Martha Jane Knowlton Coray

Early life

Martha Jane Knowlton Coray was born June 3, 1821 in Covington, Kentucky to Sidney Algernon Knowlton and Harriett Burnham. When she was a child, her parents moved to Ohio and then later to Hancock County, Illinois, where they were living in 1838 when the Mormons were driven out of Missouri. Martha Jane's father employed some of the driven Latter Day Saints and furnished others with houses. She was introduced to Mormonism by George Albert Smith. After listening to sermons by Latter Day Saint leaders, she chose to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in January 1840 in the Mississippi River.

On February 6, 1841, Martha Jane married Howard Coray. They couple was sealed by Hyrum Smith in July of that same year. They were later resealed in January 1846 by Brigham Young. After their marriage, Martha and Howard taught school together. The couple had 12 children.

Traveling Westward

In the spring of 1846, Martha Jane and her family left Nauvoo with the majority of the Latter-day Saints to travel west. They stopped for some time to visit Martha Jane's family and work on their farm. In 1848, they moved to the Nishnabotna River, where Martha Jane tended a ferry to provide for her family. In 1850 she finally reached the Salt Lake Valley with the John Sharp Company. The Corays lived in Salt Lake City for four years, until they moved to Tooele, Utah. In 1856, Martha Jane and her family moved to Provo, Utah and experienced many trials. Later in 1871, Martha Jane and her family moved to Mona, Utah to homestead a tract of land, although they kept their home in Provo.

Contributions

Martha Jane was always active in academia. She assisted her husband in his school teaching when they lived in Nauvoo. In October 1875, Martha Jane was selected by Brigham Young to serve as the first woman trustee for the Board of Directors of Brigham Young Academy. She served as trustee from 1875 until her death in 1881. She was also appointed the first dean of students at Brigham Young Academy. She was the secretary of the first relief societies organized in Salt Lake City. Martha Jane wrote for the Woman's Exponent.

History of Joseph Smith

Martha Jane also contributed greatly to the preservation of the history of the LDS Church, including preserving notes from sermons of Joseph Smith, which church historian Wilford Woodruff consulted when compiling a history of the Church. She also wrote the history of Joseph Smith as dictated by his mother, Lucy Mack Smith. The work was finished at the end of 1845. Her husband Howard received $235 for and $50 in goods for his compiling and transcribing the book; however Martha received nothing for her contributions.

Martha Jane Knowlton Coray died on December 14, 1881, in Provo, Utah. she is buried in the Provo City Cemetery. Among those attending her funeral were Wilford Woodruff and Joseph F. Smith.