(Story of Alvaretta Jane Tolman as she moved with her family from Tooele, Utah to Oakley Valley. Alvaretta is pictured at the far right).
Alvaretta Jane was born November 18, 1860 in Tooele, Utah as the seventh child of Cyrus Tolman and Alice Bracken. 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 the 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 traveled 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.”
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