Married Susannah Pass 4 July 1865 in Salt Lake City
Thomas-Charles-Eudean-Earl
Died 29 July 1912 in Nephi
Thomas is buried in Nephi
1870 Census
1880 Census
1900 Census
1910 Census
This history was contributed by his sons Joseph and William Worthington and compiled by his granddaughter Luella B. Ostler. There is a second history below, also by Luella Ostler that appears to be a shorter version of the first.
Thomas Worthington was born October 31, 1843, at Marstock, Warwichshire, England, from the family union of Henry Worthington and his wife, Mary Izone. He was compelled to earn his living at a very early age and he was an engineer, operating a station engine in England.
The Worthington family embraced the gospel in England sometime in the 1850s; and as it was customary with the Saints, they began to send their children to America, one at a time as their means could afford.
Thomas Worthington was the first of the family to come to America and Utah, in 1862. At that time, they were taking all the boys of a right age to go to the army. His mother would sooner send him with the Elders to Utah, than let him go. Elders Abrahm Orme of Nephi, Utah, and John Pane of Millard County, Utah, were coming; she sent him with them. In the company with them were John S. Painter, John Ingram, Elizabeth Broadhead and others. While crossing the ocean, he was stricken with malaria and had no one to care for him but Elder Orme.
In later years his mother and children came. They came to Nephi. His first home was in Nephi. He lived at the home of Bishop Bryan for a number of years. He later lived at the home of William Cazier, better known as Father Cazier. While here he worked on the farm. He also lived at the Abron Boswell home. While living at Bryans’ he had his sparking days; met and married Susanah Pass. She also lived and worked at Bryans’. They went to the Endowment House in Salt Lake City and were endowed October 11, 1968.
Susanah Pass was born January 8, 1845, at Stockport, Lancashire, England. To this union, Thomas and Susanah, were born 11 children; seven boys and four girls. Their first home was a oneroomed clay home, clay walls and roof. It was located where the Forest Hotel now stands. All their furniture was self-made; chairs, table and a bed. She cooked over the fireplace. This room belonged to Jacob Bigler.
The first home they owned was one room with a dirt roof located between Joseph Grenhalgh and Warner Stephenson’s. They built the home Warner Stephenson has today.
The Worthingtons were the first to have an organ in the south part of town. So, there were many parties and much dancing. Grandma Worthington always liked to have the young folks come to her home. She was one with them; always jolly, danced and made them all feel good. Eliza Russell played the fiddle and Joe Darton played the organ at these parties. He loved to sing and whistle, and one of his favorite songs was Yankee Doodle. While the Indians were bad, the Crawley, Orme Shaw and Greenhalgh families would come to the Worthington home. The women and children would stay inside while the men would hide outside and protect them. They had many thrilling experiences with the Indians. Grandpa helped in the Indian wartimes whenever called upon and was active in pioneer days. He was a sturdy man in his community. His daily rules of father and practice were “Do unto others as you would that they should do to you, and short reckonings made long friends,” which he said was the gospel in a nutshell. He was generous to those in need, and always at Christmas time he would give hams, bacon, potatoes and flour to those who were in need. This he said was living the Gospel.
He followed the trade he learned in England, taking care of and operating an engine. He was one of the first railroad engineers in this country. For 27 years he had charge of an engine between Juab, Milford and to Frisco. He lived at Juab and Milford and ran to Frisco. For 16 years he made one of the best runs ever made in the western country by an engineer whomever had charge of an engine, as was said by the railroad company on his retiring from service. He was the first man to drive an engine over Frisco Hill and first to cross the Sevier bridge.
Harry Hawkins was first fireman, James Hawkins the conductor, and Caye Warren was brakeman. Hand brakes were used, air-control brakes were not known of in those pioneer days. He often made a forty-eight-hour run without rest. He hauled the material to build the railroad to American Fork Canyon, and after it was done ran on the road hauling ore and charcoal. He was the first engineer who drove an engine up American Fork Canyon. This railroad supplied timber for railroading and mining work, but has long since been discontinued.
The first railroad engine he ran to Frisco was Engine No. 1, called Mogle. He stayed there eight years and seven months. It was on this run that he had a bad accident. He was hauling ore from the horn and silver mines. He had nine cars of ore and when starting down the hill he hollered for the brakeman to apply more brakes and instead they all jumped and left him with the train alone. The engine left the tracks, throwing him against the boiler, causing severe injury in the hip. The steam scalded his face, causing him afterward to have cataracts on his eyes. He was almost blind for 12 years, but could always distinguish light and dark.
When the railroad was built from York to Fillmore he had the run with Jane Tolley Jones as cook, James Garret would wait on tables. The bosses were William Tolley, W. P. Reed and A. W. McComer.
Bread and dried apples was the main meal and was cooked in large abundance.
After his eyesight began to fail him, he bought a farm. With the help of his boys he was able to farm for many years. He had all the farm implements used in farming; also cows, pigs, chickens, etc. He also had a few sheep which the boys took care of. He loved work and it was hard to give it up when his sightfailed him. He loved his home and family.
Before his blindness, one of his hobbies was taking care of a fine team of horses. His well-groomed horses and nice wagon always attracted attention. He was cheerful and would enjoy all the friends that came to see him. The grandchildren enjoyed leading him around. They sat on his lap and caressed him. He loved them very much. His grandchildren would take him by the hand and guide him to town to the barber shop, a distance of three-quarters of a mile, twice each week.
Thomas Worthington took sick one morning and a few days later he died at his own home July 28, 1912, at Nephi, Utah. His wife stood by his side, in all his glory and in all his trouble she was a devoted wife and mother.
The funeral services were held in the tabernacle Wednesday afternoon. Bishop William H. Pettigrew presided. The speakers were: T. H. Burton, T. H. G. Parkes, W. A. C. Bryan and Bishop Pettigrew. They told of his useful career and his hopefulness and cheerfulness during his seven dreary years of blindness. The First Ward Choir furnished impressive music and a vocal duet was rendered by L. P. Anderson and Ella Garret. The internment took place in the Vine Bluff Cemetery.
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Thomas Worthington was born in Warwickshire, England, October 31, 1843. He was an early pioneer of the eighteen fifties, and was the first of his family to come to America and Utah. He came ahead in order to earn enough money that the rest of the family might come to Utah. His first home in Utah was the home of Bishop Bryan at Nephi, and it was while living here and working for the Bishop that he met and married Susan Pass, who also lived and worked in the Bryan home. Their first home after marriage was a one-room house with a dirt roof. Eight children were born to them. He was generous and always at Christmas time he would give hams, bacon, potatoes, and flour to those who were in need. This, he said, was living the Gospel.
Thomas Worthington had worked as an engineer before he came to Utah, and when the railroad reached this part of the country, he became one of the first railroad engineers. For many years he had charge of an engine that ran between Juab and Milford, Utah, and to Frisco. He held this position for sixteen years, making one of the best records ever made in this western country. He was the first engineer to take an engine over Frisco Hill and the Sevier River Bridge. Hand braked were used. Air control brakes were not in use at that time. In those days there was no limit for him as to the hours of a run, and it was very common for him to make a forty-eight hour run without rest. The first engine he ran at Frisco was Engine No. 1 and he remained on this run for eight years and seven months.
It was on this run that he had a bad accident. He was hauling ore from the Horn Silver Mines. On this run he had nine cars of ore and when starting down the hill he signaled for the brakeman to apply more brakes, but instead, they all jumped and left him alone with the train. The engine left the track, throwing him against the boiler, causing him severe injury to the hip and the steam scalded his face. Cataracts grew on his eyes as a result of this accident and he lost his eyesight completely. For nine years he was totally blind, but was always patient and cheerful. He had many friends and visitors and he always made them welcome. He loved to sing and whistle, "Yankee Doodle" being one of his favorite songs.
It will be long remembered how his grandchildren would take him by the hand and guide him to town to the barber shop, a distance of three-quarters of a mile, twice each week. He died at his home in Nephi, on July 12, 1912, leaving a large posterity of grandchildren.
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