George Samuel Reid Family Roots

Annie Thurgood

After their marriage, John and Annie lived in various locations in Davis County, Utah.  First in West Bountiful, as noted in the 1900 Census; then in Syracuse, as noted in the 1910 Census; and then their remaining  years in West Point, as noted in the 1920 Census.

John was only 52 when he died on 20 Nov 1926 from the affects of pnuemonia.  He is buried in the West Point City Cemetery, West Point, Davis County, Utah.

THE LIFE STORY OF JOHN WILLIAM HOLT

by Emerald Holt Loveland

The William John Holt Family

John is the oldest of the ten children

John William Holt was born September 20, 1874, in East Bountiful, Utah. He was the first child of William John Holt and Louisa Jane Hill. He was the oldest of ten children. He grew up in Bountiful, Utah and went to school there. He helped his father who was a truck gardener. He spent many hours preparing vegetables for the market in Salt Lake City, Utah. Through this experience he learned to become a good farmer.

Home of William John Holt in Bountiful

After he married Annie Thurgood in 1896, they moved close to his family to help them as his father was called to fill a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While his father was still on his mission, his mother became very ill. It was necessary for his father to come home to be with her. At this time, John and Annie moved to help Annie’s mother in West Bountiful. They lived in this area for some years.

Annie and John

While living in West Bountiful, they had five children born to them. Their names were Harold, Lawrence, Genevieve, Bessie and LaVon. They also had a stillborn girl who is buried in Bountiful, Utah. A short time later, they moved to what was called the Sandridge. Many years later, this was named West Point. The house they moved into was just one large room. The nearest church was in Syracuse, Utah.

While living there, six more children were born to them. The names of these children were Emerald, Erma, Louise, and then a boy by the name of Lamar Thurgood Holt. The next two were girls named Bernice and Cleone. This was a very windy, sandy, country. As the wind blew, the sand would blow across the fields, and John had to work hard to provide for his large family. Farming was a hard project as many of the crops were blown out and had to be replanted. But John was not discouraged. At this time, John decided to plant an orchard of many kinds of fruit. He also grew many kinds of vegetables and as they ripened, he gathered them and took them to Salt Lake City to the market. He, with his family, worked long hours to produce his crops and harvest them to sell. At this time, also, he decided he needed more land to provide for his family. He bought more land and struggled to make it fruitful. The family decided they needed more room so a large home was built in the town they had named West Point.

John was always very busy helping his family and other families in the area. While living in this area, the water they used for drinking purposes came from a well dug in the ground, and a hand pump was on it to get the water out. He was always trying to improve things and in later years, he had a flowing well dug and the water brought into their home. He had to hire many to help him around the farm. When he hired them, he requested that no swearing and no smutty stories be told. If they didn’t obey him, they were released that day. He had very high ideals. In the winter one found him in the kitchen doing repair work on his harnesses. He had nice looking horses and they were treated well.

John Holt

He was thoughtful of his family. Many an outing was enjoyed up Weber Canyon. At one time while there a horse got into the quicksand and he, with others, worked hard to save its life. He owned the first car in West Point. The car was a new Ford, and how proud he was of it! It was one with side curtains to roll up and let down when needed. It had to be cranked to get it started for that was the only way cars could be started at this time. John loved to drive this car around and many loved to ride with him. Many a trip was taken up Ogden Canyon to the wells for an outing. Hooper town was the place for the Fourth of July celebration and John loved to see the horse pulling contest. The family always had money to buy things they enjoyed while there.

John loved Mormon tea and always had it after a meal. This consisted of milk, sugar and hot water. He had a special chair he always sat in while in the house. His wife, Annie, would always cut his hair and trim his mustache while he rested in the chair. His children always gave attention to him while this was going on. When the relatives came to visit the family, John heard that his brother-in-law from Provo had passed away. After hearing this news, to show his concern, John got into his car and drove it to the back door of his home and filled it with all the produce he could take to this family who were left. He found out the Ward in which he lived were going to build a new chapel. As many were helping in this work, John spent many long hours in helping to dig a basement for this new building. Most of the classrooms were built in the basement. John always saw that his children went to church and that his wife, Annie, had a way to travel wherever she was called to go.

As the town of West Point grew and the farmers were growing acres of tomatoes very successfully, it was decided that the farmers needed a canning factory. Mr. Albert Smith came into the town and chose a spot and got many men to put their money into this project. So it was that John decided to put some money into this business. The people worked and soon the canning factory was ready to use.

At this time, John and Annie’s oldest son, Harold, was called to serve a mission for the Mormon Church to the Northwestern Stats. John was willing to send their son for he wanted his children to grow up to be honest, dependable people.

About this time, Mr. David O. McKay, who was an apostle for the Mormon Church, was given the job of going through the area to test and see what crops would prove to be the best for the farmers to grow. They decided that in Idaho the potatoes were producing much better potatoes than around here. At this time several men were chosen to go with Mr. McKay to go into Idaho to see how they were grown and to bring back seed to be used here. There were three men chosen from West Point to go with Mr. McKay. They were Mr. John Thurgood, Mr. Roland Thurgood, and Mr. John W. Holt.

Near the Christmas season, John and Annie would hook up the sleigh and go to Ogden. Here they bought their supplies for the winter and always a Christmas tree. All the joys of Christmas were brought into their home. Every child was a great person in John’s life. As the children grew older, he helped them to establish good homes.

In his later years, he bought and fed cattle to sell in the cattle market. He was wise in his decisions. His father’s birthday was always held at Lagoon, a resort in Farmington, Utah. John was always there with his family to pay respect to his father. He was thoughtful of his wife, Annie, and many a fine thing came into his home to be used by the family. Annie always had help to aid her in time of need. He respected and loved her. He always wanted his children to get a good education. Many went to college for different training. He was loved and respected by many prominent people and they liked to do business with him because of his high standards and they knew they could rust him.

In the year 1926, he contracted pneumonia three times and was very ill. A special nurse came to be with him at his home. In the morning of November 20, 1926, he died. It was a very sad day for his wife and his children. He was buried in the West Point, Utah cemetery. His family has tried throughout the years to be good workers, honest, and loving to all. He was a wonderful Dad.

It was said of him that he always respected his children and the people of the community where he lived. When he asked a child to do something he expected it to be done well. He never was idle nor did he like to see others waste their time.

John’s home was open to all. Many an evening was spent in Oyster parties for his relations. They always came to his home for a fun time. At this time, one could hear the walls ring with laughter. He was never too busy to be of help and service to others when they needed him.

The Life of John William Holt

September 20, 1874 – November 20, 1926

Written by: Erma Maude Holt Blake, A Daughter

John William Holt was born September 20, 1874, in East Bountiful, Utah.  He was the first child of William John Holt and Louisa Jane Hill.  He was the oldest of ten children.  He grew up in Bountiful, Utah and went to school there.  He helped his father who was a truck gardner.  He spent many hours preparing vegetables for the market in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Through this experience he learned to become a good farmer.  He attended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in East Bountiful.  At that time all the young people of this church were encouraged to help sing in the choir.  While doing this he met a young girl named Annie Thurgood.  Then one night at a dance in Hales Hall they met again and he started to date her.  They courted for a few years and he decided, with her permission, to get married.  They were married on May 6, 1896, in the Salt Lake Temple.  After their marriage they moved close to his family to help them as his father was called to fill a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.  While his father was still on his mission, his mother became very ill.  It was necessary for his father to come home to be with her.  At this time John and Annie moved to help Annie’s mother at West Bountiful. They lived in this area for some years.  While living in this area they had five children born to them.  Their names being Harold, Lawrence, Genevieve, Bessie, and LaVon.  They also had a stillborn girl who is buried in Bountiful, Utah.  A short time later, through Annie’s mother, they moved to what was called the Sandridge.  Many years later this was named West Point.  This town was located at the north end of Davis County.  The house they moved into was just one large room.  Their closest neighbors were Oleo C. Olesons and another family in the area was Oliver Henry Bybee.  The nearest church was in Syracuse, Utah.  It was a small town to the south of them.  While living there, six more children were born to them.  The names of these children were Emerald, Erma, Louise, and then a boy by the name of LaMar Thurgood Holt.  The next two were girls named Bernice and Cleone.  This was a very windy, sandy, country.  As the wind blew the sand would blow across the fields, and John had to work hard to provide for his large family.  Farming was a hard project as many of the crops were blown out and had to be replanted.  But John was not discouraged.  At this time also John decided to plant an orchard of many kinds of fruit.  He also grew many kinds of vegetables and as they ripened he gathered them and took them to Salt Lake City to the market.  He, with his family, worked long hours to produce his crops and harvest them to sell.  At this time also he decided he needed more land to provide for his family.  He bought more land and struggled to make it fruitful.  The family decided they needed more room so a large home was built in the town they had named West Point.  John was always very busy helping his family and other families in the area. While living in this area the water they used for drinking purposes came from a well dug in the ground, and a hand pump was on it to get the water out.  He was always trying to improve things and later years he had a flowing well dug and the water brought into their home.  He had to hire many to help him around the farm.  When he hired them he requested that no swearing and no smutty stories be told.  If they didn’t obey him they were released that day.  He had very high ideals.  In the winter one found him in the kitchen doing repair work on his harnesses.  He had nice looking horses and they were treated well.

He was thoughtful of his family.  Many an outing was enjoyed up Weber Canyon.  At one time while there a horse got into the quick sand and he, with others, worked hard to save its life.  He owned the first car in West Point.  The car was a new Ford, and how proud he was of it!  It was one with side curtains to roll up and let down when needed.  It had to be cranked to get it started for that was the only way cars could be started at this time.  John loved to drive this car around and many loved to ride with him.  Many a trip was taken up Ogden Canyon to the wells for an outing.  Hooper town was the place for the Fourth of July celebration and John loved to see the horse pulling contest.  The family always had money to buy things they enjoyed while there.

John loved Mormon tea and always had it after a meal.  This consisted of milk, sugar and hot water.  He had a special chair he always sat in while in the house.  His wife, Annie, would always cut his hair and trim his mustache while he rested in the chair.  His children always gave attention to him while this was going on.  When the relatives came to visit the family, John heard that his brother-in-law from Provo had passed away.  After hearing this news, to show his concern, John got into his car and drove it to the back door of his home and filled it with all the produce he could to take to this family who were left.  He found out the Ward in which he lived were going to build a new chapel.  As many were helping in this work, John spent many long hours in helping to dig a basement.  John always saw that his children went to church and that his wife, Annie, had a way to travel wherever she was called to go.

As the town of West Point grew and the farmers were growing acres of tomatoes very successfully, it was decided that the farmers needed a canning factory.  Mr. Albert Smith came into the town and chose a spot and got many men to put their money into this project.  So it was that John decided to put some money into this business.  The people worked and soon the canning factory was ready for use.

At this time John and Annie’s oldest son, Harold, was called to serve a mission for the Mormon Church to the Northwestern States.  John was willing to send their son for he wanted his children to grow up to be honest, dependable people.

About this time Mr. David O. McKay, who was an apostle for the Mormon Church, was given the job of going through the area to test and see what crops would prove to be the best for the farmers to grow.  They decided that in Idaho the potatoes were producing much better potatoes than around here.  At this time several men were chosen to go with Mr. McKay to go into Idaho to see how they were grown and to bring back seed to be used here.  There were three men chosen from West Point to go with Mr. McKay.  They were Mr. John Thurgood, Mr. Roland Thurgood, and Mr. John W. Holt.

Near the Christmas season, John and Annie would hook up the sleigh and go to Ogden.  Here they bought their supplies for the winter and always a Christmas tree.  All the joys of Christmas were brought into their home.  Every child was a great person in John’s life.  As the children grew older he helped them to establish good homes.

In his latter years he bought and fed cattle to sell in the cattle market.  He was wise in his decisions.  His father’s birthday was always held at Lagoon, a resort in Farmington, Utah.  John was always there with his family to pay respect to his father.  He was thoughtful of his wife, Annie, and many a fine thing came into his home to be used by the family.  Annie always had help to aid her in time of need.  He respected and loved her.  He always wanted his children to get a good education.  Many went to college for different training.  He was loved and respected by many prominent people and they liked to do business with him because of his high standards and they knew they could trust him.

In the year 1926 he contracted pneumonia three times and was very ill.  A special nurse came to be with him at his home.  In the morning of November 20, 1926, he died.  It was a very sad day for his wife and his children.  He was buried in the West Point, Utah cemetery.  His family have tried throughout the years to be good workers, honest and loving to all.  He was a wonderful Dad.

It was said of him that he always respected his children and the people of the community where he lived.  When he asked a child to do something he expected it to be done well.  He never was idle nor did he like to see others waste their time.

John’s home was open to all.  Many an evening was spent in Oyster parties for his relations.  They always came to his home for a fun time.  At this time one could hear the walls ring with laughter.  He was never too busy to be of help and service to others when they needed him.