--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Orth, Philip L. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 23 number: 9 published: 1920-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Orth, Philip L., "In Memory of Utah’s First School Teacher," *Improvement Era* 23, no. 9 (July 1920): 787–788.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2309unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera2309unse start_page: 787 end_page: 788 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1920-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2309unse publication_year: 1920 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1920, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # In Memory of Utah’s First School Teacher In Memory of Utah's First School Teacher By Philip L. Orth Prompted by a desire, that "Service" should be rewarded in a durable manner, Mr. Philip L. Orth and his wife (Sarah Schow Orth) proposed that a Bronze Tablet be erected to the memory of Mrs. Mary Jane Dilworth Hammond. Miss Mary J. Dilworth arrived in Salt Lake Valley with the second com- pany of Pioneers, in September, 1847. And in the following October, she assembled the few children that were with the Pioneers and held school, teaching in a tent. This was the first effort in teaching that is recorded in the Territory of Utah, and was the first stone in the foundation of the present magnifi- cent school system of which Utah is proud. Miss Dilworth married Elder Francis A. Hammond, and after performing a mission with her husband to the Sandwich Islands, they settled in Huntsville, in 1865, where Elder Ham- mond was later ordained bishop. She was an active worker, both religiously and in civic affairs in the young ward, holding the office of president of the Relief Society, being the first sister to hold that office in the ward. She died in Huntsville, in 1877, and her body was the first interred in the present cemetery. The proposition for a monument was presented to Elder David 0. McKay, of the Council of the Twelve, who heartily endorsed it, and used his good offices in its promotion. To take charge of the erection of the monument, Bishop Joseph L. Petersen selected as a committee to find a suitable rock, Philip L. Orth, Peter H. Olsen, Jr., and Arthur Grow; and as a com- mittee to prepare the design and inscription, Prest. Thomas E. McKay, Architect S. T. Whitaker, Mrs. Amelia Grow, Philip L. Orth, and Peter M. Jensen. The committee found a rock on the mountain side near the mouth of South Fork canyon, and its condition and dimensions, are as nature designed, unhewn by human hands. It is of sedimentary sandstone formation (probably converted by metamorphic action into a quartzite), eight feet nine inches long, two feet eight inches wide, with an average thickness of ten inches. In contemplating the monu- — ment it is wonderful what a beautiful rock it is the pink color — — the smoth surface the dark vein running through it and — withall without a blemish, check or seam. It is a slab that will endure for ages. It is placed on the school campus in a con- crete base, 41 inches by 62 inches, and 3 feet deep, and is 788 IMPROVEMENT ERA over seven feet above the surface of the lawn. It stands as a token for service. The monument was unveiled at the home- coming celebration, held in Huntsville some three years ago; the late Elder Fletcher B. Hammond, then her oldest living son, was present at the ceremony. The cut of the monument and the inscription follow: In Honor of The First School Teacher in Utah Mrs. Mary Jane Dilworth Hammond Taught First School in Salt Lake City October, 1847 Came to Huntsville with her husband Bishop Francis A. Hammond 1865 Where she resided until her death 1877 Utah's First Free School was established at Huntsville. Huntsville, Utah