by
Clesta Worthen Adams, daughter
William Gordello Worthen, son
William Worthen was born April 16. 1879, in St. George, Utah, to Joseph Smith Worthen and Mary Jane Heap Worthen. He was the fifth in a family of twelve children.
We don't know much about his childhood except that he was taken out of school each spring as soon as the grass became green to herd cows and also to work as a mason's helper carrying 'mud' or mortar. This work helped support his father's family. Mother has said she remembered him in the seventh grade when she was in the sixth, but didn't know if he finished that grade. Missing so much school accounted for his being so far behind. She was almost six years younger than he. In spite of his lack of education, he was a very refined person. He spoke quietly in a deep-toned voice, with no swearing or vulgar language.
Will, as he was called, was taught the trade of bricklayer and stone mason by his father. All the six sons of the family were taught the trade, but only Will and Bob used it throughout their lives. Dad laid his first stone arch on the east entrance of the old Dixie College building at the corner of First South and Main in St. George. Another example of his stone work is in a bridge that leads to the tunnel in Zion Park. It uses many different shades of sandstone and can be appreciated only by getting out of the car and walking down under it. This work he did just a few years before his death.
As a young man Dad played for dances with his father, who played the violin. They played at Santa Clara, Bloomington and St. George. He was a natural musician, but could not read music. He "chorded" on the piano or organ, played mandolin, guitar, and occasionally drums. He could play the harmonica, guitar and drum at the same time (drum with foot pedal and harmonic on a wire frame around his neck). In addition to all this he had a beautiful tenor voice and could accompany himself with piano, organ, mandolin or guitar. He knew all the popular songs at the time, and mother said his voice was one of the things that won her heart. She said he could hardly arrive at a party before he was asked to sing and play. As a child, I Clesta, remember begging my father to sing. Even though he was out of practice, he would get out his guitar, and, with mother prompting to remember the words, would sing:
"Mid the green fields of Virginia
In the vale of Shenedoah
There's an ivy-covered homestead that I love."
My favorite as a son, was:
"I popped my whip and the leader sprung
and the off-horse broke the wagon tongue."
He married Mary Ann Cox, daughter of Isaiah Cox, Jr. and Abigail McMullin on November 16, 1904. Their courtship extended over a period of about five years. Mom said that Dad would wave his mason trowel in greeting as she passed the Woodard School building where he was working. He has often told us that while Mom was a school girl he'd walk behind her and look at her pretty legs (before she started wearing long skirts). They were married in the St. George temple. The Worthens gave them a reception after the wedding and many family members and friends joined with them. Mom states in her life story that, "Our married life was a very happy one."
Soon after marriage the work at the trade became slow so Will and Mary Ann moved to St. Thomas, now under Lake Mead, to help his father-in-law, Isaiah Cox, with a cantaloupe raising scheme. That didn't work out so well, so they returned to St. George for a short while and then moved to Johannesburg, California, where Will hauled freight from the railroad to Bullfrog. He did so well at this that he bought a team and wagon of his own and earned enough money to buy the old home in St. George, 400 North 500 West, from Grandpa Cox. It cost them $400.00.
Two children were born to them: William Gordello, on September 6, 1905, and Clesta, on February 28, 1911. Mary Ann's mother passed away before she was married and left 8 children. Mary Ann cared for her baby sister even after she was married. The fact that William gladly accepted the responsibility of Mary Ann's sister, taking her into their home as soon as they were wed, keeping her through her childhood, having both she and her sister return to their small home to have their babies, shows the warm kind heart he had. He held the love and respect of all who knew him.
Dad used to work all day and then would come home and work twice as hard. Bricklaying is extremely hard physical labor. His lot was known as one of the cleanest in St. George. If he wasn't cutting down lucerne (hay to feed the animals), or pruning bushes or chopping wood he was hunting. He never stopped. He always had one or two cows, a pig and chickens. He maintained a vineyard and an orchard (practically every kind of peach there was), one cherry tree, 2 apricot trees, 3 kinds of plums, currants, pomegranates, and 2 huge almond trees. He spent many hours in his garden. We irrigated with ditch water and you imagine the weeds. He kept the garden completely free of weeds. Our family was always very well fed with a great variety of vegetables as well as fruit.
In the fall, as soon as it was cold enough to keep the meat, he would kill a pig or calf. The meat was hung outside under the eaves of the house. The hams were cured with liquid smoke in the cellar. He was never idle. When he finished his work he would take his old single barrel shotgun and go up to the watercress and come down over the red hill where the water tank is. As his son, I went with him many times. We brought home rabbit and quail. It added variety to our meals. It was a special time to be alone with him. He never went deer hunting. After all this, he would still volunteer to help with the supper dishes.
Dad worked at the bricklaying trade the rest of his life. He did lots of work in Cedar, Logandale, Overton, Pioche, Hurricane, and Kanab. This was after cars came in. He would leave home on Monday and return on Friday night. Before the car however, he would travel in the horse and buggy and it was necessary for him to be away from home for longer periods.
In winter when work was not be had he'd rent a team by hauling wood on shares with the owner, and with other men go to the south mountains to haul one years supply of wood--cedar for the cook stove and pine for the heater. Just before Christmas he'd always have a Christmas tree on top of the load when he returned home.
About 1924, Dad started the new home at 200 North 364 West. Grandpa Cox had returned to St. George and bought two lots. Dad built Grandpa a house on the corner lot and got the other lot for himself. He located white clay in the vicinity and with his son and Emerald Cox made adobes. An adobe is a sun-dryed clay mud that will not stand moisture. Dad would dress those huge lava rocks for the high doundation. He wanted it high so the adobes would not wash away. It was really hard work making those rocks crack just right. He drew the plans for the home with all the features that Mom wanted. Part way through the bricklaying he became ill and his brother Bob had to come and help out. What a triumph when they were finally able to move in! It was April 1926. They had a big party with all the Sandtown crowd invited. That is the only time they had a party in their own home. There was very little furniture and they danced in the two front rooms. Clesta played "Over The Waves" on the piano for them to dance.
Holiday traditions were simple. For Christmas you just hung up a sock any place you could find. There was no fireplace. If you received an orange in the toe of your sock you were really lucky because they were very hard to get. The family had a big party at Thanksgiving. The whole Worthen family got together and it was a big affair, because it was a long walk from Sandtown to Joseph Smith Worthen's home at 100 West 300 South, and many times there was no horse or buggy to ride in. We had lots to eat and lots of fun with all the cousins.
Dad finally got a little Ford coupe. He and Mom took one trip to Salt Lake City, Utah and another to the Grand Canyon.
His son married Mary Andrus on November 23, 1927, in the St. George Temple. His daughter graduated and started teaching. He had three grandchildren. Then the big depression hit and suddenly he was gone. He had lived in the new home only seven years. Dad's death was a shock. Dad and I, (his son) were working together on the state road when he died. We worked one day and the next day I called for him because I had the car, and he couldn't go to work. I worked alone that day and the next day Dad died. He never complained. His family was known for sugar diabetes, but it just took him quickly and we felt the great loss.
He never served a mission for the church. In those days they didn't call on young boys to work in the church. The old men did the blessing of babies and teaching. The patriarch or oldest member of the family was the most involved in church callings.
As his daughter, I remember my father as a man of very sweet disposition. He was always loving and kind. I do not remember him ever speaking a harsh word. He never left the house for work without taking my mother in his arms and tenderly kissing her - no peck on the cheek, and I had to have a kiss too. If he ever had time for a day off, he liked to go to town to the pool hall that his brother-in-law, George Baker ran. My mother would insist that he do this once in a while, but he'd always be back home early with treats for us. I can still taste how good those "Rough Rider" candy bars were. I really adored my Dad, and his death at age 54 was the greatest shock of my life. I just wish that every child could have such a wonderful father.