Person:Mary Neilson (3)

LIFE OF JANE TOLTON by her own hand

" I was born 22 February, 1881 at Beaver City, Utah. My parents were Daniel Morgan Nelson and Sarah Warby. My mother died when I was 5 years old and my father married her sister.

In my childhood when I was about 11 or 12 years old my father owned an interest in a shingle mill in Beaver Canyon. My father cut the shingles, the other 2 men did the logging and the women and children did the offbearing and bunching of the shingles. My brother Will and I did the offbearing. We all helped with putting the blocks in the sweat box. One would go in and stay as long as they could and then another would take his place until it was filled. Then they would steam all night and be ready to cut next day. When I was about 15, my father moved to Lucern Valley, known now as Manila, Utah. My sister & I drove one wagon and a little span of donkeys part of the way and then they put me to ride with my Uncle Joe Warby to keep him from going to sleep. We left Beaver on July 21, 1896 arrived at Manila August 16, 1896. The men all went in together and got out timber and built one room houses with dirt roofs and floor to live in that winter but our family lived in a dug-out that was already there, by a spring of water, the only water in the valley. The next spring they all chose their land and began to farm and build homes. We were the first settlers in the valley and so all civic undertakings were up to us. But we soon had a church and school, my father playing a prominent part in the work. The only recreation there was, was dancing and we either went 20 miles to Burnt Fork or danced in our dwelling houses which we did frequently and mostly in my father's home. We would put the furniture all outside, dance all night and then put it back the next morning.

I was married to William Othniell Son on April 16, 1900. We lived with his parents the first summer, then bought us an 80 acre farm in the valley. His father, Richard E. Son owned the only store there. The other nearest being Green River [sic Wyoming]. He used to do the freighting for his father from Green River and Rock Springs with a four horse outfit. It took four days to make the trip. Now they skim over the road in 2 hours in their cars. He and my father and Alvin Smith explored the Sheep Creek cave as far as a ball of binding twine would reach. We lived together less tha 8 years. 7 years in the valley and around 8 months in Salt Lake City. He left to find us a home and the last I heard of him he was in Butte, Montana. There were 5 children to that marriage and I made a living for them by washing, the only work one could get in the valley, and I have washed on the board from seven in the morning until five at night for $.50.

I was married to JOHN EDWARD TOLTON on November 28, 1913. I had five children by that marriage. We never had a home but he worked for Keith Smith with his sheep, also his farm. For awhile we lived on Henry's Fork, worked for the Mackey Seep Co. We ran one of their farms. Then later moved to Rock Springs, where he worked on the Railroad and for the City and did trucking on his own. He died December 10, 1926 and again I was left with a family of small children. But this time Agnes was the main bread winner. I only did washing and ironing that I could bring home to do. Myrtle also helped out. Then I got the widows pension for a while. When Agnes left than Ada worked and helped to support us until she got married. Then we Moved to Green River and Arnold worked on the railroad and Althea in the PWA sewing room. When they were married I took over Althea's job in the sewing room and E.H. had a paper route. In April 1937 we moved to Heyburn, Idaho where I bought me some city lots and built a house.

In 1941 I went to California to stay with Myrtle. I got to her house the day Pearl Harbor was bombed. I stayed until March and came back to Heyburn and went into the chicken business. In January 1944 I went to live with my brother in Layton and worked at the Ogden Arsonal. I worked from January 17, 1944 until March 1, 1945, then back to Heyburn.

Now all my children were married, so in 1950 I sold my home and went to live with Myrtle at Santa Barbara, Calif. While there I worked for Mrs. Kaime. Then in October 1951, I went to Heyburn to live with Othniell. In March 1952, E.H. died and then I came to Green River to live with Althea. I bought me a trailer house to live in and in August of 1953, I moved into Green River and lived by myself, where I am at present and working for Mrs. Norma Miller since October 1954.

Concerning my religious activities, when the church was organized in Manila I was secretary in Sunday school until I was married. Later I was president of the primary, a teacher in Sunday school, a relief Society visiting teacher ever since I moved to Rock Springs and I am still holding that position. Also while I was at Heyburn I was second counselor in primary. I also took a part in a mutual play.

My indowments were done in the Salt Lake Tabernacle June 10, 1935.