Henry Rampton (1829-1903)

The Rampton family has occupied First North, between Main Street and First West for at least 3 generations, ever since Henry Rampton came to Sessions Settlement (Bountiful) in 1856.  Henry Rampton was born in England on September 8, 1829.  As a young man he worked with his father at his trade as a blacksmith.  On March 9, 1850 he married Catherine Harfield, and three years later, on February 6, 1853, they were both baptized into the Mormon faith.  A year later, on Sunday, March 12, 1854, Henry and Catherine set said for America, arriving in New Orleans in May 2,1854.  Henry immediately found work as a blacksmith to earn money to buy a team and a wagon for the journey to Utah.  In August Catherine took ill and passed away.  Her death was a great loss to Henry in this new and strange country.  Later he found some solace in the companionship of other Saints who had sailed from England with him, in particular Frances Dinwoodey; Frances and Henry were married on Christmas Day, 1854.  Their first son, Henry James, was born on November 4, 1855.  Together they crossed the plains, arriving in the Salt Lake Valley on October 15, 1856.  The little family made their home in Sessions Settlement, where Henry began his blacksmith business and soon became one of the best known blacksmiths in the Valley.  Henry and Frances’ son Henry James married Luna Smith of Centerville.  Their son Lewellyn is the father of Calvin L. Rampton.

Calvin L. Rampton

Calvin L. Rampton was born on November 6, 1913 in the duplex home located on the west side of Main Street about where the front door to the Wight House is now located.  Later, in about 1920 the family built a new home that once occupied the area just west of where this plaque is located.
Calvin grew up in this house, and he attended Stoker School and rgaduated from Davis High School in 1932.  Calvin pursued a career in law and later entered politics becoming Utah’s 11th Governor, completing a total of 12 years as Utah’s top executive.  Two houses west of this location was the home of Charles R. Mabey (1877-1959), who became Utah’s 5th Governer.  Charles was married to After Amanda rampton, a granddaughter of Henry Rampton.

And so this street, 100 North between Maon and 100 West is hearby historically named “Governors Lane,” on this day, June 24, 2006, being the only street in Utah from which have come two of Utah’s Governors.