Theodore P. Worsley

#25 & 34 Theodore Plaskitt Worsley (1858-1925) 1893-1902

Theodore Plaskitt Worsley, son of Charles Rudsdell Worsley and Emma Capes, was born October 18, 1858 in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England. He obtained his education in England attending college there and being admitted to the British bar before immigrating to the United States about 1883 with his brother, William Arthur Worsley settling in Nevada, Story County, Iowa.

Mr. Worsley married Elfa Emmazetta Lockridge, daughter of William Lockridge and Lydia Ann Letson of Nevada, on April 24, 1884 in Nevada. He became a naturalized citizen and became very involved in civil affairs. By profession, Mr. Worsley was a stock dealer dealing in cattle, but from 1886 to 1890 he served as Fire Marshall for Nevada.

On February 4, 1893, by virtue of a statement of Iowa Governor Horace Boles, Nevada was entitled to become a city of the second class and the “incorporated town of Nevada” was reorganized as the “city of Nevada” with a population of about 1400. Theo. P. Worsley was the first mayor of the newly reorganized city. He served one term as mayor in 1893 and later served two terms as Postmaster of Nevada beginning in 1894 during the Cleveland administration.

He was re-elected mayor and served another term in 1902. In 1903, Mr. Worsley’s father-in-law, William Lockridge, died in July of 1903 and the Worsleys moved in with Mrs. Lockridge, caring for her until her death in 1920.

Theodore Plaskitt “Jack” Worsley died on July 12, 1925 in Nevada, Story County, Iowa survived by his wife and two sons, William Arthur Worsley and Theodore Plaskitt Worsley, Jr.