Biography of Samuel Worthen
written by Elizabeth Worthen Henderson of Panguitch, Utah

Samuel Worthen, the son of Richard Worthen and Mary Cowap, was born Dec. 21, 1825, at Northwich Chesire, England. When a boy about ten years of age, he went as an apprentice to learn the trade of a mason; and through this training he became a master mechanic of the trade. He, in connection with his mother, brother and sister, immigrated from England to the United States when he was a young man. They joined the church in England in 1840.

In the year of 1843, when eighteen years old, he married Sarah Hallam, in the east, likely in Illinois, as their first two children were born at Nauvoo. A year before leaving the state, two of his brothers, Richard !! and Joseph, were drowned in the DesMoines River in Iowa, his only sister died in New Orleans.

In the year of 1850, his family together with his mother and brother John, came to Utah and settled in Salt Lake City. On April 27, 1856, he married Maria Louisa Grow of that city. While residing there, he became a clerk in the store owned by Gilbert and Barish. He was a member of the brass band and acted as a bugler during the Echo Canyon campaign.

About 1862, he was called to help settle the Dixie country, so he sold his farm at Centerville, that being where Aunt Maria was living, and settled on a ranch about halfway between Harmony and Kanara which was known as the "Worthen Springs." He later took his first wife, Sarah, to St. George where he made his home, leaving Maria at Harmony.

The first Co-op store in St. George was held in the basement of what was known as the Bighouse and later the Dixie Hotel. Father was hired to clerk in this store. His daughter, Mrs. Eliza Judd, and her husband later owned the hotel. The goods for this store were brought from California by team.

He went to Salt Lake City in the year 1864 and worked in the Godbe Store. While there he met and married his third wife, Jane Osborne. They were married in the Salt Lake City Endowment House on 4 Feb 1865. A year and a half after this, he brought her to Harmony to make her home.

In the year 1873, he left Harmony with his two families, with the intention of going to Long Valley, but upon arriving at Panguitch on the 9th of May of that year, he was persuaded by Uncle Jim Henrie and Bishop Levy, and others to remain here so he moved in to the old Fort. Later, building a house on the lots now owned by Brandon Shakespare, and still later purchased the lot across the street west from the school house and built a two room log house which was replaced by a brick house later in 1883, and which is still standing and now occupied by Joe Gale Houston and family. He built the meeting houses in Panguitch, and also the Tabernacle, Relief Society Hall, the old Co-Op store and all the brick homes in Panguitch, except Uncle John Imilays, until the year 1882, when Henry Exell came from England and assisted in the work. They are all monuments of his splendid skill and workmanship. He worked on the Tabernacle at St. George, and in every settlement between Panguitch and St. George, also at Minersville and many other places.

He served six months in the State Penitentiary for having more than one wife. After being released from the penitentiary, he worked three months in the ZCMI shoe store. On his way home he came by Beaver and Minersville, and on this trip he contracted a severe cold. When he arrived at his home in Panguitch, Utah, he was seriously ill. He lived only two days after his arrival home. He died at his home in Panguitch, Utah, on 2 Feb 1888, of Black Quincy. He was buried in the City Cemetery at Panguitch on 4 Feb 1888. No funeral was held for him as people were afraid he has some contagious disease; however, funeral servies were hled for him the next day 5 Feb 1888.

He was the father of 28 (29) children. He had 125 grandchildren and a large number of great-grandchildren, and also great-great grandchildren.

He was loved and respected by all who knew him because of his honesty and genial disposition. He was very quick spoken and easily angered. He was an early riser, and what spare time he had he spent in cultivating flowers and vegetable gardens. He especially took delight in the flowers. He loved to dance and took delight in the amusement. Besides being a stone and brick mason, he worked at the shoemaker trade. It was said of him at his funeral services that he had many friends and few if any enemies. He was just 62 years and 2 months old.

He and Sarah came over on the same ship and were acquainted in England.

Richard Worthen and Mary Cowap were among the first converts to join the Latter-day Saint Church in England in 1840. When the missionaries were there preaching the gospel, they were valiant, they heard the truth and were willing to come to Zion.

Richard Worthen was born Sept. 12, 1793, in Northwich, Cheshire, England. He was the son of Richard Nicols and Martha Worthen. His wife, Mary Cowap, was born 27 Jul 1797, the same place. She was the daughter of William Cowap and Pheobe Burrows. They had eight children born to them: John, Jane, Richard, Samuel, James, Robert, Richard II, and Joseph Worthen. All the children came to Nauvoo with their parents, also John's wife, Hannah Elane, and their two children, Henry and Ann, in 1842. They settled in Nauvoo and in 1845, Richard, the father died.