Adam Clark Holt was born 10 July 1847, Near Jackson Madison County, Tennessee. His father Jordan Cain Holt, was born 21 December, 1821 in Bedford County, Tennessee, his mother Julia Rebecca Foster, was born 17 December, 1824 in Charlotte County, Virginia. They were married 10 January 1843 in Maury County,Tennessee. There were six children born to this marriage. Nimrod Benjamin Holt was born 27 December 1843. Jordan Cain Holt, Jr. was born in 1845 and died in infancy. John Burrows Holt was born in 1846 and died in infancy. Adam Clark Holt was born 10 July 1847. Banks Foster Holt was born in 1849 and died in infancy. Ella Holt born 29 September 1851. Adams father died 8 October 1851, when he was four years old. His mother was a very competent person and was able to oversee the large plantation his father built, with the help of the slaves. The slaves were always well treated and many took the name Holt as their own. In his early years, Adam had the responsibility of a man. At the age of 12, he was supervising a large portion of the plantation for his widowed Mother. Many excellent crops of cotton were produced and he became very proficient in agriculture. In 1863, at the age of 16; he applied as a soldier in the confederate army. He wanted to help in the civil war, but his Mother blocked his efforts because he was needed on the plantation. Adam and his sister Ella attended college in Florence, Alabama. Ella enrolled in the Academic School for Women, Adam studied in the School for Men. He spent 2 years in college planning to be a physician, after some time, he decided he disliked his chosen profession. In 1869, at the age of 22, he decided to leave home and go west as many young men were doing. He left for the frontier area of Texas. There he and his brother Benjamin involved themselves in the freighting business. Together they established a trading post and had a thriving and lucrative business for several years. The area was growing rapidly. Always looking for new opportunities, Adam sold the trading post for a substantial amount of money and moved to Colorado with the freighting business. He established himself near Leadville, Colorado, while there, he studied metallurgy and became interested in several mines. His knowledge in the mining business helped him to be involved in 3 large silver mines. Considerable amounts of silver was sent to the mint in Denver and made into coins. Adam seemed to possess a certain restlessness of youth. He was always seeking something new, better,and he was always very eager to learn. He sold his holdings in Colorado, again for a good return on his investment, and traveled southwest to Arizona. He was intrigued with the climate and had wanted to avoid snow and the high altitude of Leadville for a while. It was now 1885 and he had reached the age of 38 years, but was a strong, vital person interested in everything. He settled in Globe, Arizona, another mining community. While there, he became a friend of G.W.P.Hunt, who later became, a longtime, Governor of Arizona. While there, he along with many other pioneers, helped protect the area from Geronimo,the Apache Chief and his band of marauders. His older brother,Benjamin,was living in Redland, farther east. The family moved to Redlands and rented a home on Orange Street North Of Main Street. They enjoyed the area. The dry moderate climate was good for everyone. Adam became involved in the booming citrus industry. His knowledge of agriculture was again helpful. The family moved to a larger 2-story house on Cypress Street. While living there, their 3rd child was born. A son named John Harold Holt. On 2 of September 1900. A little over a year later. Florence developed pneumonia and passed away on 9 January 1902. Adam deeply grieved the loss of his beautiful companion, and with considerable effort, took care of his motherless children. In November 1903. Adam sold the horses, equipment, and household items, packed the clothing, and boarded the southern pacific train to Mesa, Arizona, a Mormon community. He missed the closeness found in the church he loved so much, and felt it would be beneficial for the children. After arriving in Mesa, he was reunited with Benjamin Johnson and David Lebanon, the missionaries that helped convert him to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He had great admiration for these men and showed it by naming his sons after them. The next year he had the opportunity to move to St. David, Arizona, south of Tucson. On a ranch owned by Joda Johnson his agricultural expertise helped him grow many crops. Mostly vegetables, which were sold in the nearby area. In the summer of 1905 he felt an urgent need to be sealed in the Temple to his wife and have their children sealed to them. A two-horse covered wagon was fitted up and the journey to St. George, Utah began. The journey was full of hardship. The roads were very rough and they averaged 15 to 20 miles a day. They traveled through Phoenix, northwest to Wickenburg. Then north to Kingman, from there, to the Colorado River near the Virgin River entrance. At this point, they crossed the river on a huge log ferry. It was tied to a set of steel cables suspended in air to hold the barge on course. Before crossing the river, they then gave thanks in prayer for their safe landing on the other side. They paid the toll fee and traveled on toward St. George. Upon arrival in St. George, they camped near a small hill west of the temple. Arrangements were made,the next day, to enter the temple and receive the ordinances. Adam was sealed to Florence, and then the three children were sealed to them for all time and eternity. The long trek back was even more of an ordeal, it was hot and dusty. They settled in Mesa and Adam became involved in the growing citrus industry in the Salt River valley. This was an extension for him from Redland. Adam Clark Holt was the first person to produce orange trees from seed in the Lehi Valley of Arizona. He was expert at grafting different varieties of citrus on the best rootstock. He was later involved in the new sugar beet industry just in its infancy in the valley, along with a wide variety of vegetables. The climate and soil were ideal. In 1912, when Arizona was admitted into statehood. He was one of the first to grow long-staple cotton, a special type known for its fiber. The next few years were relatively good. The schooling continued for the children and they were very self-confident and independent. They attended church regularly and had many friends. Adam had always been a dedicated worker in whatever profession he involved himself, now was not an exception, he was very successful. During this time, he became friends with Emil and Anna Hurler who owned property in Mesa and Provo, Utah. On 2 May 1912 Emil Hurler passed away leaving Anna with 5 young children. When Adam heard of this, he wrote to Anna and a friendship developed. Anna Christine Peterson was born 14 July 1880 in Keil,Holstein, Germany, because of a 33 year, difference in age, her sister Dora and friends were opposed to their friendship. However, on 14 May 1914,Adam Clark Holt and Anna Christine Peterson Hurler were married for time in the Salt Lake Temple. Her family was active members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She immigrated to the United States in 1900. In Salt Lake City she met her sisters Lena and Greta who had immigrated earlier. They all worked in Salt Lake City and earned enough money to bring her parents and sister Dora to this country. Anna had married Emil Hurler 21 June 1905, in the Salt Lake Temple. Five children were born in this marriage. Thelma was born 11 June 1906, Ralph Emil Hurler was born 11 October 1907, Viola was born 24 December 1908, June Laree was born 12 June 1910 and Raymond Leroy was born 15 April 1912. Her husband, Emil, passed away seventeen days later. Anna, being strong and courageous women,devoted her time to her family. After Adam and Anna were married. They settled in Mesa and were very happy. On 18 April 1915, the family was blessed with the birth of Orson Pratt Holt. On 12 April 1916 Emma Rebecca Holt married Warner Harold Allen, then on 9 June 1916 Joseph Smith Holt was born. A great sadness came into the family when on 31 July 1916, Adam’s mother, Julia Rebecca Foster Holt, passed away. Then, on 4 February 1917, John Harold Holt was murdered. The family grieved the loss of these family members. But was happy when Francis Lyman Holt was born 21 August 1917. In September 1917 Lebanon Johnson Holt was called to duty in the United States Army Infantry. The next year, 1918, the family moved to a forty-acre homestead in Lavern, south of Phoenix. Here Florence Rebecca Holt was born 12 October 1918, Heber Grant Holt was born 28 January 1920, Marie Bartlett Holt was born 15 May 1921. Adam Clark Holt Jr. was born 4 May 1923 and Coit Benjamin Holt was born 25 July 1925. Living in Laveen was not easy with 13 children to care for, everyone in the family had to work. While in Laveen the family made many friends. Adam was called as superintendent of the Sunday school. He was raising his family to be active in all church activates to make their lives better. Stake Conference was held quarterly at the Mezona Hall in Mesa. On the Saturday prior to Conference Anna would prepare the children. Fix fried chicken, potato salad, pies, cake and many other good things to eat, at one of the Mesa ward grounds, as a picnic between sessions. Many good life time memories resulted from this. Adam continued being very active, growing cotton, raising livestock and having a special garden for food supply. His talent for applying manure to increase the yield had been learned in the garden. This active life continued until April 1930, when he retired at the age of almost eighty-three years. The Family then returned to Mesa, a favorite area for Adam, where he devoted much time serving his ancestors in the Arizona Temple. This continued until the Temple closed for the summer vacation in 1938. Later that year, on 12 October 1938, Adam was called home. A great sadness was felt by all his descendants for their loss of a truly faithful, and righteous man greatly loved by all who knew him. By Howard Lee Holt By Howard Lee Holt Preface Adam Clark Holt was my paternal grandfather. The only Grandfather I ever knew. I always felt a special bond between us, probably because we shared the same surname, mostly because of his friendly, loving attitude toward me. I felt he really liked and loved me and I reciprocated the same toward him. I recall our family visiting with his family on occasional weekends and was always impressed that there seemed to be a special love in the hom among all who lived there. In his later years, He would spend part of the summer at our home on Phoenix. Our full basement was much cooler than outside. I enjoyed many hours talking and listening to him, I only wish I could recall,in detail, the stories he told. I vividly remember, at the age of 14, the worst day of my life, October 12,1938. I walked into our kitchen; Mother was there and told me Grandpa had died. I was completely devastated, I felt I had lost my best friend in the world. It was my first experience with death. I went into my bedroom and prayed to Heavenly Father to take good care of my beloved Grandpa. As I write this simple short story of his life, I know it would be impossible to fully describe the accomplishments of this truly great man. He was an adventurer and explorer in his youth and had spread many seeds of kindness along the way thought out his life. He was a compassionate, loving son, brother, Husband, Father,and Grandfather. I hope his posterity will love, appreciate, and strive to emulate him as much as I do.