WI BIO - Dane Co - WORTHING, Samuel T.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 322-323

Samuel T. WORTHING, a successful farmer of Dane County, WI, was born in New 
Hampshire in 1822, a son of Moses WORTHING, a native of Grafton [Grafton 
County], New Hampshire, and a farmer by occupation. His father, Samuel G. 
WORTHING, was one of the early pioneers of New Hampshire, and had a severe 
struggle in clearing and making a home in that rough and sterile portion of 
the State. The privations and hardships endured by this good man and his 
family would seem incredible to the present generation. His wife, 
grandmother of our subject, was formerly a Miss INGALLS, and they had five 
sons and three daughters, who lived to become heads of families, Moses, the 
father of our subject, being the oldest of the children. The parents died on 
their large farm at an advanced age. Three of the sons chose farming as 
their vocation through life, and the father gave each a large farm. Two 
became itinerant Methodist ministers. Rev. Jonathan WORTHING died in 
Illinois, and Ezekiel died on his farm in this State. Moses WORTHING was 
married in New Hampshire, to Anna SANBORN, a native of Bristol [Grafton 
County], New Hampshire. They resided on a farm there many years, and when 
their 12 children were born, 11 of whom grew to years of maturity and 
married. The family emigrated to Ohio in 1833, going by team to Buffalo, and 
by water to Ashtabula, Ohio, but on account of a severe storm, they were 
obliged to land at Fairport [Fairport Harbor, Lake County], Ohio. They 
purchased 250 acres of land, which had a small clearing, and where the father 
died at the age of eighty-three years, [p 323] and the mother three years 
later, aged eighty-three years.

Samuel T. WORTHING, the youngest son of his parents' eleven children, 
remained at home until twenty-seven years of age, when he drove from Astabula 
County, Ohio, to Dane County, Wisconsin. His cash capital then consisted of 
a few hundred dollars, with which he purchased 80 acres of land two miles 
from his present home. On year later he bought 160 acres in Roxbury 
Township, Dane County, Wisconsin, going into debt for the same to the amount 
of $1,700, but which he soon paid, and later purchased 80 acres more, making 
him a farm of 240 acres. After a residence there of twelve years, Samuel T. 
WORTHING sold out, and in 1866, with two good teams and wagons, took up the 
line of march for the West, settling on 400 acres of land in Nodaway County, 
Missouri, for which he paid $4,000. On account of sickness in the family he 
remained there only six years, again sold out, and with his teams returned to 
Dane Township, Dane County, Wisconsin, with less money, but more experience 
than when he left. In company with his two sons he now owns 260 acres of 
land in one body. At one time Mr. WORTHING owned 1,280 acres of land in 
Texas, where he intended to keep stock. In his political views he was a 
Democrat before the war, but since that struggle has been identified with the 
Republican party. Both he and his wife are earnest workers in the Methodist 
Church.

Samuel T. WORTHING was married at the age of twenty-four years to Miss 
Belinda SLEEPER, a native of Bristol [Grafton County], New Hampshire. They 
have had five children: Orilla, wife of Orson MARTIN, a farmer of Chase 
County, Nebraska, and they have four sons and one daughter; Ella, wife of 
William FOLSOM, of Lodi, Columbia County, Wisconsin, and they have one son 
and three daughters; Etta, wife of Giles MARTIN, a farmer of Westport 
Township, Dane County, Wisconsin, and they have one son and two daughters; 
John F., a farmer on the old homestead, married Matilda HAWKER; and Charles 
Edwin, who resides with his parents, and owns half of the farm. Frank went 
to NE at one time, but afterward sold out and returned to his parents. Edwin 
is now twenty-five years of age.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly