The late Hilda Anderson Erickson, who came across the Plains in the last wagon train to leave from Wyoming, Neb., in 1866, was honored Saturday afternoon with the unveiling of a monument outside Grantsville City Hall.
Some 1,200 people, including at least 250 of the pioneer woman's descendants, attended the services at which President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke and offered a dedicatory prayer for an impressive 12-foot bronze statute. It was designed by Peter Fillerup, Heber City."I commend the Settlement Canyon Chapter of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, Tooele County Committee, for their foresight in sponsoring this fitting monument to memorialize this remarkable woman, Hilda Anderson Erick-son," President Faust said.
The general authority gave biographical background on Erickson, who as a child immigrated to Utah from Sweden and went on to become loved by people throughout Tooele County.
President Faust said Erickson, then just 6 years old, was accompanied to Utah by her two brothers, ages 12 and 10. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1866, after a journey of nearly six months, and lived in Mount Pleasant, Sanpete County, before moving to Grantsville, where their parents and another brother joined them.
In her time, Erickson was a licensed obstetrician, general practitioner, dentist, veterinarian, tailor, teacher and owner of two general stores.
"The statue built in her honor shows Hilda seated sidesaddle on one of her favorite horses, just as she would have looked as she rode on her many errands of mercy. Yet she still found time to take care of her husband and two children and to serve 25 years as Relief Society president . . . ," President Faust said.
Donald J. Rosenberg and Willard G. Atkin, who also spoke at the dedicatory service, were co-chairmen of the project, suggested by Rosenberg in 1993. They and other committee members, including George A. McKeller, who conducted the program Saturday, were praised for their efforts.
J. Elliot Cameron, Provo, chairman of the Utah Pioneer Sesquicentennial Coordinating Council, told the audience that pioneers such as Erickson who "came to the valleys of Utah to subdue the land and colonize the communities need to be remembered and praised."
At age 100, Erickson was honored in Grantsville for being the last living pioneer. Six years later she flew in a jet to Washington, D.C., to meet the president. She died at age 108.