Individual Details
Joseph A. WORLEY
(1 Jul 1859 - 18 Feb 1897)
1 Jun 1860, Post office Wards Forge, District 1, Johnson Co., TN, stamped page 2;
Elias Worley, 39 (1820-21), born VA, farmer, Real Estate of $1,040, personal of $300
Lovina Worley, 37 (1822-23), born TN
Margaret E. Worley, 21 (1838-39), born TN
James H. Worley, 19 (1840-41), born TN, Wagnor [sic]
William H. Worley, 17 (1842-43), born TN, farm laborer
Delilah C. Worley, 15 (1844-45), born TN, housewifery
Susannah C. Worley, 13 (1846-47), born TN
Robt R. Worley, 12 (1847-48), born TN
Edward C. Worley, 10 (1849-50), born TN
Martha M. Worley, 7 (1852-53), born TN
Hester A. L. Worley, 3 (1856-57), born TN
Cynthia R. Worley, 2 (1857-58), born TN
Joseph A. Worley, 10/12 (abt Aug 1859), born TN.
All children from Margaret through Martha listed as attending school within the year.
1 Jun 1870, P.O. Wards Iron Works, District 1, Johnson Co., TN, pg. 14;
Elias Worley, 56 (1813-14), born VA, owns real estate of $450, personal estate of $800
Lavinia Worley, 49 (1820-21), born TN
Lou Emma Worley, 23 (1846-47), born TN
Edward S. Worley, 19 (1850-51), born TN, farm laborer, married within the year - in Jan.
Martha M. Worley, 15 (1854-55), born TN
Hester A. Worley, 15 (1854-55), born TN
Cyntha R. Worley, 12 (1857-58), born TN
Joseph A. Worley, 10 (1859-60), born TN
William H. Worley, 25 (1844-45), born TN, farm laborer
Sarah E. Worley, 21 (1848-49), born TN, married within the year - in Jan.
1 Jun 1880, 1st Civil District, Johnson Co., TN, ED 1 pg 2;
Elias Worley, head, 68, (1811-12), b. VA father's place of birth Not Known, mother born Virginia, farmer, could not read or write
Lavina Worley, 61 (1818-1819) born TN father born VA mother born South Carolina, cannot read or write
Milton L Gentry, grandson, 6 (1873-74), born TN both parents born TN
Joseph A. Worley, 19 (1860-61) born TN, father born VA mother born TN both parents born VA. Going to school. In home of parents.
Newspaper article in The Lebanon Republican Friday, 26 Feb 1897, states "The dead body of Joseph Worley, a farmer living 12 miles northwest of Lebanon, was found last Friday morning by his nephew, Milton Gentry, and later discoveries showed that a most atrocious murder was committed.
On Thursday, about 6 p.m., Mr. Worley left his house to feed his stock, and a short time afterward two shots were heard. The next morning the body was found, shot through the bowels, and the top of the head beaten in. It had, from indications, lain there about 12 hours and hogs had mutilated it, biting the hand, ear and other portions of the body.
It is supposed that the deceased was shot from ambush and ran to escape his assailant. Two spots show where a struggle took place. About 300 yards from the scene of the first attack, it is supposed the victim fell exhausted, when his brutal assailant crushed his skull with a fence rail and rocks and left him to die.
A coroner's jury was impaneled Friday afternoon and held an inquest, returning a verdict to the effect that deceased had come to his death at the hands of some person unknown.
No clew has been obtained as to the murderer. Mr. Worley was reputed to be a quiet, inoffensive young man, and the motive for the deed is a matter of conjecture. He was 32 years old and unmarried."
A follow-up note on Friday, 5 Mar 1897, says "Thus far no clue that promises the discovery of Joseph Worley's murderer has been found. The perpetrator of the foul crime and his motive are alike mysterious."
Application for Letters of Administration of his estate D. N. Cole listed as heirs of Joseph, his father, Elias Worley, of Laclede County, MO, Luvina Worley, mother, Emma H. Cole [listed in file as Hester Anna], Laclede Co., Mrs. Rebecca Gentry, Johnson Co., TN, Mary J. Arnold, of Texas, Margret Gentry of Johnson Co., TN, James H. Worley of Cedar Co., MO, Haskew Worley of Washington Co., VA, Robert Worley of Illinois, Edward Worley's heirs, Maria Eggers and James Worley of Washington Co., VA, Lou Emma Gentry's heirs, Frank Gentry and Milton L. Gentry of Laclede County, Delily Elrod, State of ? (may be Tennessee) and Martha M. Arnold, Laclede County. He died without a will on 18 Feb 1897. Copies of all probate papers are in the possession of the author, including inventory and account of sale.
Joseph shares a 4-sided gravestone with his parents in Hufft Cemetery, Eldridge, Laclede County, MO. His side of the stone says: "Joseph A. Worley Born July 1, 1860 Killed Feb 18, 1897".
Birth date on stone must be off by a year, because in the 1860 census, he was listed as 10/12. The actual date the census taker enumerated the family was 2 June 1860, so he had to have been born in 1859.
August 2013 - correspondence with Gwen Rogers Wooldridge indicates his middle name is Hirsch, so not the letter "A".
Elias Worley, 39 (1820-21), born VA, farmer, Real Estate of $1,040, personal of $300
Lovina Worley, 37 (1822-23), born TN
Margaret E. Worley, 21 (1838-39), born TN
James H. Worley, 19 (1840-41), born TN, Wagnor [sic]
William H. Worley, 17 (1842-43), born TN, farm laborer
Delilah C. Worley, 15 (1844-45), born TN, housewifery
Susannah C. Worley, 13 (1846-47), born TN
Robt R. Worley, 12 (1847-48), born TN
Edward C. Worley, 10 (1849-50), born TN
Martha M. Worley, 7 (1852-53), born TN
Hester A. L. Worley, 3 (1856-57), born TN
Cynthia R. Worley, 2 (1857-58), born TN
Joseph A. Worley, 10/12 (abt Aug 1859), born TN.
All children from Margaret through Martha listed as attending school within the year.
1 Jun 1870, P.O. Wards Iron Works, District 1, Johnson Co., TN, pg. 14;
Elias Worley, 56 (1813-14), born VA, owns real estate of $450, personal estate of $800
Lavinia Worley, 49 (1820-21), born TN
Lou Emma Worley, 23 (1846-47), born TN
Edward S. Worley, 19 (1850-51), born TN, farm laborer, married within the year - in Jan.
Martha M. Worley, 15 (1854-55), born TN
Hester A. Worley, 15 (1854-55), born TN
Cyntha R. Worley, 12 (1857-58), born TN
Joseph A. Worley, 10 (1859-60), born TN
William H. Worley, 25 (1844-45), born TN, farm laborer
Sarah E. Worley, 21 (1848-49), born TN, married within the year - in Jan.
1 Jun 1880, 1st Civil District, Johnson Co., TN, ED 1 pg 2;
Elias Worley, head, 68, (1811-12), b. VA father's place of birth Not Known, mother born Virginia, farmer, could not read or write
Lavina Worley, 61 (1818-1819) born TN father born VA mother born South Carolina, cannot read or write
Milton L Gentry, grandson, 6 (1873-74), born TN both parents born TN
Joseph A. Worley, 19 (1860-61) born TN, father born VA mother born TN both parents born VA. Going to school. In home of parents.
Newspaper article in The Lebanon Republican Friday, 26 Feb 1897, states "The dead body of Joseph Worley, a farmer living 12 miles northwest of Lebanon, was found last Friday morning by his nephew, Milton Gentry, and later discoveries showed that a most atrocious murder was committed.
On Thursday, about 6 p.m., Mr. Worley left his house to feed his stock, and a short time afterward two shots were heard. The next morning the body was found, shot through the bowels, and the top of the head beaten in. It had, from indications, lain there about 12 hours and hogs had mutilated it, biting the hand, ear and other portions of the body.
It is supposed that the deceased was shot from ambush and ran to escape his assailant. Two spots show where a struggle took place. About 300 yards from the scene of the first attack, it is supposed the victim fell exhausted, when his brutal assailant crushed his skull with a fence rail and rocks and left him to die.
A coroner's jury was impaneled Friday afternoon and held an inquest, returning a verdict to the effect that deceased had come to his death at the hands of some person unknown.
No clew has been obtained as to the murderer. Mr. Worley was reputed to be a quiet, inoffensive young man, and the motive for the deed is a matter of conjecture. He was 32 years old and unmarried."
A follow-up note on Friday, 5 Mar 1897, says "Thus far no clue that promises the discovery of Joseph Worley's murderer has been found. The perpetrator of the foul crime and his motive are alike mysterious."
Application for Letters of Administration of his estate D. N. Cole listed as heirs of Joseph, his father, Elias Worley, of Laclede County, MO, Luvina Worley, mother, Emma H. Cole [listed in file as Hester Anna], Laclede Co., Mrs. Rebecca Gentry, Johnson Co., TN, Mary J. Arnold, of Texas, Margret Gentry of Johnson Co., TN, James H. Worley of Cedar Co., MO, Haskew Worley of Washington Co., VA, Robert Worley of Illinois, Edward Worley's heirs, Maria Eggers and James Worley of Washington Co., VA, Lou Emma Gentry's heirs, Frank Gentry and Milton L. Gentry of Laclede County, Delily Elrod, State of ? (may be Tennessee) and Martha M. Arnold, Laclede County. He died without a will on 18 Feb 1897. Copies of all probate papers are in the possession of the author, including inventory and account of sale.
Joseph shares a 4-sided gravestone with his parents in Hufft Cemetery, Eldridge, Laclede County, MO. His side of the stone says: "Joseph A. Worley Born July 1, 1860 Killed Feb 18, 1897".
Birth date on stone must be off by a year, because in the 1860 census, he was listed as 10/12. The actual date the census taker enumerated the family was 2 June 1860, so he had to have been born in 1859.
August 2013 - correspondence with Gwen Rogers Wooldridge indicates his middle name is Hirsch, so not the letter "A".
Events
| Birth | 1 Jul 1859 | Wards Forge, Johnson Co., Tennessee | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1860 | District 1, Johnson Co., Tennessee | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1870 | District 1, Johnson Co., Tennessee | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1880 | 1st Civil District, Johnson Co., Tennessee | |||
| Property | 13 Nov 1885 | Book S pg 414, Laclede Co., MO. from Wm. Morgan and wife, portion of S20 T36 R16, 160 acres | |||
| Property | 7 Mar 1893 | Book C pg 327. Patent from U.S. Gov't, filed 18 Jun 1895. SW qtr SW qtr S17 T36 R16 | |||
| Property | 27 Mar 1893 | Homestead Certificate No. 5134 to Joseph A. Worley for the SW qtr of the SW qtr of Sec 17 Twp 26 North of Range 16 West of the 5th PM, 40 acres. | |||
| Property | 17 Jun 1895 | Book 33 pg 391 filed 18 Jun 1895; from S.H. Alexander. W half of NE qtr and W half of each half of NE qtr S19 T36N R16, 120 acres | |||
| Death | 18 Feb 1897 | Laclede Co., Missouri | |||
| Burial | Aft 18 Feb 1897 | Laclede Co., Missouri | |||
| Probate | 17 Mar 1897 | Application for Letters of Administration | |||
| Reference No | 841 |
Families
| Father | Elias WORLEY (1813 - 1897) |
| Mother | Lavina A. GRACE (1818 - 1898) |
| Sibling | Mary Jane WORLEY (1837 - 1921) |
| Sibling | Margaret Elizabeth WORLEY (1839 - 1911) |
| Sibling | James H. (Ham) WORLEY (1840 - 1909) |
| Sibling | William Hascue "Hass" WORLEY (1843 - 1922) |
| Sibling | Delilah C. WORLEY (1845 - 1922) |
| Sibling | Luemma C. WORLEY (1847 - 1873) |
| Sibling | Robert R WORLEY (1849 - 1934) |
| Sibling | Edward C. "Ned" WORLEY (1850 - 1878) |
| Sibling | Martha Malinda WORLEY (1854 - 1934) |
| Sibling | Hester Anna Lucinda WORLEY (1857 - 1944) |
| Sibling | Cynthia Rebecca A. WORLEY (1858 - 1934) |