(Contributed by the Thomas Tolman Family Organization. Excerpt from Judson Tolman: Pioneer, Lumberman, Patriarch by E. Dennis Tolman, Second Edition, 2004, pages 109-110).
Alvaretta Jane was born November 18, 1860 in Tooele, Utah as the seventh child of Cyrus and Alice Bracken Tolman. Alvaretta spent her childhood and teenage years in Tooele and was not yet 21 years old when she moved with her parents and other family members to Goose Creek, Idaho in the fall of 1881.
Alveretta’s faith and sensitive spirit are evident in this account shared by her sister Minnie Elizabeth: “While preparing for this journey into Idaho, my sister, Alvaretta, became sick with a fever. Probably typhoid fever. Mother doctored her with the simple remedies she had, but she gradually grew worse. When the time came to start mother said, “We will have to delay our starting.” However, the rest of the company, my four older brothers and their families were all ready to go and they persuaded mother that travelling, even though Alvaretta had to remain in her bed in the wagon, would do her no harm. So we started sometime early in October, but sister’s condition didn’t improve and after several days she couldn’t retain anything she ate or drank.
“The jolt of the wagon seemed more than she could stand and father would have to stop and let her rest awhile. He administered to her two or three times, pleading with God to spare her life. One day she had been worse than usual and father had to stop more often. The rest of the company travelled on, but made an early camp to wait for father to come. It was almost dark when we arrived in their camp. Brother (Joshua) Alvin came quickly to inquire why we
were so late and asked Alvaretta if there was anything he could do for her.
“She answered, ‘Yes, if you will go to the river and catch me a fish I believe I could eat a bit of it.’ He hurriedly did as she bade him and soon returned with a trout. He asked mother to cook all of it and there would be enough for her and father too. But sister said, “No, this fish was sent to save my life. Cook just a little piece of it now and save the rest of it for me tomorrow.” Alvin went out to catch some fish for the rest of the family but he didn’t catch another fish. The whole company camped there a day or two longer so that Alvaretta could gain
more strength.”
The lone grocery store in the little town of Oakley was owned by George Smith Grant, who later fell in love and married Alvaretta Jane Tolman January 20, 1883. They journeyed the two hundred miles from Oakley, Idaho to Logan, Utah less than a year later to have their loved sealed August 21, 1884 in the Logan Temple.
Alvaretta gave birth to their first child, Alvaretta M. Grant, November 18, 1883 in Oakley, Idaho.
In the year 1884 all the farmers in the Goose Creek Valley suffered severe losses from the ravages of wild rabbits. With the determination to overcome the enemy, all the men and boys who could handle a gun met at a designated place. Then they divided into two companies and went out to kill the rabbits. The company killing the greatest numbers were the lucky ones and the losing side had to give a supper and dance to the victors. This bit of competition encouraged even the businessmen to take part.
Minnie Elizabeth related the following tragedy, “On the morning of January 13, 1885 more rabbits than ever before had been killed. Then they prepared to go back to their homes. But alas, fun and laughter can soon be turned into sorrow. When George S. Grant went to climb into the wagon to return home he placed his gun in first. The trigger caught on a seat spring and the gun discharged, killing George instantly. What a terrible shock this was to my mother (Alice Bracken Tolman) . The grief and shock to my sister, Alvaretta, seemed to be more than she could bear. But she must live for her fourteen month old daughter and her baby yet unborn.”
Another room was added to the home of her parents so that Alvaretta could live with them. Her little baby, Georgia Stella Grant, was born May 7, 1885, almost four months after her father’s death. Those two baby girls grew into young womanhood and were lovely girls who were a great comfort to both their mother and grandmother.
Alvaretta married Henry Belcher October 5,1898 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Henry was born in West Virginia, August 20 1838. They bore four daughters together: Winnie Belcher and Minnie Belcher (September 10, 1899), who were twins, and Amy Jane Pearl Belcher (November 22, 1903), and Mary Ruby Belcher (July 30, 1906). All the children married except for Mary Ruby who died when she was ten years old in Burley, Idaho. Alvaretta married Lyman Carlos Severe; Georgia married Leon Robbins Mathews; Winnie married Ralph Paul Stewart; Minnie married Horace A. Roylance; and Amy Jane married Leonard Parley Okelberry.
Alvaretta Jane died near Twin Falls, June 18, 1934 in the town of Murtaugh and was buried in Oakley, Idaho.