... A native of Charleston, Vt., he was born May 22, 1844, the son of Samuel and Lydia (Beede) Worthen. The father, a physician, was a native of Sandwich, N. H., born in 1801, and his mother, in 1804. They were residents of Vermont at the time of their marriage in 1838. Of charitable and kind-hearted nature, they did much to relieve suffering of every kind in their locality. The paternal great-grandfather rendered valuable services in the Revolutionary War, and through this connection our subject is eligible to membership in the Sons of the American Revolution.
George W. was fortunate in securing a good education, and as early as 1861 began his career as a teacher. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he offered his services to his country, and enlisted on August 22, 1862, and in October was mustered into the U. S. service as a member of Company H. Fifteenth Volunteer Infantry, under Redfield Proctor, who after the close of the war served as Secretary Stannard's Second Vermont Brigade, which immortalized itself by a heroic counter-charge upon Pickett's hosts, July 3, on the memorable field of Gettysburg. At the expiration of his term of service he was mustered out at Brattleboro, VT., on September 4, 1863. Soon after, he became the first principal of Linden Literary Biblical Institute at Linden, Vt. Remaining in this position one year, he then entered the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and took the scientific course and secured his B. S. degree. Then he went to Iowa and for about two years was professor of Greek and mathematics at Wilton Collegiate Institute, Wilton, Iowa, his name appearing first in their catalogue; later he returned to Lebanon, and while pursuing his studies in the classical course became a teacher in the institution and secured his A. B. degree and followed teaching in various places until coming to California on March 13,1876, and settling in San Mateo. The same year he secured a position as instructor in A. L. Brewer's Military Academy, where he remained for one year, when he became principal of the public schools of San Mateo, after which he returned to the Academy for another year, and then was professor of English at Washington College, Irvington, for a period of about two years.
The marriage of Mr. Worthen on June 7, 1878, united him with Miss Mary J. Hoyt, who was born July 18, 1857, in East Concord, N. H. Her girlhood was spent in the home called the "Mountain Farm," noted for its beauty and its sightly location. President Pierce, after his return from public service, liked this place, and offered a price for it far in excess of its real value; but the property had been in the Hoyt family so many years that the father could not give it up. The History of Concord contains a picture of the place, and much interesting information regarding it, as does the Hoyt Family Genealogy, which was published after a family meeting held in Providence, R. I., a member of years ago, when all the branches were represented. Senator John Sherman represented the Connecticut branch of which General W. T. Sherman was a member, his mother being Mary Hoyt, a native of Connecticut. The Hoyt family is of English origin, and its American history dates from the coming of two brothers to America in 1636-1638. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Worthen was the second male child born in Concord, N. H. Two of the grandfather's brothers served in the Revolutionary War, Abner being with General Stark at Bennington, and the other brother, Stephen, saw Major Andre executed. ...
Fraternally, he is a member of the Masons, Friendship Lodge No. 210, F. & A. M., and served as master in 1899-1900, and for ten years has been Chaplain; he is also a member of San Jose Chapter, No. 31, O. E. S. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, and is a frequent contributor to the "New Age." the official organ of the Supreme Council of the thirty-third and last degree of the A. & A. Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction U. S. A. He is a member of Sheridan-Dix Post No. 7, G. A. R., Department of California and Nevada, of which he was commander in 1920. Mr. Worthen is a writer of prose and poetry and contributes an article each month to the official bulletin of Friendship Lodge No. 210, F. & A. M. Mr. and Mrs. Worthen are members of Trinity Episcopal Church.
