(This is excerpted primarily from a life sketch written June 20, 2003, by Alex’s grandson, Alex Richard Tolman. It is based upon written records, notes and recollections of Alex Richard Tolman as he listened to his Grandfather tell the story of his life).
Aaron Alexander Tolman was born to Cyrus Hewitt and Alice Bracken Tolman on April 16, 1866, at Salina, Sevier County, Utah. In 1857 Cyrus, had fled Tooele, Utah where he had first settled and took his family south to settle in Salina because of the threat of Johnson’s army coming into the Salt Lake area during, the Black Hawk Indian war. The settlers in Sevier County were forced to flee for their lives.
In 1866, Cyrus and his family were again forced to leave their home, this time from Salina back to Tooele, because of the threat of the Blackhawk Indian War. The settlers in Sevier County were forced to flee for their lives. At only three days of age, baby Alex and his mother were placed on the floor of a box wagon; planks were laid over the top of the wagon with sacks of potatoes laid on top of the planks. (See “A Short History of Alice Bracken”). They made the long journey north and west to Tooele, Utah where Alex resided until 1881. That year the family moved to Goose Creek basin in southern Idaho. That area is now known as Marion/Oakley, Cassia County, Idaho.
Alex grew into a strong, capable and faithful young man. He herded sheep, worked for the farmers and ranchers in the area, and aided his father, Cyrus H. Tolman. His home was some distance down the valley so that he and his family had some four miles to drive to attend Church services for a few years. Then there were sufficient numbers to make an organization so that there was a ward of in their own area, known as the Marion Ward. Young Alex, and his brother Judson were the only Deacons and they took care of the meeting house, keeping it clean and nice to meet in. Sometimes they would gather flowers along the roadside and in the fields to make the small modest church building attractive with large bouquets. Alex and Judson delighted in this assignment. The meeting house, for a while, served both as a place of worship and for holding the school during a few months of the year.
The hauling of the grain to market was a job for the two brothers, Alex and Judson. Their Mother was constantly worried about their health and well-being while they were away doing such hard work. She had already lost a son, Joseph, in a tragic accident Joseph, when he fell from a wagon pulled by a runaway team.
The road which Alex and Judson travelled to market required the crossing of the great Snake River by ferry boat. One time the boat broke loose from the cable, drifted down the river a short distance, then in some miraculous manner, reached the opposite shore and all were saved.
Another time when the boys reached the river, on their return journey, the weather was very cold and the hour somewhat later than usual. They signaled and called, but Mr. Star, the ferry operator would not bring the ferry boat over for them, so they had to camp at the river’s edge all night. The weather was so cold they were afraid they would freeze to death in bed in their wagons so they would go out and run up and down the road until they were warmed up, then cover up in bed, fall asleep a while only to wake before long, shaking with the cold and would have to get out and run again. The next morning the river was frozen over so they walked across on the ice and helped Mr. Star cut the ice in front of his ferry boat as he brought it over to ferry their teams and wagons across. Many nights their mother Alice, would spend anxious nights waiting for the boys to come home, and she would have to sit up until very late at night waiting for them. She and the boy’s sisters would listen for the rumble of their wagons as they drew nearer. As they got close, the boys would start whistling and Alice would know her loved ones were returning. Even to her dying day, the boy’s sister, Minnie, would say that She loved to hear a boy whistling.
Alex worked hard to care for his aging parents. When his younger brother Judson left to serve a mission, Alex was the sole caretaker of his family and worked the farm virtually alone in support of his parents. He was always very good to his parents and they greatly appreciated his kindness and attentions. When Alex was 17 his Father Cyrus was almost 65.
Alex met Martha Mary Barrett, a young lady from the Farmington/Bountiful area, when she came to Oakley to visit her sister, Minnie Hale. Soon they were courting and they were married in the Logan, Utah temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on November 27, 1889. It was a 200-mile journey by horse-drawn wagon between Oakley and Logan.
Martha and Alex lived in a small, little home of hewed logs and a shingled roof that he had built in anticipation of their marriage. They left Martha’s family home in Farmington in a covered wagon pulled by four horses to travel the 100 plus miles to Marion. It took five days to travel the distance and, once, they got so stuck in the mud that they had to hire a team of mules to pull them out. They were glad to finally get to their small two-room home but had to live in it for three months without windows as the team and wagon bringing the windows ran away and broke them. Other than being very cold, they were quite comfortable.
The Tolmans’ lived in Marion for seventeen years and all three of their children were born there; Elva on September 30, 1890; Alice on March 11, 1896 and Henry on February 8, 1906.
Alex was herding sheep for the Poulton brothers in the mountains some 30 miles from Marion (on the south fork of Harrington creek) in 1901 when he nearly lost his life in a bear attack (see “An Encounter With a Bear”).
Alex moved his family to Murtaugh, Twin Falls County, Idaho, in 1907. They lived in a granary and buggy shed all summer while they built their house. There was not a branch or ward of the LDS church in Murtaugh when they arrived so they joined with other citizens of the new community and held Sunday school and bible study. They adjusted to their new life and made many friends. In due course, there were enough LDS members to organize their own Sunday school. The Tolman family hosted the first community 4th of July celebration at their home. They served homemade ice cream with strawberries; had a good program; played games and danced at night.
A few years later, the Tolman family moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, so that the two older girls could have better schooling opportunities. They lived there until both girls finished high school then Alex, Martha and Henry moved south of Twin Falls to a newly opened farming area known as the salmon tract. They were real pioneers there and had a very difficult time. Just as they were getting on their feet a fire broke out and burned everything they had except the clothing they were wearing. Martha and Henry had to fight the fire by themselves as Alex was away working. Friends soon came and helped them get another house, clothing and furniture. Just a few years later, the water allocation from the Salmon River was cut and they were left without a means to irrigate their farm. They returned to Murtaugh where old friends and new friends came to their aid.
Martha ran a boarding house/hotel near the railroad station while Alex worked for various farmers and merchants. Henry was on his own trying his hand at logging, ranching, etc. Soon he came home with his new bride, Esther (Tessa) Tolman and the two families bought a small frame home to share. They got a contract to run the local school buses and were in the busing and trucking business until Alex retired.
Alex always had cows, horses, sheep, chickens, rabbits and other animals. He raised a large garden that he shared with his neighbors and was known for his honesty and industry. Alex was very well respected in the community. One of his friends was the local Methodist minister, Mr. Morrison. Mr. Morrison was not fond of “Mormons” but said this of Alex Tolman, “no greater man ever walked the face of the earth than Alex Tolman. His only problem was that he was a damned “Mormon”.
Aaron Alexander Tolman died at his home on October 31, 1942, at the age of 76 and was buried in the Tolman family plot, Marion graveyard, Oakley, Idaho.
Postscript from his Grandson Alex Richard Tolman – written in 2003- (I lived in grandma and grandpa’s home with them for several years as well as across the street for many more years. I remember my grandfather Tolman as a kind, devoted and gentle man. He never wavered in his testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He lived as good a life as any man could and was respected by one and all. If all mankind had the decent principles and work ethic of Alex Tolman, there would be neither dissent nor disagreement. I honor and respect this good man. I look to him as an example of what a bearer of the priesthood, a true son of God should be.)
Visit FamilySearch to learn more about Aaron Alexander Tolman and other ancestors. Also visit the Thomas Tolman Family Organization to find out how you can get more involved in family history.
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