Utah County, Utah Biographies
 
 

 

 

 T. J. Wadsworth
 Walter Wheeler
 Daniel Williams

 Thomas H. Wilson Jr.
 Gideon S. Wood
 Frederick Daniel Worlton
 Thomas W. Wride
 
 
Utah Since Statehood
Author is Noble Warrum - 1919

 

T. J. WADSWORTH.

Modern progressiveness in business finds exemplification in the career of T. J.  Wadsworth, who is owner of a drug store at Santaquin. He was born in Ogden, October 21, 1865, a son of Thomas S. and Katharine (Moore) Wadsworth, the former a native of England, while the latter was born in Wales. The father came to Utah in 1851, while Katharine Moore arrived in this state in 1856. The former made the trip to Utah in connection with his father, Thomas Wadsworth, and the son was one of the first young men to leave Utah and go east for the purpose of studying medicine. He pursued a course at Keokuk, Iowa, whither he made his way in 1876. On the completion of his course he returned to Ogden and for years ranked with Utah's successful physicians at Salt Lake, Lehi and Payson, living at different periods in these several cities, while at the present time he makes his home in Morgan, having retired from the active practice of medicine to enjoy a rest which he has truly earned and richly merits.  T. J. Wadsworth is the eldest of the family of eight children, the others being Nora, Mattie. Lute, Ann, Primrose, Trizie and Kate, all of whom are married and have children. After attending the high school and thus completing a good general education to serve as the foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional knowledge, T. J. Wadsworth entered the Chicago College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated with the class of 1886.

Following his return to Utah he married Rose Taylor, of Lehi, and for several years thereafter engaged in the drug business at that place and also carried the mail there for a few years, while at the same time he conducted his store. Subsequently he traveled over various states, working as a druggist, but later returned to Utah and became a resident of Santaquin, where he opened the first drug store in 1912. Through the intervening period he has enjoyed a profitable trade. He carries a large and well selected line of drugs and druggists' sundries, also has a soda fountain and receives a liberal patronage in that branch of his business. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth have been born seven children who are yet living, these being: Don, who married Daisy De Boise and has one child, Leo; Roland, who married Fern Hudson and has a daughter, Leora; T. J., Jr.; Ernest, who married Stella Jinkins and has two children, Gerald and Ardeth; Ralph; Katharine; and Margaret. Don and Ernest enlisted in the American army and served with the cavalry forces on the Mexican border and in France with the One Hundred and Fortyfifth Field Artillery, a regiment that made a most brilliant record in overseas service.  T. J. Wadsworth, Jr., enlisted in the Forty-third Ambulance Corps of the Eighth Division and was trained for duty in California. Ernest was a corporal when discharged. 

Mr. Wadsworth is prominently known as a leading member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Modern Woodmen of America, taking active part not only in the local organizations but in state work as well. He has been secretary of Lehi Lodge for eighteen years and is a member of the state council of the Modern Woodmen of America, serving for the third term' in that position. He has also been a delegate to the state lodge of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks each year since becoming identified with the society. In politics he is a republican and for four years, or two terms, served as city treasurer of Lehi. He is also active in support of the principles of the party in Santaquin but has never been an office seeker. His interest in public affairs is deep and sincere and arises from a recognition of the duties and obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship. He stands for all that is beneficial to the individual and the community at large and his cooperation is an element of worth in the citizenship of Santaquin.


WALTER WHEELER.

Walter Wheeler remains an active and efficient worker in the world's work notwithstanding the fact that he has reached the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey. He is well known in Springville, where he makes his home, and enjoys the goodwill and high regard of all who know him. He is engaged in the undertaking business there and has long made his home in that locality. His birth occurred in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, May 22, 1844, his parents being Joseph and Mary Ann (Buckingham)Wheeler. The father was a baker in England, thus providing for the support of his family. Walter Wheeler and his brother David came to America in 1861 and made the trip across the plains with ox team to Utah as a member of a company commanded by Captain Milo Andrus. In 1863 the parents and the others of the family also came to the new world and crossed the plains, traveling by ox team and wagon with Captain Jules Ricks' company. The father established a bakery in Springville and also took up the occupation of farming and stock raising. He became a substantial citizen of Springville, contributing much to its business development. He was also high priest in the Mormon church and active in church work, remaining loyal to the teachings thereof to the time of his death, which occurred in 1889, when he was sixty-three years of age.  Walter Wheeler was the third in order of birth in a family of six children, the others being Joseph, David, Martha, Samuel and Benjamin. He acquired a common school education in England, where he remained until he reached the age of seventeen years and then came to the new world. He had been a resident of Utah only a year and a half when he was sent to the Missouri river after emigrants, driving a four yoke team of oxen. They left Salt Lake in April of that year and returned in September.

In the same fall Mr. Wheeler drove an eight mule team to San Diego, California, after merchandise for the Walker Brothers, of Salt Lake, and for several years he continued driving across the plains to California and to the Missouri river, hauling merchandise, also escorting emigrants and at times bringing mining machinery. He drove as much as five thousand miles in a single season and he sometimes had as many as twelve mule teams. In 1868 and 1869 he was employed on the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad. He afterward turned his attention to the mason's trade and for thirty years was one of Springville's leading mason contractors. He erected the finest buildings of the city and its leading residences. He was the builder of the Reynolds block, the Deal & Mendenhall building and the station for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. During the construction of the last mentioned he was seriously injured by a cave-in, which crushed his body, breaking bones, and since that time he has been unable to engage in hard labor. In 1888 he opened an undertaking and embalming establishment in connection with the contracting business and after his accident he concentrated his time upon the undertaking establishment. Since then he has served the public as undertaker, embalmer and funeral director and has given unsurpassed service in this connection. He manufactures many caskets himself, also buys from others and carries a large and carefully selected stock, including both wood and metallic coffins and caskets. He employs the most scientific methods in the care of the dead and conducts all funerals in a most efficient manner, his patrons being most grateful to him for his tact and sympathy.

Mr. Wheeler served in the Black Hawk war from 1866 to 1868. He is familiar with many interesting phases of pioneer life in Utah and at all times has given his support and allegiance to plans and measures for the general good. He possesses musical talent of a high order and for many years was chorister of the fourth ward of the Latter-day Saints Church. He was also a member of and one of the leading spirits in the Springville Glee Club Quartette, which has won a flattering reputation in Utah county.

On the 28th of July, 1878, Mr. Wheeler was married to Miss Ellen Maria Childs, a daughter of Thomas and Tabitha (Milnes) Childs and a sister of Alma H. Childs, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have become parents of nine children: Walter, Ellen Maria, Tabitha Ann, Joseph T., Alma Y., Mary Matilda, Emma B., Hilda E. and Kate M.

The family home is on East First North street, in Springville, a comfortable residence, standing in the midst of a profusion of ornamental trees, shrubbery and flowers, rendering the place most beautiful and attractive in appearance. Mr. Wheeler also owns several acres of fertile land, which he farms, raising a variety of crops and of fruit. He and his wife continue active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in which he is a high priest, while his wife belongs to the Relief Society. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he is conversant with the vital questions and issues of the day but does not seek nor desire office. Everywhere he is known he is spoken of in terms of kindly regard. He has friends wherever he has gone and his good qualities are recognized by all with whom he has come in contact. He has made for himself a creditable place in business circles and has ever fully recognized and met his obligations and responsibilities in other connections.


DANIEL WILLIAMS.

Daniel Williams, devoting his attention to farming and stock raising near Spanish Fork, was born August 12, 1870, in the district which is still his home, his parents being John and Sarah (Thomas) Williams, who were natives of Wales, having been born and reared at Llanelly, in South Wales. The father became a miner and blacksmith, following both pursuits in his native land, and in 1856 crossed the Atlantic to the new world and continued his journey across the plains to Utah, making the trip with one of the handcart companies that walked all the way. He was accompanied by his family and one child was born to them while they were crossing the plains but died soon afterward.

They suffered terrible hardships during that long journey across the hot sands of the desert and over the mountain passes. After a few days in Salt Lake they continued on their way to Spanish Fork and there John Williams took up farming and stock raising. During the latter years of his life, in connection with his sons, he became extensively engaged in raising cattle, running several hundred head on the range each season. He also carried on farming on a large scale and his interests were most wisely, carefully and successfully directed. He was also active in the work of the church and led the singing in the early days. He died in 1903 at the age of seventy-four years, while the mother of Daniel Williams passed away in 1908 at the age of seventy-five.  After mastering the branches of learning taught in the common schools Daniel Williams became the active assistant of his father in the cattle raising business and was thus engaged until the time of his marriage.

It was on the 26th of January. 1898, that he wedded Maggie Jane Swenson, a daughter of August Swenson, a pioneer of Spanish Fork, who followed the occupation of farming and was otherwise closely associated with the development and up building of this section. He served in the Black Hawk war and was active in the church, filling the office of Bishop's counselor and also going on a mission to Muddy. He is now living in Spanish Fork. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born three children who are yet living: Bertha May, Gladys and Ray Daniel.

In support of his family Mr. Williams has always carried on cattle raising and in his business affairs has displayed both industry and sound judgment, thus winning a substantial measure of success. He is joint owner with his brothers, John and Edward, of the Williams Garage at Spanish Fork and is a stockholder in the Gem Milling Company and the Commercial Bank of Spanish Fork, of which he is a director. His farm comprises ninety acres of rich and fertile land, all under cultivation, and he has an attractive modern brick residence, in which are found all evidences of thrift and prosperity. Mr. Williams is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in which he is serving as elder. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party but he has never been an office seeker. His time and energies have been fully occupied by his business affairs and the thoroughness of his methods and his unremitting industry have been the basis of his growing success.


THOMAS H. WILSON, JR

Thomas H. Wilson, Jr., Identified with mercantile and farming interests at Payson, where he was born November 10, 1860, is a son of Thomas H. Wilson, a native of England, who on crossing the Atlantic in 1851 made his way direct to Utah. He came as a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and took up his abode at Payson, where he has since resided. He was born in April, 1832, and has now reached the notable age of eighty-nine years. During his active life he engaged in farming and merchandising and was also prominent in connection with political, civic and religious affairs. He has filled various offices, including that of justice of the peace, city attorney and member of the city council. The mother, Caroline A. (Merchant)Wilson, was born in Australia and came to Utah in an early day. She has become the mother of ten children, seven sons and three daughters.  Thomas H. Wilson. Jr.. the eldest of the family, was educated in the public schools of Payson, but his opportunities in that direction were quite limited owing to the fact that when but eighteen years of age he started out to provide for his own support. During his youthful days he was employed at farm work. He also served as city and county supervisor when hut twenty years of age. In 1893 he became connected with the Payson Cooperative Mercantile Company and conducted the business as manager until 1914, since which time he has been sole owner. The store is now carried on under the firm style of Thomas H. Wilson & Sons, dealers in general merchandise, dry goods and groceries. The trade has been built up to a gratifying extent and every effort is put forth to please the patrons, for Mr. Wilson has always recognized the fact that satisfied customers are the best advertisement. He is a director of the State Bank of Payson and is actuated in all that he docs by a spirit of progress that brings success in business.

In November 1881, in Salt Lake Temple, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Amanda Caldwell, a native of Fountain Green. Utah, and a daughter of Mathew Caldwell, now deceased. They have become parents of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters: Ivan, Floyd, George F., Rodney, Stanley, T. H., Howard, Waldo, Leila, Clotiel and Donna, all of whom are yet living and all born in Payson. Rodney served in the Three Hundred and Sixty-fourth Infantry, which was on active duty in France with the Ninety-first Division. He was a private of the first class and participated in the battles of St. Mihiel, Meuse, the Argonne Forest and Ypres Lys-a notable record, for in those salient's occurred some of the hardest fighting of the war. He was honorably discharged April 21, 1919, and returned to his home with a military record of which he and his family have every reason to be proud. Stanley became a member of the Officers Training School at Presidio, California.

The religious faith of the family is indicated by their membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints of the Payson first ward. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Payson Commercial Club. Interested in all that has to do with the progress and up building of the city, the development of its trade relations and the advancement of its civic standards. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party and he has served as justice of the peace and also as a member of the city council. He stands as a high type of western enterprise and progress, alert and ready for any emergency, meeting his duties with that consciousness of strength that comes from a right conception of things and an habitual regard for what is best in the exercise of human activities.


GIDEON S. WOOD.

Gideon S. Wood, treasurer and manager of the G. S. Wood Mercantile Company, Incorporated, conducting business at Springville, was born November 15, 1862, in the place in which he still resides. His father, the late Lyman S. Wood, was a native of Ohio and a representative of an old family that was connected with the states of New York and Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather, Gideon Durfee Wood, was born June 30, 1808, and died September 9, 1891, at the age of eighty-three years. Lyman S. Wood was born in the town of Florence, Ohio, April 11, 1834, and in 1839 his parents removed with their family to Caldwell county, Missouri, settling on Big Neck prairie. They did not remain there, however, for very long on account of religious differences that led to persecution. They next removed to Adams county, Illinois, and subsequently to Nauvoo, where they took up their abode in 1845. In April, 1846, they started with others for the Missouri river en route to Utah and arrived in Salt Lake on the 16th of May, 1848, after four months and eight days spent upon the journey. They were among the first to build a substantial and permanent home in the capital.

In February, 1850, Lyman S. Wood removed to Springville. Here he located on the 3d of February and immediately took up the profession of school teaching, which he followed in connection with farming and stock raising. He was also well versed in the Indian language and he acted as an interpreter for the settlers. In July, 1853, he took an active part in aiding in the suppression of the famous Walker Indian war and in 1854 was among those who signed the peace treaty with Chief Walker, thus putting an end to the trouble. Nineteen white men had been killed and a great number of Indians. When Springville was made a municipality Lyman S. Wood was elected on the 14th of April, 1853, to the position of recorder and served for two year's, while later he filled the office of alderman from 1861 until 1863. He was next elected mayor, serving from 1863 until 1865, and at the election of 1871 he was once more chosen chief executive of the city, in which capacity he served for nine consecutive terms or until 1887. His total service as mayor of Springville covered a period of twenty years and for that service he never accepted a dollar In remuneration. In the fall of 1887 he was elected to the territorial legislature and to the position was reelected. He again gave valuable service to the public through his devotion to the general welfare and his support of measures for the public good. With his retirement from office he took up mercantile pursuits. The mother of Gideon S.  Wood was Smyrial Bassett, a native of Utah and a granddaughter of Daniel Stanton, one of the old and honored pioneers and prominent churchmen of this state. The death of Mrs. Wood occurred in February. 1905, when she had reached the age of sixty-eight years. She was the mother of ten children, six sons and four daughters.

Gideon S. Wood started upon his business career as a clerk in the railway and express service, so continuing from March, 1878, until 1882. In November of the latter year he began clerking in a store and was thus employed until April, 1883, when he returned to a clerical position in a railroad office, thus continuing until 1884. He was next made railway agent at Provo, serving until 1885, and was then stationed at Thistle until 1889. Through the succeeding year he acted as bookkeeper for H. T. Reynolds & Company and from April until November, 1890, he was agent for the Union Pacific at Juab. He then spent two months with the W. S. Henderson grocery house as bookkeeper and clerk and from September, 1890, until September, 1891, was railway agent at Manti. From 1891 until 1893 he served as bookkeeper with H. T. Reynolds & Company and afterward was operator for the Deseret Telegraph Company. In May, 1893, he became treasurer and manager of the G. S. Wood Mercantile Company. He is thus active in the control of one of the important commercial interests of Springville, the business having reached quite large and profitable proportions.  Mr. Wood is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of the third ward. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is interested in matters that have to do with the welfare and progress of the community in which he makes his home. In business his course has been marked by steady progress, resulting from systematic effort and close application.


FREDERICK DANIEL WORLTON, A. B., M. D.

Dr. Frederick Daniel Worlton, chief surgeon of the Lehi Hospital at Lehi, Utah county, and an able member of the medical profession whose studies have been comprehensive and whose experience has been broad, was born March 16, 1882, in the city which is still his home and is a son of John and Anna Worlton, early residents of Lehi. The father was a native of England and came to America with his parents in 1856, when six years of age. The grandfather was a shoemaker by trade and left England as a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He then joined the members of the church who were colonizing Utah and for twenty years he was superintendent of Sunday schools and otherwise active in church work. Both he and his wife have passed away.

Their son, John Worlton, was reared and educated in Utah and during the invasion of Johnston's army was at Camp Floyd. He later returned to Lehi, where he resided to the time of his death, which occurred December 3, 1906, when he was sixty years of age. He had devoted his life to farming and stock raising and met with a very substantial measure of prosperity in tilling the soil. He took the keenest interest in providing his children with excellent educational opportunities, regarding this as more essential than anything else in life. He was very active in all the work of the church, serving as president of the Elders Quorum for many years. In politics he gave loyal support to the democratic party and was an earnest champion of its principles. He married Anna Brunnelsen, who was born in Denmark and came to America with her parents when but six years of age, the family home being established in Lehi. Mrs. Worlton passed away April 8, 1902, at the age of forty-two years. She was the mother of nine children, six sons and three daughters.

Dr. Worlton, the third of the family and the second son, attended the public schools of Lehi and afterward became a student in the University of Utah, being graduated on the completion of a normal course in 1904. He won the Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduation from the University of Utah in 1910. Prior to this he served on a mission in the eastern states, with conference headquarters in New York city, where he remained for eighteen months, from 1904 until 1906. During the latter part of that time he was president of the conference. On completing his labors he became supervisor of schools in the Lehi school district, serving in that capacity for a year, and he then entered the University of Utah, where he devoted three years to the study of medicine. In 1910 he matriculated in the Rush Medical College at Chicago, from which he was graduated with the M. D. degree in 1912.

Following his graduation Dr. Worlton spent a year ill the Red Cross Hospital at Salida, Colorado, and then entered upon the private practice of medicine at Manassa, Colorado, where he remained for nine months. On the expiration of that period he returned to Lehi, where he has since continued, and in 1914 he established the Lehi Hospital. which is now the second largest in the county, having thirteen beds. There are two nurses and Dr. Worlton is the chief surgeon of the institution, in which the care of the sick Is conducted along most progressive and scientific lines. The Doctor belongs to the American Medical Association and the Utah State Medical Society. 

In Manassa, Colorado, on the 29th of August, 1913, Dr. Worlton was married to Miss Lena Verl Sowards, a native of that place and a daughter of L. W. and Lillian (Huffacker) Sowards. who are still living. Dr. and Mrs. Worlton have two children: Dean, who was born July 4, 1914; and Ralph, born March 12, 1916. 

In politics the Doctor is a republican and he belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of Lehi, his membership being In the second ward. He is a member of the Lehi Commercial Club, of which he is serving as vice president, and he is thus keenly interested in community affairs in addition to his work in the hospital and as a private practitioner of medicine and surgery. The hospital is situated in a beautiful grove of large trees, the grounds being two hundred by two hundred feet, and the establishment is modern in every detail. The Doctor keeps in touch with the latest scientific researches and discoveries and is quick to adopt any new idea or method which he believes will he of real value In his professional work.


THOMAS W. WRIDE.

Thomas W. Wride, owner of one of the model dairy farms of Utah county, was born in Provo, February 10, 1870, a son of Evan and Martha (Jones) Wride. The father came to Utah in 1868 from South Wales and was well known as a prominent churchman, serving as bishop of the second ward of Provo for many years. He is now on the board of education of Provo, having served for thirty-seven years, and in all matters relative to the welfare and progress of the community has taken a deep and active interest. He is living retired from active business life, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. His family numbers four children, three sons and a daughter: Thomas W.; Mary, the wife of Andrew Andrews, a resident of Garland, Utah; Benjamin, living in Eureka; and Angus, who makes his home at Aberdeen, Idaho. 

Thomas W. Wride acquired a common school education and remained upon his father's farm to the age of twenty-two years, when he began farming on his own account at Lakeview Vineyard. In 1906 he removed to his present place at Benjamin and is now the owner of four hundred and sixty acres of very desirable land. He has one hundred acres devoted to general farming and one hundred and sixty acres to hay, while the balance is grazing land. He has made a specialty of the dairy business and milks from twenty to thirty cows, shipping milk to Eureka. He also runs one hundred and fifty head of cattle on the range and feeds and fattens an equal number in the winter.  His farm is well improved and splendidly equipped with all modern conveniences. There are large barns upon it, also a big silo and it is a thoroughly modern dairy farm in its equipment and in the scientific manner in which the milk is cared for and shipped.  He took hold of the business to make it pay and is meeting with substantial profits from his labors. He has not been afraid to make the venture and all of his sons are interested with him in the business. They have wrought a wonderful transformation in the appearance of the place since taking possession thereof and it is fast becoming a dairy farm and ranch second to none in this section of the state. 

In 1891 Mr. Wride was united in marriage to Miss Rosetta Peay, daughter of Francis and Eliza (Baker) Peay, who were pioneer settlers of Utah, arriving in this state in 1853. To Mr. and Mrs. Wride have been born seven children. Denzil married Florence Beck, who was born and reared in Leland and they have two children, Leon and Gladys. Reva is the wife of Ralph Clayson, of Mammoth, Utah, and they have one child, Ha. Frank, Martha, Prudence, Donald and Raymond are all at home. The son-in-law, Mr. Clayson, enlisted in the marines soon after war was declared and was on duty guarding New York harbor most of the time, being honorably discharged in April, 1919.  The religious faith of the family is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Mr. Wride is a member of the Seventy, while his wife is counselor to the president of the Primary Society in her ward. In politics Mr. Wride maintains an independent course, nor is he an office seeker, preferring at all times to give his attention and his energies to his dairying and farming interests, which are being wisely and successfully conducted.

 

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