(Contributed by the Thomas Tolman Family Organization. Excerpt from Judson Tolman: Pioneer, Lumberman, Patriarch by E. Dennis Tolman, Second Edition, 2004, pages 158-159).
Franklin Gray was born October 27, 1869 in Tooele, Utah, the ninth child of Cyrus and Margaret Eliza.
Frank filled a mission to the Southern States. He had quite a time getting away from the Saints down there. They had a petition to the President of the Church to send him back There were literally hundreds of names on the list. The Church authorities sent it to Frank telling him to suit himself, that if he could go, and wanted to go, they would gladly call him. Of course, he loved the people, but all his interests were in Star Valley. He owned a lot of cattle. Later he went into the sheep business and moved to the Big Horn country. However, he did fill another mission to the Southern States in his later years.
He met Eliza Ann Bassett from Cache Valley and they married in the Logan Temple on September 30,1891. They soon moved to Fairview, Wyoming. Franklin and Eliza became the parents of twelve children, ten of whom were born in Fairview and the last two born in Otto, Big Horn, Wyoming: Calvin Franklin (June 21, 1892), Myron Edwin (February 26, 1895), Cyrus Emery (December 16, 1896), Laurence E. (November 16, 1899), Clarence E. November 16,1899), Mabel Eliza (May 8, 1901), Leath Rowena (April 16, 1903), Elva (July 24, 1905), Grace Berniece (May 30, 1908), Edna Joy (June 8, 1910), Woodrow Wilson (September 3, 1912), and Chester Gray (October 24, 1915). Nine of the children of Franklin and Eliza lived to maturity, married and began families.
Frank’s youngest sister, Maggie, shared the following story about him: “It was a very hot day; the boys were at home. John and Orson were about to sit down to dinner that mother was putting on the table. I noticed a worried look come to my mother’s face as she placed the food on the table. She asked me to ask the blessing. She said she would eat later and went outside. I followed her. She was going over to the bunkhouse to pray. That was her retreat when in need. I followed a few paces behind her; she never knew I was near, and with tears and pleadings she was asking God to protect her boy Frank, who was riding the range in Skull Valley some twenty-five miles distant. There were no ranches for miles and miles.
“It was on the desert. Frank had gone for a valuable horse that had strayed away. They feared he had gotten in a wild bunch. After Mother had said “Amen”, she still kneeled at the bed with her head bowed and was sobbing. I came up and placed my arms about her, and asked her how she knew Frank was in danger. She answered me, “The Spirit of the Lord told me he was in danger.” She arose and wiped her eyes and smiled and said, “He is all right now, Dear. God has sent me the assurance. Let’s go and eat our dinner.
“That night just as the sun was setting, from my lookout on the high machine shed I spotted a dust in the distance. An hour or more later Frank walked into the house, pale and shaken. He could hardly walk.”
“What happened, Son?” Mother asked.
“Mother,” he answered, “I was chasing the band of horses that Old Jim was with, trying to head them home, when my horse stepped into a badger hole and keeled over. I struck my head on a rock. (Here he showed a big lump above his temple.) I did not know anything for quite awhile.”
“When was this?” my mother broke in. “It was about noon—clearly as I could tell.” “Yes, Son…what happened next?” she eagerly inquired.
“It must have been an hour or two later when I was shaken and my face bathed with water. I had drunk all my water when I ate my lunch, just before the accident. I figured I’d be home before I was too thirsty, but the man—Mother, what was he doing out there miles from any place without a horse? He gave me a drink and brought my horse and lifted me onto it. I asked him if he wanted to ride with me, or where his horse was for I could see for miles around. The band of horses I had been chasing was miles away. I could see their dust. He said he never rode a horse. I doubted his word—out there at least twenty-five miles from habitation of any kind. I gazed about for his horse. I thought he was joking. When I gazed back to ask him another question he had disappeared. There was neither rock, tree or brush for him to hide in or behind. Mother, I just can’t make it out.”
“Mother then told us the beautiful story of the Three Nephites whom Christ granted that they never taste of death but were to remain upon the earth doing good until His second coming. It is a lovely story that should be read from time to time to renew our memory. She said that the man was no doubt one of those Three Nephites. (Book of Mormon, 3rd Nephi 28)”
Luella Barras Balls, a niece, wrote that she had on one occasion gone to a town called Tensleep where her Uncle Frank lived. “He lived in a big, elaborate house that he had bought from a rich man. As I remember it was quite run down and not very clean. There was a big, fancy pond in front of the house. My mother was always fussy about clean bedding, but Aunt Lizey wasn’t that fussy. She had a lot of hired men to cook for and it was hard for her to keep everything up. They treated us very well, though, and we had a good visit. I know Mother (Martha Tolman Barrus) enjoyed visiting with her brothers and sister.”
After retiring from the sheep business, Frank moved to Lovell, Wyoming. He was filled with the Spirit of the Gospel and knew the scriptures as few men do. His hungry soul was filled with joy to be able to devote his time to the service of the Lord.
Eliza died November 21,1943 in Helena, Montana and was buried there November 24. Franklin married Viva May Hoffman, December 21, 1944. Franklin died February 19, 1946 in Lovell, Wyoming and was buried beside Eliza.