My Genealogy Hound

Woodford E. Worthington, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Schuyler County, Mo., in 1854, and is the third of four children born to Dr. Joseph W. and Elvira (Sears) Worthington. The father was of Irish descent and born in Kentucky in 1812. When eighteen years old he accompanied his father, Edward Worthington, to Clark County, where he married Elizabeth Mitchell. His second wife was the mother of our subject, to whom he was married in 1848. She was born in Missouri, about 1827, and died in 1857, and the following year Mr. Worthington married Martha Ryals. In 1853 he went to Schuyler County, and in 1855 located on the Chariton River, in Elm Township, Putnam County, where he died December 4, 1873. When about forty years old he commenced the study of medicine, which he practiced with success, more or less, during the remainder of his life, in connection with his farming. When about forty-five years old he entered the ministry in the Missionary Baptist Church, and at the time of his death was interested in his ministerial duties. He was a pioneer settler of the county, and built the first bridge in same which crossed Shoal Creek, at Old Putnamville, the county seat at that time. He was widely known and beloved in the county, on account of his strict integrity and genial temperament, and assisted largely in surveying Putnam County, especially the eastern part. Woodford E. was reared at home, and during his early youth received a common-school education, but after his majority graduated from the Keokuk Business College in February, 1877. November 4, 1877, he married Mary Bell, daughter of Robert and Delila Holman, who bore him one child - Gurney Cecil. Mrs. Worthington died May 21, 1883, and November 4, 1883, Mr. Worthington married Miss Laura May, daughter of James G. and Nancy E. Thornburgh, of Unionville, who has also borne one child - Homer E. He has since resided upon the old home place, of which he is part owner. He possesses 380 acres of land, twenty miles east of Unionville, and eight miles west of Queen City, making one of the best located and most valuable farms in the county. He has been interested in the cattle trade for ten years, but for about three years has been making a specialty of fine sheep, of which he has about 700 head. He is a Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for R. B. Hayes in 1876. He belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church, and his wife to the Methodist Episcopal Church.