Less than six months ago I found this article about my grandfather
George Wherrett Tomlinson. He died in 1959 in Fresno, California when I was seventeen years old. I never met this
man and he was never talked about by my grandmother Ethel. I did asked my father about him, several times and his response every time would be very brief saying "he was a good father he took me to wrestling matches and we had some good times together." And that was all the information Dad would say about him. His parents separated when Dad was bout fifteen years old.
About twelve years ago through many hours of research I have come to know Grandfather George. This article told me even more about him that I will mention later.
About twelve years ago through many hours of research I have come to know Grandfather George. This article told me even more about him that I will mention later.
I found this article by
using the Genealogical.Bank.com, an online genealogical newspaper resource. This find has made it well worth the fee I
pay for the subscription.
This happened one hundred five years ago on Friday 18 December
1908. George was twenty four years old.
George and my grandmother Ethel Hepworth did not marry until 1912.
Saturday,
December 19, 1908
Salt Lake Telegram
(Salt Lake City, Ut)
SLEIGH RACE ENDS
IN BAD ACCIDENT
George W. Tomlinson was thrown
from his sleigh and painfully injured
in a race down South Main street with
another sleighing party last night. Tom-
linson was driving the front bobsled
when the sleigh behind him struck a
rough place in the road and turned turtle.
The horses broke loose from the wreck-
age and dashed into the sleigh ahead.
This threw Tomlinson to the ground.
He clung to the reins of his own team
and was dragged into the curbing, re-
ceiving painful scalp cuts and a severe
shaking up. He was carried into the
house of Mrs. Emily Bailey, at 545
South Main street, where Mrs. Bailey
and her daughter, Edna, dressed his
injuries, while awaiting the arrival of Dr.
F.S. Bascom. Later he was taken to
his home, 557 [757] West First North street
in a carriage.
Strange to relate, the members of the
party whose sleigh capsized, were in
any way injured. They righted their
vehicle and continued the outing. Five
young ladies who were in the sleigh being
driven by Tomlinson, refused to give
their names.
Monday, December 21, 1908
Salt Lake Telegram (Salt Lake Ciry, Ut)
BRAIN INJURED IN
SLEDDING ACCIDENT
George W. Tomlinson, who was hurt
in a bob sleigh accident on lower Main
street Friday night, is reported to be
more seriously injured than at first sup-
posed. The young man is being treated
for concussion of the brain. He is at his
home, 757 West First North street. An
operation may be necessary.
The mother of the injured man is on
her way from Canada to spend Christmas
with another son. She is not yet aware
of the accident. It is not thought
Tomlinson will die.
The first thing I learned from this article is that Grandfather
was living with Grandmother’s parents on 757 West First North Street. I was told this many years ago by a cousin of Dad's but wasn't sure if that was really true. George, I’m assuming was working at the
butcher shop for Great grandfather James Hepworth. I often wondered how they
met. George grew up in Ogden, Utah. His parents moved to Magrath Canada in the
early 1900’s. I do think George lived
in Canada for a short time before moving back to Utah and into the Hepworth
house. Now to find our how he got to know the Hepworth's. In 1908 Grandmother Ethel would
be twenty one years old and working for the Telephone Company as a telephone
operator. It would be four years after this incident
that George and Ethel married; 3 October 1912.
My father was the firstborn; born eleven month later.
I thought George was very brave to stay with his
horses risking his life in taking control. And now I am wondering if the sleigh and horses were his or did they belong to the Hepworth family? My father would do the same at a risk of his life in a similar situation. George had five
young ladies in his sleigh! George did love the ladies. Something I don’t see my father doing. I should ask by brother’s what they think; if
Dad would entertain more than one girl at a time.
I
find it amazing that no one was hurt in the other sleigh! Turning turtle; tipping upside down I would
think all in the sleigh would have been thrown out or caught underneath and be
injured.
Interesting;
that his mother, Mary Ellen Burns Tomlinson was coming from Canada to spend
Christmas with a brother of George’s. This places Great-grandmother Tomlinson still living in Canada and has the means (finances) to travel a long distance; probably by train.
Would love to know her reaction to this accident?
And, I
wonder if Grandfather George ever told my father this story.
Renée