JAMES RUSSELL TOLMAN
27 May 1917
Son of Parley Lambert & Lydia Vilate Tolman
When my father Parley L. Tolman and my mother Lydia Vilate Tolman were married in 1911, they lived in Oakley, Idaho. Here na three children were born to them. Then in 1916 my father was called on a mission to the Northwestern States. My mother and her small family moved to Bountiful, Utah to stay with her mother until her husband’s return. There, about-six month later, I was born on May 27, 1917.
When my father returned our family returned to Oakley, and it was here that I spent my entire childhood. I was educated in a two-room elementary school and in the Oakley Rural High School where I graduated in 1935.
My first recollection of church activities was in connection with Primary. The one teacher I remember and the one who influenced my young life most was Aunt Lucina Ramsey. (Her first husband was Burl Tolman, my father’s brother’s). I was thrilled when I graduated from Primary and became a Deacon and a Boy Scout. I had two influential scout masters, Abraham Lincoln Okelberry and my cousin William O. Tolman. The main contribution Bill made, at least as far as I was concerned, had to do with the Sabbath. It was customary for us to play ball on Sunday, for some unfortunately in lieu of going to church. Bill got a commitment from us and from our parents that if they would release us from farm work to play ball Saturday afternoon, we would take care of our church duties on Sunday. It was a great satisfaction to all concerned.
My mother was a woman of great faith and my father was a great gospel teacher. An early childhood experience with each will bear this out. In the fall of each year, Dad and the older children would go into the hills to get a winter’s supply of wood. On one such occasion, when I was about six years old and too young to go, the family did not return on the expected hour. Finally, when darkness had arrived and still they had not returned my mother became worried and said, “Something must have happened to them, let’s go find them.” She hitched our little mare to the buggy and she and I started out across the flats toward the hills. We drove to the crossroads where it was unknown which way they went and it was so extremely dark we could see but a few feet in front of us. She said, “it is no use, let us pray.” We got out of the buggy and knelt under a large sage brush where mother offered a humble prayer for our families safe return. We got to our feet and she said, “we can return home, they have only been detained and will be home in about an hour”. What a great example to a young lad of faith in God and the power of prayer.
My father was a lifetime missionary. He never passed a hitch-hiker and a hitch-hiker never left the car without a sermon; a salesman seldom left with-out hearing a testimony; a hired hand soon knew how Dad felt toward God and his church; a less active neighbor was continually a challenge to him. For example, when less than deacon’s age, I was riding from the beet field one evening with Dad and an inactive church member. Dad was telling him about the Jaradites and the ships they used. The member asked the question, “Parley, why did the ships have holes in the bottom?” Dad said, “I don’t know, but do you believe that a man can pray and get an answer to such a question?” The man said, “yes I think so.” “Then”, said Dad, “I will have the answer for you in the morning.” I lay awake quite awhile that night wondering if Dad could really do it. It was with anxiety that I crawled in the truck with the two of then the next morning and, as was expected, the man asked if Dad had the answer to his question. I felt proud when Dad said, “Yes, it was so they could flush their garbage into the ocean.”
Since early youth I had had a desire to go on a mission, so I was much elated when in January of 1940 I received a call to serve in the New England Mission, coon afterwards we went to Pocatello to say goodbye to our relatives. While there my mother became very ill and could not attend my farewell or go to Salt Lake City with me. This of course was a great disappointment to me and I feared she might not live until I returned. But my fears were put to rest anc I saw the inspiration of God first hand when as Elder John A, Widstoe set me apart, he promised me that my mother would get well and live to see me return. Besides the joys that come with regular missionary work, a major highlight of my mission was attending missionary conferences at the birth place of Jos.eph Smith and also Brigham Young in Vermont.
I was laboring in Springfield, Massachusetts when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. I was soon to be released, so I knew before long I would be a soldier. I was released from my mission January 22, 1942 and inducted into the army May 18, 1942. I was soon nicknamed “the preacher” because of my religious activities.
It was while I was on a training mission in Yakima, Washington that I met Milton Barney on a street corner in town, while we were both looking for an L.D.S. chapel one Sunday morning. We immediately became friends. A few months later as I visited him in his barracks he was complaining about having so many letters to write. I jokingly said let me answer one for you. He gave me a letter from his sister. After corresponding for 15 months and spending two furloughs together, we were married by a Bishop in Fort Worth, Texas August 9, 1945. Our marriage was solemnized in the Logan Temple July 2, 1956.
I was discharged from the army January 3, 1946 and that fall I took advantage of the G. I. Bill and became a college student at Albion State Normal in Albion, Idaho. The next year we transferred to Utah State University in Logan, Utah where I received a Bachelor’s Degree in 1949. By this time two sons had been born to us! Duane Milton Sept 24, 1946 and Max Russell June 6, 1948.
During my undergraduate years, I had decided to become a librarian so even before graduation exercises, we headed for the University of Illinois where I enrolled in the Graduate School of Library Science. From this institution I was awarded a Master’s Degree in Library Science June 1951. I went to Illinois with two sons and came back to Utah with three. Stanley Earl was born August 31. 1950.
My first position after graduation was as Reference Librarian in the library at Utah State University where I worked until 1957. From there I went to Brigham Young University as Administrative Assistant to the librarian. In 1960 the president of Weber State College asked me to come there as Head Librarian. In 1965, I was elected as President of the Utah Library Association.
In the meantime three girls and another son were born to us; Joann October 29, 1953, Joyce August 1, 1955, Sherri April 19, 1957 and Thomas Barney August 31, 1960. With the latter we had a little bad luck. He was born a hydrosiphalic and although he had several operations he remained an invalid for seven years. So it was a blessing when he passed away October 16, 1967. What a blessing to know all is well with him now.
During my life I held many church positions— teacher, quorum leader, ward librarian, member of the Bishopric and others; but the most challenging by far and the most rewarding was my service on the General Board of the Sunday School. I served in this position form September 1962 to November 1966. In this position I had the privilege of traveling throughout the land with the General Authorities of the church as we visited stake conferences. It was my duty to conduct the Sunday School Sessions on Saturday and to speak in one session of Stake Conference on Sunday. I generally went nearly every Sunday for six months and then some other auxiliary took their turn. Many times I was able to drive and take my family along for a vacation.
I would like to relate an experience of my trip to Anaheim, California. When I awoke the Saturday morning I was to leave, I was quite ill but it was too lace to send a substitute so I persisted in going. Even at the Salt Lake City airport after checking in I laid down in the car until time for the plane to leave, I struggled through the Saturday afternoon session and wondered how I would ever give my major address that night as I sat on the stand waiting for the meeting to begin. Then it happened. The brother giving the opening prayer asked the Lord to bless me with health and strength. Immediately, a shock went through my body and I was made well. Needless to say, I was very grateful.
During the 1970-1971 School year, I returned with my family to the University of Illinois for some post-graduate work. While there I served on the High Council of the Illinois Stake which I enjoyed very much. Once each month I traveled to Pekin where I conferred with the brethern and, talked in Sacrament meeting.
At the present time, 1975, I am serving as Ward Clerk in the Ogdan 65th Ward of the South Ogden Stake, and am still employed in the library at Weber State College.
I am grateful for my heritage, for my membership in the church, for the High Priest office I hold, for my family, and for the many opportunities I have had to serve in God’s Kingdom, Our blessings have been many and our sorrows but few; for this, too, we give thanks and trust our commitment to the course of Truth may be acceptable.
A TRIBUTE TO JAMES RUSSELL TOLMAN
I feel that I have1 a right to express my self about this very special cousin because my father and his father are brothers; also, my mother and his mother are sisters. My mother .had eleven children and his mother ad eleven children. We were also raised within a short distance of each other. . He is known in Ogden by the name of James but to us he will always be just plain Russell. I hope that is all right by him.
Russell worked hard as a boy and young man on his fathers farm in the Oakley valley(the little country village was known as Island). It was located about 7 miles north of Oakley, Idaho. Because he learned in his youth how to work he has had no problem working as an adult. I believe every young man, as far as is possible, should have the privilege of following his example.
Russell we appreciate not only as a choice cousin but also as our reunion chairman. I personally thank you and promise my whole hearted support. I hope that all cousins everywhere will give the same enthusiastic support. This means that you will not only be present at the reunion but you will see to it that your family members and other relatives in your; area and of your acquaintance will be influenced by you to come to this excellent family activity.
May God bless you with the health, time, strength, and vision to make this the best reunion we have ever had is my sincere prayer.
With great love,
Your double cousin,
William Odell Tolman
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