Santa
Clara County
Biographies
HON. GEORGE DRAPER WORSWICK
As mayor of San Jose, the Hon. George Draper Worswick has brought about reforms in the matter of
government which have added immeasurably to the prestige and prosperity of the
city. First elected as chief executive in 1902, his re-election followed in
1904, with a majority which gave evidence of the popularity he had won in his
first administration through the non-partisan policy pursued; although a stanch
Republican in his political convictions, he has conducted the affairs of the
city on a business basis rather than a political, and has thus won the
confidence and respect of all who realize the import of the position he has
taken. Born in Kingston, Ontario, June 28, 1861, he is the son of John Worswick, a native of Manchester, England.
The Worswick
family, of English birth and breeding, had as its first representative on
American soil, John Worswick, Sr. He was a railroad
contractor and came to Ontario, Canada, to superintend the construction of the
Grand Trunk line. He brought with him his son, John Worswick,
Jr., who had then completed his education in his native country, and under his
father he learned the work of a contractor by acting as a sub-contractor. After
a couple of years the elder man returned to England, where he spent his last
days. The son, however, who was the only one in his father’s family, remained
in Ontario and engaged in contracting on the Grand Trunk for some years. In
1863 he brought his family and two children to San Francisco by way of Cape
Horn, remaining, however, only a short time, when he went north to Portland,
Ore., and on the Columbia cascades engaged in contracting on the portage road
around the cascades. Upon the completion of this work he engaged with Joe
Lockwood in a contract for furnishing supplies to the United States government
at Camp Harney, Grant county, Ore., remaining in this
connection for several years, during which the trouble with the Snake Indians
occurred. He had many exciting and dangerous experiences at that time, but came
safely through the trouble. After giving up this contract he located in Prairie
City, Grant county, and engaged in a general
merchandise business, and later had charge of the construction of a portion of
the San Fernando tunnel. He then removed to Idaho and during the mining
excitement in the Wood river country located at that place and engaged in the
wheelwright and general merchandise business. He now makes his home in Hailey,
Idaho, where he is engaged in mining operations. In his political convictions
he is a stanch Republican, and is a member of the Episcopal Church. Fraternally
he is identified with the Masonic order and is quite prominent. His wife was
formerly Emily Ruttler, who was born near Kingston,
Canada, of French ancestry.
Of a family of eleven children
born to his parents nine of whom are living, George Draper Worswick
is the second child and the only one located in California. Although not a
westerner by birth, his entire life, with the exception of two years, has been
spent in this section, his education being received in the district schools in
Oregon and Idaho and the high school of Portland. Following his early training,
his first effort in manhood was along the mercantile line, engaging as a merchant
in Ketchum, Idaho, from 1881 to 1889. In that year he changed his location to
Portland, but continued in the same occupation. The year following, 1890, he
came to San Jose, and shortly after his arrival secured the position of manager
for the California Green & Dried Fruit Company, in which capacity he
remained for ten years, when he resigned to accept the management of the San
Jose business of the California Pine Box & Lumber Company, which has two
mills in this city.
In Idaho Mr. Worswick
was united in marriage with May Lucile Holcomb, a native of Shasta county,
Cal., and daughter of Albert A. Holcomb, who crossed the plains from Illinois
to California in pioneer days. They are the parents of two children: George D.,
Jr., and Mildred. A stanch Republican in his political convictions, Mr. Worswick has always been active in the promotion of the
principles he endorses, and has proved himself an important ally in Republican
councils. Without effort on his own part he gradually assumed a prominent
position in the political life of the city. In 1902 he was nominated for the
office of mayor of San Jose, and was elected by a majority of three hundred and
seventeen votes. The administration which followed justified the choice of his
party and led to his being the choice of the people in 1904, when he was
re-elected by a majority of three hundred and ninety-seven votes. He has
pursued an absolutely non-partisan policy in the city government, giving his
undivided efforts toward the progress and reform of the city, every department
of schools, police protection, street construction, etc., feeling the impetus
of his strong, fearless efforts. A proof of the commercial strength of his
administration has been evidenced in the commendation given to Mr. Worswick by the business men of San Jose. He is a member of
the Chamber of Commerce and fraternally belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order
of Elks, Woodmen of the World, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the
National Union. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1269-1270. The
Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Cecelia M. Setty.