I’ve just met a room full of relations I never knew before! What fun to gather in Enterprise, Utah, about 45 minutes north of St. George, in a James Holt Family Reunion this Labor Day weekend. We spent the day visiting and learning about James and his family. I was one of the very few who descend from his first wife, Mary. Last month was her 200th birthday. She died at age 30 after giving birth to 8 children. You can read about her on my 16 July post here: http://annlaemmlenlewis.com/2014/07/16/mary-pain-b-16-july-1814-celebrating-200-years/
I told her story in our morning meeting, then was the guest speaker in the afternoon. The family wants to do a Descendant Gathering Project. I’ve had some experience with that gathering Theodore Turley descendants, so I gave these cousins some ideas about how to get started gathering their family lines. You can read more about that on my Ann’s Stories blog here: http://annlaemmlenlewis1.wordpress.com/2014/09/05/how-to-gather-descendants/
Here are a few photos from the reunion:
One of the most exciting parts of the day was seeing and looking through James Holt’s Family Record Book, written in his own hand. I quickly photographed the pages just to have them in my phone. A CD with this book and many other family histories was available to purchase, so I’ve got better scans on hand. I love seeing original signatures of my family members. I love touching what they created, seeing the names lovingly entered, with birth, marriage and death information. Those few pieces of information reveal joy, heartache and tears.
Below are a few of my distant cousins. I really wish I had everyone’s photo. We had about 150 attending the reunion.
Afterwards, John and I and a few others drove to the Holt Family Cemetery, about 6 miles out of town. Barbara Holt Prestwich told us story after story about family members buried there. It’s a sacred spot. I feel connected when I’m there.
This weekend we also visited some other historical sites:
The Jacob Hamblin Home, Santa Clara:
Brigham Young’s Winter Home, St. George:
We spent a few hours at the lake on Monday with all of Heidi’s family and their 2 boats. Fun in the sun! Tomorrow the kids start BYU. We have come to the end of a perfect summer.
Ann, Thank you for this. It is great. I too spent the week end with some of my children in Enterprise, the Terry ranch and the Holt Ranch where we did a little exploring of the grounds where my grandpa, Amos Holt, lived before they moved to Enterprise. My father remembered a lot about the Holts ranch and we visited it frequently. We must get together again so I can get started into the Holt History and background again. Ivin L. Holt
hello…i’m wondering if you knew if there was going to be another reunion this year in utah? and if there is…when? thanks
Not that I know of. In the past I think they’ve held reunions every 5 years or so. Gary Holt organized this last one. Unfortunately, he died unexpectedly in February of a heart attack. I’m not sure who will be in charge now.
His sister, Jan Holt Larsen has taken over the family contact lists. Here is her email if you’d like to contact her: jlarson@infowest.com .
Many of Alma Holt’s descendants meet up every year around the July 24th weekend. They meet up at the Honeycomb Rocks at the Enterprise Reservoir. They always visit the family cemetery and share stories of their childhood and things they remember.
This was a wonderful article. Thank you for sharing your experience with those of us who could not be there with you. Do you or any of your visitors know if there are any drawings, paintings, photos, etc of the house(s) that used to be on Holt Ranch? I am trying to help my mother-in-law, Barbara (Holt) Prestwich, locate one if one exists.
If you find anything, please let me know. And tell Barbara hello for me!
Ann- Pam Starr asked abut any paintings of the house at Holt’s ranch. I have a copy of a painting my brother Gary gave me. I will try to attach or send to your email.