Frederick Herman (Fred) Worsley
1883-1956

Born: 29 Jun 1883 Chicago, Ill. Married: Eva Price 19 Oct 1903, Salt Lake City, Utah Died: 11 Dec 1956, Salt Lake City, Utah Father: Frederick Francis Worsley Mother: H. Theodora Silvius Show Pedigree Chart 1925 Letter to Father and Brother

9 Children: Frederick Joseph (Buss) Worsley (1904-1957) Kathryn Worsley Pratt (1906-2005) Richard Price Worsley (1909-1988) Anna (JoAnne) Worsley Sanford (1910-1937) Jerome Worsley (1912-1912) Sylvia Rose Worsley Dixon (1913-1979) Russell Worsley (twin, 1916-1916) May Worsley (twin, 1916-1916) Josephine Lu Worsley (1916-1916)

Frederick Herman Worsley was born on 29 Jun 1883 in Chicago, Ill., where his parents had recently moved from Ontario, Canada. His mother, Hannah Theodora Silvius Worsley, passed away when he was only seventeen years old. She had been born in Oslo, where her family still resided, so Fred and his older brother Joe both got to go to Oslo (or Kristiana?) to visit the family at that time.

Fred, who was called "Bud", began working for a railroad in Texas when he was about fourteen. He worked for the Rock Island Railroad Co. and later for the Sante Fe Company. He moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, into the red brick boarding house owned by Jode and Ann Price on the west side of State Street just south of North Temple. There he fell in love with their daughter Eva after the two discovered that they both liked green onion sandwiches. They were married on 19 Oct 1903 when he was 20 years old.

Fred and Eva and their 5 (of 9) surviving children: Back, L-R: Fred J. (Buster), Kathryn, JoAnne, Eva, Fred. Front, L-R: Price, Sylvia

When their first child "Buster" was born the next year, they moved from the boarding house. After their next child Katie was born, they resided on the southwest corner of Third East and South Temple, next door to Eva's sister Jose (short for "Josie") Snow. Thus, their children were raised with their cousins like an extended family.

Fred continued working for the railroad for the rest of his life. At that time he worked for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, and he rode his bike to work at the Judge Building. Later he walked to work at the Western Pacific Railroad in the Cliff building across the street from their next residence in the Bransford Apartments (now Eagle Gate Apts.) on Main Street between First and Second South. He had several opportunities for promotions with substantial raises, which would have required him to move to Chicago. His daughter Kathryn remembers that when Eva asked why he always refused the raises, he replied that it was a matter of priorities. He needed to be within walking distance of home so he could come home for lunch every day to be with his family. He also could be with them every morning and evening. He also needed evenings for woodworking and toy making. He knew he wouldn't be able to do any of that in Chicago, where he had grown up.

In 1932 Fred and Eva and family moved into to the historic home at 218 First Avenue which had been the home of the L.D.S. Apostle Stephen L. Richards from 1918 to 1925, and then of Thomas Brown, president of Package Grocery, who lived there until 1931. Fred and Eva lived the rest of their lives there. Fred retired as Chief Clerk from the Western Pacific, and then passed away only a few years later on Dec. 11, 1956, at age 73. His home then became a rest home for several years.

Fred Worsley made a lot of high quality furniture in is workshop, but his toy making became a legend. He made toys for children all year long, and his grandson John (who is writing this) grew up knowing that he was one of Santa's helpers. He was also offered an excellent job making toys in Chicago, but again he declined for the same reasons. He really loved fun. He built his family a roller coaster right in the house, which went out into the back yard. He also allowed, nay, encouraged his children to do the dishes on roller skates to make it fun and faster.

It has been said that everyone who knew Fred Worsley loved him. He always had plenty of time for his grandchildren to spend time with him in the workship later in life when they lived and took in boarders. He instilled a love and reverence for quality books in his children and grandchildren.