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James Kennedy Worthington
b.1 Sep 1842 Pittsfield, Pike, Illinois, USA
d.12 Aug 1889 Kirkwood, St Louis, Missouri, USA
Family tree▼ (edit)
m. 19 Jan 1837
(edit)
m. 6 Apr 1871
Facts and Events
1850 census-John; 9; born IL 1860 census-James; 17 1861-1865-served as Union soldier in the War Between the States-there is an article, 11 Jul 1893: http://www.gausschildren.org/genwiki/images/c/cf/WTGC-p067.jpg, that is very hard to read but says something about James K Worthington was the hospital steward of the Pike county regiment the 99th IL Inf Vol. He proposed to the offiecers to volunyteer and place the capital stores upon a barge and fasten the same to the Henry Clay adn make the attempt to land his boat at New Carthage below Vicksburg.....Worthington has passed away, but his act of running the batteries of Vicksburg still lives and is a part of the history of the 99th IL regiment of which Pittsfield is proud. Each generation brings forth its heroes. Let us not forget the daring of James K Worthington 1870 census-Jas K; 27; farmer; real estate value $7,000; personal estate value $1,000 1880 census-MO-St Louis-Kirkwood-pg 17-ED 182-8 Jun 1880-lines 16-22dwelling 121-family129-James K Worthington; 37; traveling agent; Hattie E; 35; keeping house; James; 8; Samuel; 6; Arthur; 5; Anna; 2; Mary Phillips; 17; servant; born MO; parents birth place not listed 1889 obituary-two obituaries (newspapers not identified) On Tuesday morning, August 13, this community was greatly grieved and shocked to hear of the death at his home at 11:36 o'clock the previous evening of Mr James K Worthington, an esteemed, highly-respected and well-known townsman. It was not known generally that the deceased had been ill, or was seriously so, although to some immediate friends and acquaintances it was known that he had been confined to his home and in poor health for the past few weeks. A sufferer from a complication of troubles and a broken constitution from exposures in army service, his health had not been good for several months. Returning home from a business trip to Texas and the Southwest about three weeks ago, he became so poorly with an attack of typhoid malarial fever, contracted in the South, as to be obliged to take to his room and bed, and from which he was destined to rise no more. Tenderly watched and cared for during the weeks of his illness by kind friends and soothed and comforted with the presence and ministrations of his loved ones, he passed to his final rest surrounded by his sorrowing and cherished ones. During his long residence in Kirkwood his many noble traits of character, his genial gentlemanly deportment, his thorough Christian character and strict integrity had endeared him to a wide circle of acquaintances who mourn his decease and unite in heartfelt sympathy to his stricken widow and family. Mr. Worthington was the son of Dr. Thomas Worthington, of Pittsfield, IL where he was born Sep 1, 1842. He was educated at Harvard College as a civil engineer. He left college in 1863 to enter the army. As in the quiet peaceful walks of civil, home life, his true merit and worth as a man and brother were manifest so in the active, stirring times of war and a country's peril. The Republic has this tribute to the deceased's war record: Mr Worthington during the war was a member of the 99th Regiment of Illinois Infantry, and served as hospital steward. At the time of his death he was an applicant for the Kirkwood post-office. It is related of him that he was the hero of one of the most courageous ????? of the war, and the old surgeon of his regiment in order to help him in his race for postmaster, recently wrote a long statement to the department telling how Mr Worthington at one time, when he had charge of all the medicines and hospital supplies of the regiment, had his barge hooked on to the Henry Clay and ran the batteries of Vicksburg, well knowing how important it was for him to rejoin his regiment with his supplies. When the Clay was disabled and set on fire he cut loose from her and floated by the batteries of Vicksburg and Warrenton on the open barge without protection of any kind, in the face of flight caused by the burning Clay and under a terrible fire. The stores thus brought through by Mr Worthington were inestimable value in the subsequent campaign, including the battles of Port Gibson, Black River Bridge, and the terrible charge on Vicksburg, 22 May 1863. With the exception of a small quantity, carried on the person of each surgeon, all the chloroform and whisky used was furnished from the stores of the 99th Illinois Volunteers, and which Mr Worthingotn had brought past the batteries of Vicksburg. He was afterwards granted a furlough by General Grant for meritorious conduct. The deceased was married, in 1871, to Miss Harriet E Sneed, who with her family of seven children, survives him. Four brothers, Messrs George, Thomas and John G Worthington, of Pittsfield, IL, and Dr AK Worthington of Denver, CO and three sisters, Miss Emily Worthington, of Pittsfield; Mrs WT Gauss of St Louis, and Mrs Dr JW Graham of Denver, also mourn his death. The funeral services were attended on Wednesday afternoon at his late residence, where a brief service was held at three o'clock in the presence of the family, immediate relatives and friends; thence the remains were taken to the Presbyterian Church, where a large assemblage of friends, acquaintances and townspeople had gathered to pay a last tribute of respect; from thence the remains were taken to Oak Hill Cemetery for internment in the family lot. The services at the house and church were conducted by Rev JB Warner, the pastor, who spoke beautifully and fellingly of the deceased and his life. [the obituary goes on to list the choir, pallbearers; the GAR burial service, floral offerings] References
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