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Show MATILDA Elected W. 1931 CAHOON to 1933 Matilda Cahoon served in the House of Representatives in 1931 from the Holladay area, and is remembered for service to her family and community, to the school children she taught, and to the Primary Organization of the LDS church. born in South Cottonwood to George C. and Wilhelmina Jensen christened Matilda and was Watts on March 19, 1881, Rozella Watts. She was Maxffield "Ti 11 y" as she was soon call ed, educated in the one room was schoolhouse in South Cottonwood and, in turn, began her teaching career in 1900 in "Dog Town"(as it was then known) in the school which is now known as "Oakwood." Her salary was $30 a month. She taught beginners those under six and grades one through five. She taught for ten years in Cottonwood and in Murray, and became the Director resumed Cahoon for the latter district. In 1920, Mrs. careerin the Salt Lake City District and became the of her Music chorale and music director at Roosevelt Jr. and then taught at Uintah Elementary until The, from 1922 1943 through 1946. following at age 36 years of teaching in Utah, Mrs. Cahoon, 1951, applied in Nevada to teach in the elementary grades. To quote from her memoirs: "These ten years proved to be the most rewarding taching I learned to love and value the Ind1an years of my life. children who seemed to appreciate their teacher in so many ways. Three years each, in Wadsworth, Montello, and Austin, 70, in and one years year of in Mountain City. Such a joyful culmination to 46 teaching." In 1931, she entered the University of Utah and, during the summers in She worked her toward B.S. classes, evening degree. graduated with the Class of 1943 at the age of 62. and She married Leonard Cahoon, on June 24, 1908. He was a mining engineer and they lived in mining camps in California for 4 years. Then they returned to Salt Lake in 1912 and he became associated wi th the U. S. Smel ting, Gal igher Machinery and Foster Wheel er Corp. They were the parents of two daughters, Virginia (Mrs. Milton W. Rideout) and Janice (Mrs. Miles P. Romney). The Cahoons became involved in local Republican politics. In the late 1920's, Leonard became Salt Lake County Chairman and the Party in 1930 was in need of a "vote getter" to run for the Legislature. At this time, Matildas name was well known through her school and church she was drafted the Central So, accomplishments. by Committee to run for the office. This turned out to be a sound political judgment, ad she led the ticket in Republican sweep in which all but one of the elected in the County. 90 vote GOP getting candidates in a was |
