Life Sketch of the Shurtz-Adams Family
Edward Lind Adams, the eldest son of Caroline Henrietta Lind and David Edward Adams, was born 3 February 1877 in Show Low, Arizona. As a small child, Lind and his family moved many times in the surrounding area. Being the eldest of 13 children, he shouldered much of the responsibility for the family. This left little time for schooling. However, he did learn to read and developed good handwriting.

Lind and his family moved to Central, Arizona when he was 20 years old. They purchased 60 acres of ground and began farming. Until they could build an adobe house, they lived in a tent on the farm. At the age of 21 he hauled freight and ore at Metcalf, Arizona. About this time Lind's mother passed away and Lind returned home to Central for her funeral. At this time, he met Maud Shurtz Schow. She was a lovely woman with mischievous brown eyes, black hair and creamy white skin. Lind thought she was beautiful. Maud had come to visit her half brother, George Riley Shurtz, in Central after the death of John Schow, her husband of three months. After a long courtship they were married Christmas Day, 25 December 1906. Lind was 30 years old and Maud 25 years old.

Maud and Lind purchased the two-story red brick house west of and next to the grammar school. Marcia, their first child, was born there 5 February 1908. Don Carlos was also born there 2 November 1909. Besides a lovely home, Lind owned a buggy, a wagon, a plow and horses to pull them with.

Lind sold his property and moved to Escalante, Utah where Maud's family lived. While living with Maud's parents, Burns Lind was born 19 January 1912. After Burns' birth, they returned to Central where their fourth child, Pearl, was born 20 October 1913, and fifth child, Agatha, on 2 November 1915. Agatha was fed goat's milk because her mother's milk did not agree with her. To obtain the necessary milk for Agatha, the family moved to Uncle Lewis Alonzo "Lon" Adams' goat ranch. The following September the family returned to Central so the children could attend school. A year later Lyle Edward was born 6 November 1917 and when he was seven months old the family moved to Ray, Arizona and then to Miami, Arizona. At the age of 8 months, Lyle contracted pneumonia and passed away. He had suffered greatly and it was very difficult for Lind and Maud to give him up.

The family moved back again to Central and twin boys, Lawrence Riley and Loren George, were born 13 September 1920. When the twins were almost two-and-a-half years old the family moved to Miami again. Maud hated moving back to Miami and had a premonition of something terrible happening there and had the unhappy memories of losing Lyle there. Maud became gravely ill not too long after moving to Miami. After several weeks of severe pain, the Elders blessed her and dedicated her to the Lord. As soon as she received this blessing her spirit left her body. She was returned to Central and was the first to be buried in the south end of the new Central Cemetery on the hill.

Lind suffered many hardships in his life. With the loss of his dear wife, much of the light of life left with her. He commented many times that if he could chop and carry wood for her in the hereafter to be near her, he would be happy. However, his basic sense of happiness and good sense of humor remained with him to the end of his life. He passed away 20 March 1957.

(A Century In Central 1883-1983, page 96.)