Description

The Strength and Fierceness of a Tiger

Arza Adams shared common ancestry with the Prophet Joseph Smith through John Lathrop the minister and through John and Elizabeth Howland of the Mayflower. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Canada in December 1835, through the missionary efforts of John E. Page.

In 1838-39, Arza was among the saints in Missouri during the Mormon\Missouri War. During this difficult time, it is written in family records of him,

“Arza Adams had the strength and fierceness of a tiger when molested. When trouble came, he met it halfway and more. He was in the hottest of the Missouri skirmishes. At one time it is related he and fifteen companions, mostly boys, were being pursued by a mob of about two hundred. They were fleeing from their pursuers when Arza, angered by such treatment, urged the little group to make a stand and fight it out. They entrenched themselves on a wooded hillside and awaited the assault which never came. When the mob came close enough to see them, they made a hasty retreat. The group of boys were astonished. They could not understand why a mob which exceeded their number by more than one hundred should not attack.”

A few years later, during the Exodus of the Saints to the Rocky Mountains, Arza met one of the leaders of the mob that day.

“He asked him why he and his followers had not made their planned attack. The mob leader said, “There were hundreds of armed Mormons on that hillside. We knew we were running into a trap. We had to run for our lives.” Arza told him there were only fifteen young men with him on the hillside. But in the years that followed, he was never successful in convincing the mob leader that he spoke the truth. He insisted that he saw hundreds of armed men among the trees.”

Arza was among those who entered into sacred covenant to not rest until all the saints were delivered out of Missouri in 1839.

In June 1844, it was Arza who carried a letter from Carthage to Nauvoo written by Elder John Taylor who had been wounded at Carthage Jail.

Arza came to the Salt Lake Valley. In the summer of 1850, he went with others to do some trading in Provo. They camped near American Fork Creek and became impressed with the area. They returned to President Brigham Young and asked permission to settle the area.

President Young replied, “Go and take up what land you want.” Heber C. Kimball, being present at the time, said, “At the time you are surveying your tract of land, I should like you to survey for me a tract adjoining yours.”

The land was surveyed and Arza and others went back to lay claim to the land and prepare to bring in their cattle. Arza’s history says,

One day while resting after dinner, Arza said, “I am going to build me a house!” “I am too,” said Washburn. The first two houses of American Fork were built. Cottonwood logs were used, and it was a difficult task. The trees were crooked, but after considerable trimming and patching, the houses were completed.

Arza would build, live and serve the rest of his days in American Fork. He died April 15, 1889, and is buried in American Fork Cemetery.

Sources: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWJ6-SRZ

Thanks to Peggy Peterson for referring this story to me.