(Contribution by Ben Baker. It is relatively rare to have stories written by our ancestors themselves, but we have just that from Judson Tolman. Here are his own words.)
“In 1837 I moved with my parents to Iowa, where I was baptized on January 12, 1845. I gathered with the saints at Nauvoo. The following March, I was ordained a Seventy. June 5, 1845, I received my endowments in the Nauvoo Temple. January 27, 1846 I left Nauvoo with the saints under Brigham Young in Hosea Stouts Company as a guard and continued with that company to the Missouri River, I helped to build all bridges, mark roads and raft wagons over all streams that could not be forded.”
“I remained with the company until the Mormons were organized into a company of 200 wagons and left for Mexico. We were then organized into a company under the leadership of George Miller and eleven other men and started for the mountains, but were stopped by Brigham Young. We wintered on Puneah River near the Missouri River about 150 miles from Omaha. We then went to Winter Quarters in the spring where we continued on our journey to the valley arriving in September 1848 in Brigham Young’s Company and Daniel Garn’s fifty. In 1850 I was one of a company of 31 called by Brigham Young to serve as a guard on the South Western frontier of Utah under Captain Phineas White. I served three and one half years in that capacity and was in battles with the Indians where 18 Indians and one white man were killed.”
“I helped to fight the crickets in 1849 and that year together with two other families, settled in Tooele. We were the first settlers in Tooele. Here I established a saw mill where much needed lumber was sawed.”
“In 1852 the Indians took my last yoke of oxen and cow I had. In the fall of 1854 I moved to Bountiful. I helped to herd Uncle Sam’s Army in the Echo Canyon War. In September 1887 I was sent on a mission to Maine. In 1885 I was ordained a High Priest and in 1897 a Patriarch.”
Sometimes dates and places don’t convey the whole story without a bit more context. A few things to add more richness to his story include. He was married to Sarah Lucretia Holbrook on January 12, 1846. This was just a few days before they left Nauvoo. Judson was only 19 years old at the time and Sarah almost 14 before they traveled across the plains as newlyweds. Also of note was that he received his endowments in the Nauvoo temple after the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith as saints received temple blessings prior to the trek west.
Visit FamilySearch to learn more about Judson Tolman. Also visit the Thomas Tolman Family Organization to find out how you can get more involved in family history.
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