Contributed By: FDeanLee1 · 15 October 2014 ·
I was born March 13, 1912 in a log house at Island, Idaho about five miles from Oakley, Idaho. I was the fifth child of eleven children, five girls and six boys. In order of age, Naomi Jane, Emma Briggs, Armenia, William Odell, Alma Jaren, Marvin Ray, Alvin LeRoy, Wendell LaVar, Bernice, Hattie, and Noel Jay. My parents were William Alvin Tolman and Hattie Naomi Tolman.
My grandparents on my father’s side were Joshua Alvin Tolman and Mary Jane Gorringe. On my mother’s side were Jaren Tolman and Emma Briggs. My early life I cannot remember too much of. At the age of 5 ½ I went to school, but did not continue that year. Starting in the first grade at 6 ½, I went through school at Island, Idaho. At the age of 15 I graduated from the eighth grade. While going to school the first 8 years, I can remember having to walk 2 miles in the snow. The last year, I had a horse to ride part of the time.
After finishing the 8th grade, I attended High School 4 years at the Oakley High School, graduating in the spring of 1931. While attending high school I attended three years of Seminary, worth graduating from Seminary. Because of having to help my father on the farm, I never went out for sports until I was a senior in High School. I then played football, winning a letter that year. I also played in the High School Band.
After graduating from High School I went to the University of Idaho Southern Branch in Pocatello (1931 – 1932). During my attendance here, I studied education. In order to be able to go to school, I had to work. My brother Bill was also attending school with me. We hauled eggs and meat from Burley, Oakley, Declo and Rupert to Pocatello and resold them to make money to continue in school.
I’ll never forget one experience we had while hauling this produce. While coming to Pocatello from Burley one Sunday evening, we ran into a blizzard and when about five miles from American Falls as we were going down a hill we met a truck coming up the hill. The truck was stopped in the middle of the road. There were snowdrifts 15 feet high on each side of us.
We were going to unhitch our trailer and return to Massacre Rock, but while unhitching the trailer our car stopped running and we could not get it started. It was about 6 o’clock in the evening. We had to stay there until 1 o’clock the following day. If it had not been that the truck was boarded in and empty, we would have froze to death. But we got in the truck and walked back and forth to keep warm.
I never went back to school until 1935. At which time I attended the Albion State Normal School, receiving my teacher’s certificate in the fall of 1936. That ended my schooling. I never taught school.
From 1932 to 1935, I worked for different people or farmers. In the winter of 1936 – 1937 I fed cattle for Ray Bedke of Oakley, Idaho. The following summer I farmed one of his farms. That fall (October 1937) I came to Pocatello. I took a job milking cows and farming for Jack Ziebarth. I worked for him until October 1939. At which time I quit and went to work with my brothers (William, Marvin and Alvin) who operated a farm and also a meat market.
I worked with my brothers from 1939 until February 1950 at which time we dissolved our partnership.
After leaving the business, I went to work for Associated Food Stores. I worked for them a very short time. Then I went to work for Idaho Creameries for about 6 months. Then I went to work for Hammond Sales and Service (sheet metal work). I worked for Hammonds about 9 months. In 195 I went to work out at the AEC. I worked there about 8 months. Then on March 12, 195 I went to work at the Post Office in Pocatello, Idaho. Where I have worked up to this date, January 1958.
On January 31, 1940 I married Myrtle H. Priest in the Salt Lake Temple. We have six children, Ruth Ann, Jaren Alma, Myrtle Eilene, David William, Lloyd Alan (dad spelled it Allen), Rachael Jane.
Since I have been in Pocatello, I lived in the 1st Ward of the LDS Church until it was divided making the 11th Ward. I have since lived in the 11th Ward. I worked as Genealogy chairing in the 11th Ward until I was called into the Stake mission. I labored in the Stake mission for about 4 years, working among the Lamanite people. After being released from the mission, I was called as Genealogy Chairman again. I was also called as Senior Aaronic Priesthood advisor and later called as ward teacher supervisor. I was called again into the Stake mission in November 1955, at which capacity I served until December 1957. At which time I was released.
Visit FamilySearch to learn more about Alma Jaren Tolman. Visit the Thomas Tolman Family Organization to find out how you can get more involved in family history.