From collection Candidates
Ada Pratt Seegmiller was born in Toquerville, Utah, Ada Pratt married William West Seegmiller in 1899 and moved to Kanab, Utah. In the November 5, 1911 election, a small group of men in Kanab, perhaps unhappy with the actions of longtime male leaders, presented to voters, as a prank, an all-female slate for town council. The women were elected and all but Vinnie Jepson agreed to serve. The remaining four councilwomen appointed Ada Seegmiller, aged 30, to serve in Jepson's place. The five councilwomen enacted ordinances to improve flood control, regulate peddlers, stray pets and livestock, gambling, Sabbath breaking and drinking. Seegmiller, perhaps to make the point that women could win as serious candidates, successfully ran for re-election in 1913 but then declined to serve. Seegmiller is described as having been "very involved" in her husband's successful campaigns for public office (Utah State Senate, two terms; Utah House of Representatives, four terms) as well as his unsuccessful bid in 1932 as a Republican candidate for ( Utah) governor. (Turley, p. 313) Ada Seegmiller and her husband were very active in the LDS Church, serving as missionaries in Brazil in 1942-1945, and later assisting in translating the Book of Mormon into Portuguese. They had thirteen children.
