West Jordan in Salt Lake County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Wight's Fort Cemetery

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 12, 2026

1. Wight's Fort Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Early pioneers displayed determination of spirit and purpose, even death, disaster, or elements of nature could not drive them away. About 1853, on a small knoll just south of Wight's Fort, an Indian baby was buried. The first West Jordan pioneer child to die was a son, born to Lyman and Harriet Bateman Wight. He was buried next to the Indian infant. These two graves were the beginning of the Wight's Fort Cemetery.

Trees and shrubs were planted to provide protection from drifting sand and to provide cooling shade over the graves of the early settlers.

Sadly, many of the native sandstone headstones and markers have eroded with time, but the memories of these stalwart early settlers live on in the hearts of their descendants.

We honor the resting place of many of the early settlers of Wight's Fort, especially the original families listed in order of their arrival: John Bennion, Samuel Bennion, Lewis Wight, Lyman and Harriet Bateman Wight, Charles Wight, John Irving and Mary Street Bateman, widow of Thomas Bateman, Joseph Stacy, J. H. Murdock, John Loveless, John Elmer Cutler and Sheldon Cutler.

Erected 2016

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by Daughters of Utah Pioneers. (Marker Number 580.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 40° 35.266′ N, 111° 58.436′ W. Marker is in West Jordan, Utah, in Salt Lake County. It is on 9000 South, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3465 9000 S, West Jordan UT 84088, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Wasatch Front

and in Greater Salt Lake.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and on the Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Wight's Fort Cemetery (within shouting distance

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 12, 2026

2. Wight's Fort Cemetery Marker

of this marker); Welby (approx. one mile away); Commerce Location (approx. 2 miles away); Air Pirates Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); Salt Lake and Utah Railroad (approx. 2.1 miles away); Utah Idaho Sugar Factory (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Grove (approx. 2.9 miles away); West Jordan Pioneer Church (approx. 2.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Jordan.

Wight's Fort Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 12, 2026

3. Wight's Fort Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2026, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 22 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 15, 2026, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.