The following was written by Lewis Owen Tolman 20 Jan 1980. He died Tuesday, 8 Apr 1980 and was buried in Dallas, Texas.
William O. Tolman
Bountiful, Utah
“Dear Willie:
“I hope this message finds you all well and happy. I have problems with my eyes (cataracts) so forgive me and my writing. I got a letter from Hattie, and I am going to try and help you. Aunt Louie wrote me a letter when I was so sick last year and I’ve been writing to her, Aunt Myrtle, and Sarah all in one letter. I told them these stories and others about the boys (Joshua Alvin’s sons) coming in with pack horses loaded down with deer. I remember two dishpans full of trout. It set me on fire to think of it. I loved the outdoors. I remember Grandfather’s stories at sacrament meeting a couple of times. I remember Grandmother telling me, in later years, that the gospel was true; and she would say, ‘My boys, there’s cookies in the jar and milk and honey if you are hungry.’ (Note: Lewis’ mother died when he was in his 10th year, and he lived with his grandparents and remembers the following.)
“I remember Grandpa and the boys cleaning out the corrals and barns one spring. They had one manure spreader and borrowed another from Walt Matthews. I noticed they didn’t stop for dinner (lunch today). I noticed later on they were eating something. They had their pockets full of parched corn, pine nuts, and deer jerky.
“Grandpa and the boys were putting up hay. He was tramping and loading the hay and was on the back of the wagon. The team of horses started up rather quickly, and he fell off over the end of the wagon. He fell on his back and was badly hurt. They carried him into the house and put him to bed and called the doctor. He was in bed two weeks and had to behave himself for a long while afterwards.
“Uncle Burl had caught a chicken, folded its head back under its wing and laid it on the ground. (It would stay that way indefinitely and look like it was dead.) Grandpa came by with his milk buckets humming a tune. He came upon the chicken which was in front of the automobile shed, gave it a kick and said, ‘Well, you son of a rooster, when did you die?’ The chicken hit the ground running, and we sure had a laugh. It was so funny.
“When Grandpa got up in the morning, he would stop at the foot of the stairs (The girls slept up stairs.) And holler, ‘Girls, you had better get up and hear the little birds sing.’ Soon they would be downstairs getting breakfast while Grandpa was milking the cows.
“The Idaho Southern Railroad was coming from Milner, Idaho to Oakley, Idaho. Ferris and Kessell were the contractors. They told lies to get them to sign papers for a right-of-way through their land by saying that other people had signed without being paid. Both statements were untrue. The track was laid up to Grandpa’s fence and Grandpa and Grandma were standing in front of the engine. Grandma had a stove poker in her hand about two feet long and was shaking it at Ferris and Kessell telling them how they lied and how crooked they were. They (grandma and grandpa) held them up for about an hour, but there was nothing they could do, so the railroad went on through. There was a small railroad station just before they got to Grandpa’s land. The boys (grandpa’s sons) used to grease the tracks and the wheels would spin. I used to sit on the fence and watch them. Then the boys got to carry sand and put on the rails so the train could move.”
Lewis adds these personal comments about himself: “Annie and I are both in wheelchairs. I go to church in one with big wheels; but to stay for the three meetings is too long for me, so we have Sunday School at home sometimes and occasionally we have sacrament meeting also at home. I love the Lord and his Son Jesus Christ and the Gospel we have in our home. June is teaching the investigators class and gives us the lesson on Saturday. Willie, this could go on forever it seems. Please forgive me for my chatter. I am happy and in fairly good health and Annie also. We love you and our cousins. We love the Lord and his mercies. I hope I have been helpful along with my chatter.”
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