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First Burial in Brigham City

“According to records in the Brigham City Cemetery Department, the first burial was made on October 12, 1853, for the remains of Mary Ellen Wight, born September 26, 1853, in Brigham City. This burial is located on the lot of Charles Wight, Jr. (This site is directly south and east across the intersection from the John H. Bott monument)


Howard Kelly, cemetery superintendent from 1955-1977, searched for that first grave for many years and asked people about it. One day, as a tree was being cut back, a sandstone marker several inches below the sod confirmed its location in the original northwest section. His enthusiasm at the discovery was shared by local monument maker Max Bott (my grandfather), who felt the tract ought to be marked more visibly. He made and donated a 12 x 16 inch granite marker. The original sandstone marker revealed that the young couple, Charles and Sarah Ellen Loveless Wight, buried three more infant daughters: Sarah, in 1858; Anna in 1859 and Lucy in 1861.”


This infant girl was the younger sister of Mary Althea Wight Jensen, the mother of Ella Jensen who was raised from the dead and mentioned in the last post. Mary Althea Wight Jensen’s parents, Charles Wight and Sarah Ellen Loveless are buried just west of their daughter. The parents of Charles Wight, Lewis William Wight and Nancy Urania Elliott, are also buried in the Brigham City Cemetery east across the road from Lorenzo Snow’s monument. Charles Wight lived on the corner of Forest and 100 W (formerly known as “Young Street” where the Bear River Water Conservancy building now stands). His father, Lewis, lived on the east side of 100 W in about the middle of the block between Forest and 100 North and ran a corral for the BCMMA Co-op across the street, to the west.

Updated headstone of Mary Ellen Wight, the first person buried in the BC Cemetery. Stone and work donated by Max Bott
Updated headstone of Mary Ellen Wight, the first person buried in the BC Cemetery. Stone and work donated by Max Bott
Mary Ellen's parents graves, Charles and Sarah Ellen Loveless Wight
Mary Ellen's parents graves, Charles and Sarah Ellen Loveless Wight
1890 of the home owned by Charles Wight that stood on the corner of 100 W and Forest. Oluff Petersen and his wife, Rozilla Knudson, later owned the home. The Bear River Water Conservancy now occupies the corner.
1890 of the home owned by Charles Wight that stood on the corner of 100 W and Forest. Oluff Petersen and his wife, Rozilla Knudson, later owned the home. The Bear River Water Conservancy now occupies the corner.
Early Sanborn Map showing the home and lot of Charles Wight on the corner of Forest and Young (down from the Opera House (B.C. Co. Op. Institution on the map) and also showing Lewis Wight's home and remaining corral buildings)
Early Sanborn Map showing the home and lot of Charles Wight on the corner of Forest and Young (down from the Opera House (B.C. Co. Op. Institution on the map) and also showing Lewis Wight's home and remaining corral buildings)


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