Captain Jefferson Hunt

Jefferson Hunt had already lived several lives before he founded a town. A captain in the Mormon Battalion on its march to California, he later hired on as guide to the largest party of Forty-Niners to leave Salt Lake for the goldfields, and helped lead the first Mormon settlers to San Bernardino. He planted families in this valley and gave Huntsville its name, planned its irrigation, directed its first school and meetinghouse, and served as its first branch president. He sat in the territorial legislature for Weber County. This square was the heart of old Fort Hunt.

What the plaque says

Leader of largest party of 49ers from Salt Lake to California. Guided first Mormon pioneer settlers to San Bernardino. 1851: colonized Huntsville, 1860: represented Weber County in Utah Territorial legislature. 1863: instrumental in planning Huntsville and Valley Irrigation; directed building of first school and meeting house; served as first Branch President of Huntsville until 1865. This plaque marks the town square of old Fort Hunt.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Snowbasin — 5.5 mi
  One of the country's oldest ski areas and a 2002 Olympic downhill venue — world-class terrain that somehow still skis uncrowded.
• Powder Mountain — 8.3 mi
  The largest ski resort in the United States by acreage — a famously uncrowded "PowMow" now remaking itself under Netflix's Reed Hastings.
• Ogden Union Station — 11 mi
  A grand 1924 train depot turned museum complex
• Hill Aerospace Museum — 14 mi
  Over 90 military aircraft displayed indoors and on the tarmac

More markers nearby

• Mary Heathman Smith — steps away
• Huntsville — steps away
• Eden World War II Memorial — 3.5 mi
• Liberty — 7.0 mi