Ausborn (alternate spelling Osborn) Blair Holt, second son of Larkin and Mahala Blair Holt, was born 6 Feb 1809 in Franklin County, Georgia. At 19, he married Hannah Elizabeth Patterson in 1828. The first son was James Riley, born in 1829 in Franklin County. This family of three was listed in the 1830 Census for Habersham County. Hannah died after the 1840 Gilmer County Census and prior to 1843, when Ausborn married for the second time.

Ausborn was a "fortunate drawer" of two "prizes," in the 1832 Georgia Land Lottery. On the 9th day, 31 Oct 1832, Ausborn and his grandfather, revolutionary soldier James Blair, both received draws. On the 111th day, 16 Mar 1833, Ausborn drew his final prize. Ausborn's father Larkin drew a lot on day 149, the last day of the final lottery. None were gold lots. None were in Gilmer County...

Ausborn was credited (along with a half dozen others) with finding the first gold strike at White Path along about the early part of 1842. According to Ward's Annals of Upper Georgia, Ausborn acquired his first land from Cherokee Chief White Path himself, and was always a friend of the old Chief.

Homer Holt, son of Jasper and grandson of Ausborn, writes a description of the area: "My grandfather told my dad that he had seen the vein running in the hillside when it looked 8 feet in diameter, and his description was 'you could see the specks of gold looking at you out of the quartz, sprinkled in there like it had been shot into the rock with a shotgun.' When my grandfather would mine enough gold to make his trip worthwhile, he would ride with saddlebags of gold to the mint at Dahlonega. They would run the gold through the mint and the new shiny gold coins were carried back to the mine."

The estate of Vernon Jasper Holt Jr., grandson of Jasper, owns the cast iron mortar and pestle, weighing about 30 pounds, used by Ausborn and later by his son Jasper, for crushing and extracting gold from quartz. It is currently on loan to the Tabor House Museum in Ellijay, Georgia...

Ausborn (34) married Sarah Margaret Wilson (20) on 28 Dec 1843 according to a hand written record in the Gilmer County Marriage Book. Their first child was Jasper Lorenzo (1845), Hines (1847), Robert "Bob" Emmett (1849), Marcus Lafayette (1851), Benjamin Abram (1853), William Leander "Bud" (1855), Doctor "Dock" (1857), Cicero (1859), Nancy Ann (1860), Martha Jane "Mattie" (1862), and Adolphus (1865).

Ausborn became guardian of six heirs of John Patterson on 6 Sep 1847 according to a probate document in the Gilmer County Courthouse – James R.(at age 18), John (1831-age16), Mary M. (1832-age15), Hannah Elizabeth (1834-age13) Sarah (1836-age11), and Samuel P. (1838-age 9). They are the children of Hannah Elizabeth Patterson Holt and are all listed by name on the 1850 census in Ausborn's household, and they were also included on the 1840 census appropriately by age. The guardianship bond paid by Ausborn and his brother Elijah to the court of the ordinary was $720. Ausborn was required to be declared guardian of his own children to ensure an inheritance from their maternal grandfather.

Ausborn, listed as Osborn, appears in the Agriculture Schedule of the 1860 Census of Gilmer County. He reports owning 140 acres of improved land and 340 acres of unimproved land, growing wheat, rye, corn, beans, and potatoes.

Following the Civil War, the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 required Southern states to register all voters. In order to vote, men had to swear an oath of allegiance to the United States. On 11 Jul 1867 Ausborn Holt was listed in Precinct 850, 41st Election District as a qualified voter, having sworn his oath of allegiance to the United States.

In the 1870 Census, Ausborn (60) and Sarah Margaret (46) had a household of 12, including his mother Mahala (80) who died in 1872. Once again Ausborn is listed on the Agriculture Schedule in 1870 with the addition of an orchard.

The Holts and their four youngest children are still in Gilmer County in the 1880 Census.

George Gordon Ward writes on page 255 in his book, The Annals of Upper Georgia Centered in Gilmer County, "In 1875, B. B. Quillian visited Osborn Holt and his wife and reported the couple was basking in the rays of a 40-year-old honeymoon, both still cheerful and buoyant."

Ausborn is mentioned in The Weekly Constitution in Atlanta on page 6, 1 Aug 1882. The article is "Minerals in North Georgia" and refers to the iron ore, gold and marble found on his property in Turniptown.

Also in George Gordon Ward's book on page 372, remembrances from the newspaper from 1891, mentions Osborn Holt (he preferred to be called, "Ausborn.") dies at the age of 85... that he came to Gilmer County in 1835. That he experienced the hardships of 1837 and 1845... when good milk cows sold for 60 cents apiece.

In Ausborn's will, dated 1884, he made sure to include a disposition of "my mineral, fossil and stone deposits on said lots of land" to authorize his executors to "lease, rent or sell…valuable deposits…..with prices either absolute or royals, as they may deem advantageous to my estate…."

Ausborn died 21 Jan 1891 at age 82, having raised 17 children with two wives.

Ausborn and both wives are buried are buried in Northcutt Cemetery in Gilmer County, Georgia.

Submitted by 2X great granddaughter Rebecca Holt Amerson.