake Patriarch. Yes, he was called to be the Stake Patriarch. What a sacred, humbling, glorious calling. It is one in which purity of thought; humility, fasting and prayer were to be required. Daddy said to me, “Do you think I can do it?” I loved him and said, “Why yes, that is what you have been tested for and you have come through with all these sacred traits. Through fasting and prayer the Lord will put words in your mouth concerning all who come and they will call you blessed. In 1954 Elder Robert Q. Morris, directed by inspiration and revelation called Brother Royal C. Tolman to serve as Patriarch in the Twin Falls Stake. The vote of the people demonstrated their supporting approval. Then came the time for his ordination.

As Brother Morris laid his hands on Brother Tolman’s head “all doubt left and I was full of faith and assurance.” I knew he had been chosen and with my faith and help, he would fill the position gloriously and peace filled our hearts.

LIFE’ S CHALLENGES

This calling of Patriarch was a dual calling for my parents. (Betty writing). Mother made appointments and entertained those waiting, while my Father was giving the blessing. It seemed everyone enjoyed the spirit in the home and remarked about it. They were dedicated and never broke an appointment. Everyone had told them that they surely ought to have the flu shots so thinking it would keep them well, they did. Perhaps the shots didn’t work right but my Father got sick first and Mother took good care of him and then Mother got it and was very sick. They wouldn’t let anyone in for fear that we would get it. While Mother was so sick Daddy took care of her doing the cooking etc. and even made those “sheepherder’s fried potatoes”!! Loved ones, friends and neighbors took in the medicine they needed and also food. This sickness made them very weak but they were determined to keep working. They tell of going up and down the stairs to the basement to regain their strength and finally going to the store and buying a tall stool on which to sit so he could continue giving the blessings while sitting in an almost upright position. Many times they both worked all day without eating—fasting so the spirit would enlighten Father. It was indeed a challenging but loved calling for both of them.

We had heard lots of talk of a machine called Television but that was “back east” or in the larger cities. Finally in 1954 Roger put an aerial up 100 feet high and purchased the first T.V. in the area. Not unlike the radio of years back (which was wonderful and we children loved to sit in front of it and listen to the various stories). The T.V. was an opening to a whole, new, world and when our big beautiful set arrived, it was an event to remember. It was one of the first television sets in Twin Falls or “there abouts”. The aerial was needed to be so high in order to bring in the programs from KSL in Salt Lake City.

Grandpa or Father Tolman still lived with us. He thanked Goldie for keeping him so handsome all the time. He enjoyed eating and appreciated every mouthful. We laughed many times after a meal for he watched our plates like a hawk and the minute we finished, our plates were “swooshed” away and washed by him. I think he felt that this was what he could do for his contribution. It saved Goldie from having to do it anyway.

He lived with us in our home and was content by doing what he could but always when he was resting, he would have his small Bible in his hands. He probably could have quoted it exactly from memory. He had one wish and that was to live until spring but in November he contacted a bad cold and was

anxious to go to his Emerett. Finally in the night of the 8th of November 1955 he gently passed away.

THE LORD’S WORK

We had hardly gotten settled in our new home when Bishop Noah Arrington came and asked us to teach twenty four married couples who had never been to the Temple to receive their endowments and to be sealed for time and Eternity. We consented realizing what a great blessing it would be for both of us. Early the next day Bishop Arrington came to the home and said, “I couldn’t sleep last night as a name kept coming into my mind. I prayed about it this morning and the answer came that you should go and talk with them. You are the only ones that can make them listen. They are alcoholics and chain smokers. They are Mr. and Mrs. Grant Stuart.

We consented, early that day we went to their home and was admitted by a little, lovely girl with long, black, curly hair I asked how she was, giving her a hug. “Just fine. My Mother is so sick.” She led us to the other room where her mother lay in a reclining chair. At her side was a table on which was a bottle of whiskey and many cigarettes. I walked over to her, put my hands on her forehead and commenced to rub it saying, “We are Brother and Sister Tolman”. She said, “I wish you would go away and leave me alone. Why did you come?”

I told her what a wonderful life laid ahead if she would just give up drinking and tobacco. “Come join with twenty four other married couples.” I said. I picked up the whiskey bottle and carried it to the kitchen. “I don’t want you to take another drop of this poison” She pushed back her chair very disgustedly and I said, “By 9:00 A.M. I want you and Jeannie to walk to my home. It’s only a few blocks to my home and it will help you.

She said “Oh, get my husband and he can have his twenty two wives.” We laughed and told her that we don’t believe in polygamy any longer. I hugged her and said “Remember, I expect you and Jeannie in the morning.”

Exactly at 9:00 A.M. the next morning the bell rang and there stood our dear lady with her hair combed and a smile on her face. Jeannie was as beautiful as ever. I led them to the couch and I said as I shook her hand. “May the Lord bless you.” We had a lunch ready and we asked them to have lunch with us but before we do, let us kneel and have prayer.” What a beautiful prayer as we asked God’s blessing on all of us. Just then the doorbell rang and there was her dear husband. He visited with us for over an hour and then he arose and said. “I must get back to work.” He pulled from his pocket a pack of cigarettes and putting his arm around his wife’s shoulde5rs said, “That is the last cigarette I am going to smoke. He threw the pack on the table and said, “I promise you that I will do this if you will do the same”. Throw the whiskey away and quit smoking.”

She hesitated for sometime then with a smile said, “Yes, I will and we will go to the meetings.”

We spent a trying week walking Sister Stuart home and having her at our home as she was in a terrible condition fighting the desire of her addiction. One day when we took her home, she asked to have prayer. When we arose she said, “My but there is an awful odor in this house. I can’t stand it.” “You are cured”. I almost shouted. “The Lord had heard our prayers. From that time on the couple had not wanted tobacco or whiskey again.

We took them to the meeting and they became fast friends with the other couples. The time came for all to go to the Temple. Each had their recommends. The next morning at 3:00 A.M. we gathered at the church house. It had snowed during the night and Bishop Arrington asked if we still wanted to go to the Temple or wait. All shouted, “We have come this far, why let Satan stop us now!” We offered prayer and we formed a line of cars with me in the rear. Several times the cars turned around on the road but righted themselves as we traveled. Brother Henry’s car skidded off into the barrow pit and fence. He left his car and road with others and would pick it up on the way home.

At the Temple, President Killpack opened the door and said, “Welcome to the House of the Lord.” What a thrill was experienced as each person was welcomed by a warm handclasp. After receiving their endowments, we all went to the largest sealing room in the Temple. President Killpack officiated. One elderly couple was sealed as man tand wife and then in came eleven lovely children to be sealed. Many tears were shed as we witnessed this. President Killpack said “What joy will be on the other side when you all meet as a family.

It was our dear “couples“ turn. There wasn’t a dry eye as they were sealed. Then the matron led in their dark, curly, haired girl. President Killpack looked at her for a few minutes and then into the eyes of the Father and Mother and said, “Any couple that can have a child like this beautiful child, should have more and you will.” Sister Stuart had been told by her doctor that she would lose her life if she had any more children. The couple couldn’t believe their ears, but were thrilled.

We visited the couple faithfully and one day I was in town. Brother Stuart came and gave me a big hug and said, “A miracle has happened! We are going to have a babe!” When Sister Stuart went to the doctor, he tried to convince her to have an abortion. She said, “No, this child is given to me by the Lord. I will have this child normally”.

At nine months the pains started and the doctor insisted that she should have it “C” section but she said, “No, all will be well”. The babe did come without much pain. A big handsome boy baby. How happy we all were to have a miracle babe. After two years another boy came to bring joy and happiness to their home. The Stuarts remained faithful and true. Grant was called to be a home missionary and filled the position faithfully for two years bringing his brother to the truthfulln4ess of the Gospel. Later he was called to the Presidency of the Stake Sunday School. Sister Stuart was called to work in the Relief Society and Genealogy which position she filled faithfully and went to the Temple often.

Told by Goldie: Brother Tolman and I had two special friends, Bill and Gwen Luke. They were the parents of three children. Two boys I had taught in Sunday School and a beautiful girl–the pride of the family. When she was about a year old, Bill and Gwen were startled one morning to discover a large lump on the baby’s neck the size of an egg. They doctored it by giving her medication about each hour it seemed to enlarge.

They became worried and called the doctor who advised them to bring her to the office. Upon examination, the doctor advised that she should have surgery or she could possibly choke to death. They baby was wheeled into the operating room. They administered the anesthetic and her heart stopped beating! The doctor hurriedly made an incision and massaged her heart. Finally it commenced beating. After an hour the doctor said, “I believe she is alright. We will sew up the incision but it will be impossible to operate. The swelling didn’t go down and the doctor said, “You just as well take her home. We have done all we can.”

Bill and Gwen called Brother Tolman and told him what had happened. Bill asked if he would give her a blessing. When they came, the baby was crying and struggling. Immediately Daddy took them into the office. Gwen held her babe, Bill anointed her and then Brother Tolman blessed her. He promised her that the swelling would go down, that she should be made well and strong and that she should grow to be a beautiful woman. She would have a worthy husband given to her and children would bless her home. During this blessing the child became relaxed and fell asleep. The parents took the babe home that evening. Bill called and said, “Oh, Brother Tolman, the swelling has gone down and the baby is up and playing! Our miracle has happened!”

The baby grew up to womanhood, has a choice husband and they have several children and are very grateful for the blessing performed many years ago in our home.

MANY MORE EXPERIENCES

Written by Betty: They had forty acres in corn on their home place and rented forty more, which was rocky. He had machinery so was called often to work on the “Church Farm”. This he did so willingly. He worked so hard as was his custom. And the rented place had a “growing crop” of morning glory. It was a weed that just kept on growing and growing and they thought that the crops would never amount to anything. To water the ground was so difficult and Father’s knees had arthritis so he couldn’t walk great distances. Mother walked to clean the morning glory out of the corrugates and Mother tells that she worried when she couldn’t see Daddy. She was afraid that something had happened. One day she said, “Daddy when you get down in the field, hold your shovel up so I can see where you are!” This proved what good farmers they were.

They worked from sun up to late in afternoon to have beautiful corn. They were so happy when Green Giant came in with their harvester and wagon and trucks and soon the tall corn had been relieved of its ears and nothing stood. They rented the land for two summers. They were sometimes so exhausted that they would lie down for an hour or so at noon and than back to the field.) I must say, that one time they had gone to the Temple and when they had come home, they saw that their beautiful field had been destroyed by a hailstorm that had gone through. Another time the frost killed the corn and it was hard to even sell it for cattle feed. Times were hard but you never heard them complain. Father was a great entertainer and was never lacking for jokes at any time and all occasions. One favorite with all people was the “Uncle Josh” piece about the “horseless carriage“ when they wound the bobbin on that thing, it took off like a bullet, going over Henry Pickens’ picket fence, running into Frank Weaver and finally hitting the straw stack. At one point it sounded like he was ‘a talkin’ to the Lord…” Sometimes I think we

could write a story of Father and the way he would ‘take off’ with any machine he drove.

Father was always in a hurry. When he got on the tractor or in the trucks or cars, he pushed in the clutch, bore down on the gas accelerator, let out the clutch and took off with a bang…On a few occasions, Ray said he feared for his life when Father backed the tractor up for Ray to hook up a piece of equipment. On another occasion he was backing up toward the shed and shed didn’t move away in time and the results showed with a door hanging by a thread. One other time a more serious thing happened. However, inasmuch as it turned out all right we’d like to just remember it and smile.

While the folks rented the extra land for corn and grain, Mother helped Father often as they planted and did the work necessary. One day they were in the field planting grain. Father on the tractor pulling the grain planter with Mother riding the back of the planter to make sure the grain didn’t stop planting. Behind her was the harrow. At one point Mother called to Father to stop for the machine was plugged. They worked together and had it free so the grain could go down the little holes into the earth. Father crawled back on the tractor, and as I said before, took off like a bolt of lightening. In the meantime when that tractor took off, Mother was thrown to the ground. Before she could get out of the way, that harrow with spike teeth ran over her body and legs. She lay frozen with fear for what seemed like five minutes and then gingerly she said, “I felt myself. I was still in one piece. I’ll try to get up!”

Mother did get up with much pain and some bleeding where her skin had been broken. She felt her legs and arms to see if bones were broken. About that time, Father had reached the top of the field and looked back to say something to Mother. Where was she? Well you can imagine the shock he felt when he saw her standing in the middle of the grain field looking very much like “Hand Weaver” in the Uncle Josh piece.

Tenderly Father and Mother both nursed the wounds for Mother refused to go to the Doctor. “What on earth could she tell him?” The Bishop was told that she took a fall. There was a week mother lay on the bed, with bruises over all her body and she was so sore she couldn’t get up. Through prayer and the very loving care that Father took and Mother knowing she needed to heel and knowing that time was the only medicine, finally recovered and went right back as her sweetheart, husbands’ helper.

ANOTHER CRISIS!

Written by Lova: It was the practice of Mother and Father to drop in on their children every once in a while for a few minutes visit. We looked forward to these and we would visit so fast and hold them as long as we possibly could. They stopped one day in the middle of the afternoon having been to Burley on business and we welcomed them with open arms. However, as I looked at Dad I could see that he was so very gray and not his usual jolly self. He explained that they had stopped for a milk shake before starting back home. When they had gotten about a mile from my place, he had gotten so terribly sick that he was forced to stop the car and heave. He said that since it was a cherry shake, it was still red and he did a good job of spreading it over the highway. We visited a few minutes more and then he excused himself to the back bathroom and then they said that they must be on their way home. I tried to get them to circle around to the Twin Falls Clinic on their way home and check with a doctor. You know them. They just laughed and kissed us goodbye and left. I was concerned about Dad but more so when I went into the back bathroom and realized that he was bleeding inside and losing blood from both directions. I felt I needed help to influence him, so I called Roger and asked if he would check on them. He called back to say that when they got home, Dad had been sick again and they were on their way to the Clinic. This was the beginning of suspense and worry about him as he lost so much blood from a hemorrhaging ulcer. Eleven pints of blood it took before they got it under control. He would try his best not to heave but finally it would come with such force that it would shoot across the room. He felt so sorry for the nurses but they were so kind to him even if once in a while he would make a “mess’ of them too. It was “nip and tuck” for a few days with him. The doctors knew that he needed an operation but he had lost so much blood that they didn’t dare and sent him home to “recuperate” for at least a month and then they thought he would be strong enough.

He waited fearfully until the doctor said that he was ready and he went back to the hospital. They took out three-fourths of his stomach and even though he went through the trials of one operated on, he recovered rapidly. However, he had trouble with coughing spells and one time he knew that he felt something tear in the incision area and sure enough, he had a hernia from it. The doctors told him that he would be able to wear a band that would control it and he did try but how hard it was! I am sure that to understand how miserable it was, a person would have to have one. He tried to do his farming with his band, brace, or truss but it would bind and rub until he would have to take it off. He always was busy doing the things that had to be done and one day he was pitching manure into the spreader. Mother had warned him not to do it but it was a job that needed done. As he pitched a forkful he felt the hernia tear more. He stood this for sometime and then got the doctor to operate again and correct the hernia. What a relief when he was well again! However, because of the three visits to the hospital and a much smaller stomach it was a long time before he felt as strong as he wanted to feel.

One good thing came from all of this. He had developed “gout” which is a condition of the blood and it makes the joints of the body very painful. There was some medicine that helped but it was mainly controlled with a diet. When he was in the hospital and had to have so much blood replaced, he got enough new blood that he wasn’t bothered with gout again.

MARRIED FIFTY YEARS

They owned some cows, calves and some chickens which they cared for down in the pasture. One day when they were chasing the calves to put them in the barn, Mother stumbled and fell. She knew that her arm was broken but she kept right on helping with the calves. It was a bad break in her wrist but didn’t slow her down very much. Father helped as he could and soon it was time for their Golden Wedding Celebration. Mother wondered how she would ever be up to it, but she did and enjoyed a beautiful time with more than two hundred guests coming to the home. I remember Mother and Father looking like newly weds, shaking hands, visiting and helping people to the lovely refreshments that were there for everyone. A lovely genealogy, picture tree of the children and grandchildren was prepared and hung just inside the “front” door by the dining table and caught the eye of everyone. There were over fifty pictures of the immediate family on the tree.

We children always tried to get them to go on a cruise or travel but they loved their home and loved to be in it. However, Mother tells of the wonderful trip they took together to visit the Temples throughout the United States. Traveling by car they went to Oakland, California, then to Manti, Utah and then on to St. George, Utah. Their gas just by way of comparison was around thirty cents a gallon at that time. (Eat your heart out.)

They drove on to North Dakota to see LaDawn and Elden. Mother remarked that on the highways you noticed as far as the eyes could see, the winter grain. Mansions were never at the side of the highway but far back off in the rolling fields. While the folks were there, it rained torrents until a great flood warning was out. All worked like beavers to sand bag around their home to keep out the water. It paid off, as they watched the water rise. It stopped short of the windows to the basement. Many of the mansions were flooded as far up as the 2nd level of their home

SWEET HEARTS FOREVER

Betty writing: I think about stopping in to see Mother and Father. I would knock and then walk in. Almost without exception, if it was evening time, they sat on the couch holding hands and watching a show together or reading a book, but always sitting close to one another. This makes me think of a story Father told often…. One Irishman said to another Irishman. “Sure an me wife and I hold hands by the hour. If I let loose she’d of killed me!!”

Mother and Father decided to give up renting and sell the home place, and keep the home for as long as needed. They could just rest and enjoy life. They could travel, do Church work, lie down in the sun (their bedroom had a window that faced the southwest and in the afternoons it was lovely, comfy and cozy) They would visit, watch T.V. and just have a carefree, loving peaceful time together and have time to themselves to share thoughts and feelings.

Many nights Father would wake at night with pain in his neck and legs. Mother (bless her heart) would wake up and lovingly use the ******** on his aching body and legs for she knew the pain he had. Thanksgiving Time was a gala affair at the home of Rex and Vera in Ontario, Oregon where Daddy and I had gone to stay and visit a few days. What an outpouring of love was felt by all of us as we laughed, talked and sang together. Rex and Vera’s children were all there and all their grandchildren. They had five children and eight grandchildren so the house was full of laughter and fun.

The men decided to go to town, see the sights and have a good walk. At first Daddy didn’t want to go, but decided to have the courage even though he didn’t feel very well. Vera had a quilt to quilt so we “girls” spent our time at quilting. When they returned, Daddy sat quietly watching T.V. while the rest planned going golfing as soon as dinner was over. “Goldie” Daddy said, “I don’t want to go. Please make some excuse.”

Evening came with more storytelling and remembering along with games for the children. On Thanksgiving Day we all helped get the meal. Dave helped with the little extra touches for he works and cooks for the General Authorities. It was a bright sunny day and we all had the spirit of thankfulness. The meal was delicious as were all the “goodies”.

The day passed quickly and then the family was called into the family room as talents from the young and old were given. They all begged for Cliff to give his “uncle Josh” reading and then to sing a solo, which he did. I’m sure the children will always remember their Grandfather…I gave a story written by Elder Boyd K. Packer about the happening of his cow becoming sick. An example of faith was show by his little boys when they asked their father to help them pray for the cow so she would get well and have her little baby all right. In the morning when they went out, the cow was on her feet eating and had a little calf by her side. The little grandchildren sat spellbound and then gave their parts on the program. What a wonderful Thanksgiving Day it was!

Early the next morning Daddy wanted to go right home. We gave each one our love and thankfulness that they were our children, and said goodbye. Daddy wanted to drive but after about ten miles, he gave up and asked me to carry on. I did with a sick feeling knowing he wouldn’t give up unless he was quite bad for he loved to drive.

While driving he would be singing and eating candy to keep awake on all the other trips we had taken. I drove most of the way, but by not being used to driving long distances, I had to have him take over again. We kept this up until after resting many times we drove into the garage at home. Our hearts swelled with gratitude that we were home at last. I gave Daddy something to eat and we went to bed. We had a wonderful weekend after getting home. We loved our home and just being together. We would have our lunch on the couch watching T.V. and holding hands after some short walks together for exercise. It was the fifth of December 1973. Daddy seemed like a new man, ate more, talked more and took longer walks. In the evening we watched T.V., remembering many times together of our sweetheart days and the good times as well as some of the hardships and the many Church positions held. Then a waltz tune played. – “Let’s waltz like we used to,” he said. We did for a few minutes, then I served chocolates and at 10:p.m. we retired. There was the usual lovemaking and then we fell asleep. I was awakened at 2:a.m. by a noise in the kitchen. “What are you doing, Daddy?” I called. “Getting some soda for my stomach ache for I don’t feel so well.” I inquired more and finally asked if he had a pain in his arm and he said, “Yes, it is in my left arm.” I rushed to the phone and called the Clinic. Dr. Reese said, “Mrs. Tolman, bring Mr. Tolman right in.” I hurriedly dressed and had him put on his lovely, red robe. I drove him to the Clinic to see the doctor. I was so frightened and wanted to stay at his side while the doctors worked over him for by this time he had gotten seriously ill. Dr. Reese said, “You will be unable to be with him as he will be in intensive care.”

With sinking heart, I drove home and called Roger and Lova to come. I went back to my sweetheart. Before Roger and Lova could come, the nurse came to me said simply. “He is gone!” In a few moments another said, “He is doing better!” Lova and Roger came and we sat in the waiting room watching his heartbeat on the monitor…It was terrible…Each time it would stop beating they would do a “code blue” making it start again. I had called Rex in Ontario and he asked immediately just what the attack was called. Soon June and Lawrence came and we all gathered in a corner of the room, had prayer in his behalf and asked the Lord’s will be done.

A little after 5 p.m. the doctor called Roger, Lova and me into his office. “What would you like me to do” he asked. “I’ve done all I can for him.” I asked how he would be if they did anything more and he said, “He’d be just a vegetable in a wheel chair.” He couldn’t stand that–not my proud husband. So with pain, I said, “Don’t do anything more but first let me see him!” Immediately we went to the Intensive Care. I rubbed his head, and he lay there almost unknowing I was there. I gave him kisses and said to him, “I love you Daddy.” He looked up, smiled that dear, sweet smile, as if to say, “I love you”, closed his eyes and went on to meet his Maker and give his report. Rex and Lova spent the long night with me. Roger came early the next morning and we all went to make arrangements for the funeral. Clothes had to be bought along with the Temple clothing, flowers and the casket with arrangements at the White Mortuary for the funeral. Here my dear one’s body lay.

Rex and Roger with Brother Holman dressed him and laid him to rest in the ‘hardwood casket. He looked so peaceful and at rest. The cemetery was next for us to choose the spot….it was to be a special one to keep his body until the Resurrection. We already had a spot….the plot with his Mother and Father, a Grandson and two great grandchildren and others were nearby.

Many came to our home to offer condolences and leave their blessings. During the next few days, brothers and sisters, children and grandchildren, and great grandchildren gathered in Twin Falls to honor this great patriarch. Neighbors and friends were so kind with bringing in food for the family to eat. They provided rooms in their homes for the relatives to stay. It was like a great reunion of loved ones, happy to see each other and yet sad to miss the hearty laugh, chuckle, radiant smile and great love of Daddy.

ROYAL CLIFFORD TOLMAN

In the history of a man’s life, there are some important events that stand out….and so it was with Royal Clifford Tolman….HIS BIRTH to goodly parents, of royal heritage, born of good health, tremendous vigor and strength, a clean home with a hardworking Father and Mother and brothers and sisters and growing up in a loving yet disciplined environment…….HIS MARRIAGE to a loving, courageous wife in the Temple of the Lord for time and eternity. Their children born and reared in a clean, righteous home with the ideals of the Gospel of Jesus Christ ever present…….Their Golden Wedding… To share their love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ ever present…..and as a final tribute to his good life, his Funeral to honor a great, unselfish man, with achievements in his personal, educational, cultural, spiritual, and community activities.

It never occurred to us, and I’m sure to many others near and dear that there would ever be an end to his great optimism, energy, genuine friendliness and all wise counsel. So his death was a great shock and it brought hundreds of people from far and near to express love and admiration for this great man. It was our great privilege as an entire family to stand in line and greet hundreds of people as they formed a double line, passing by his casket where he lay looking calm and serene as though he could speak. He so wanted to be friendly and kind even in death. Many that we had known through the years, and who had an influence in all our lives, expressed great love for Father and for Mother, who stood in dignity and loveliness with her family and relatives. (Whoever wrote this expresses all of our feelings.)

Mother wrote–The time came for the funeral; I hesitated as we walked up the steps to the Stake Center. “I just can’t go in,” I whispered to Betty who was holding my arm. “I’ve never come here without Daddy.” With a loving tug of my arm Betty said, “Yes, you can for we have to.” And we did.”

This introduction to the funeral of Father, of meeting with so many near and dear relatives and friends for two hours, certainly exhilarated all of us as we walked into the Twin Falls Stake House and beheld the chapel and cultural hall filled to capacity with some still standing. On the stand were many priesthood brethren and sisters from the two Stakes. It reminded us of a Stake Conference. The entire center section was reserved for relatives who had come to be with us.

The meeting proceeded as Father had planned it before his death, it was peaceful and dignified. It was honorary, and brought contentment and assurance of all that we had been taught about life and the hereafter and the eternal existence of families.

We make special note of the inspirational and beautiful obituary, which was written and eloquently given by June Tolman, a daughter-in-law. The music and songs were those, which Father loved so much and sang many, many times. “Beyond the Sunset”, “Goin’ Home”, “The Teacher’s Work is Done”, and the reading “Should You Go First” with the background music of Beyond the Sunset There were five grandsons and one son-in-law, tall and straight, acting as pallbearers: David Tolman, Donald Tolman, Stanford Watts, Clifford Morgan, Rodney Lanning and Eldon Jackman.

Visit FamilySearch to learn more about Royal Clifford Tolman and Goldie Adams. Visit the Thomas Tolman Family Organization to find out how you can get more involved in family history.