The following was submitted by: Mark Davis
The Hartford City News
Hartford City, Indiana
(Blackford County)
Wednesday, February 5, 1930
(with photo)
TAPS SOUNDED
FOR CIVIL WAR
VETERAN HERE
NELSON WORLEY, 88, FORMER
CITY MARSHALL EXPIRES AT
HOME OF HIS SON
BURIAL LOCAL CEMETERY
Death Followed Three Years' Illness
- Was Widely Known as Fear-
less Officer of the Law
Death claimed another prominent and highly respected citizen
of Hartford City Wednesday morning at 8 o'clock when Nelson
Worley, 88, Civil War veteran and former city marshall here,
passed away at the home of his son, Charles N. Worley, 418
east Washington street. Death was due to diabetes and general
complications incident to his advanced age.
Mr. Worley was stricken ill three years ago last December. For
the past three months, he had been helpless and his condition
had been regarded as critical since that time. Although
failing rapidly, Mr. Worley's mind was very alert and he
delighted in reading and recalling to relatives incidents of
his early life, and especially his experiences during the
Civil War. On last Monday, Mr. Worley attempted to read and
desired at all times to be conversant with current events.
For eleven years, Mr. Worley served as city marshall here,
being both elected and appointed to that position. For a
period of years, he was the only republican to hold an office
in the city. His efficiency as an officer of the law, lead the
late James Lucas, father of the present city mayor, to appoint
Mr. Worley to the position. Prior to serving as city marshall,
Mr. Worley served as city street commissioner for a period of
two years. In 1914, he sought the office of county sheriff,
but in the election, he met defeat when the republican party
was split by the Bull Moose faction. Mr. Worley, who was more
familiarly known as "Nells" Worley, was a staunch republican,
but his political views never biased his fair judgement, and
he was known as an impartial and efficient officer.
Mr. Worley served during the Civil War through two enlistments
with Ohio contingents and was with Sherman on his celebrated
march to the sea. He was injured during the war, in an
engagement with southern forces during a foraging expedition.
His contingent of infantrymen went into conflict with a
mounted opposing force, and his horse fell upon him injuring
his hip. This injury later developed into one of his
infirmities in his advanced years.
Nelson Worley was born March 12, 1842, near Morrow, Warren
county, Ohio, the son of James Walling and Thankful Darrow
Worley. He was one of a family of eleven children, consisting
of five sons and six daughters. All are now deceased. His
early life was spent in Ohio, near his birth place. He
enlisted for ninety days from Morrow county, and went to Camp
Dennison, near Cincinnati. After serving out this period of
enlistment he then re-enlisted for the duration of the war
with the 187th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. At the close of the
civil conflict, Mr. Worley continued to work for the
government in reclamation service in the southland. His work
particularly related to the building of bridges and
reconstruction work. The accident which resulted in the
permanent injury to his hip, occured at Rasacca, Ga. He first
served with General Thomas and later with General Sherman in
the southern states.
After his enlistment and reclamation services work, Mr. Worley
returned to Warren county, where he was united in marriage
with Miss Katherine Elizabeth Wass, daughter of John Watson
and Mary Jane McGrew Wass. To this union, six children were
born, five of whom survive, as follows: Harry Worley and
Charles N. Worley, both of this city; Mrs. Eva M. Wilson of
Cincinnati; Miss Kate Wass Worley, of Cincinnati, former local
high school teacher and John Worley of Anderson. Walter
Worley, another son, died several years ago in Fort Wayne.
Seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren also survive.
Mr. Worley farmed in Warren county until 1878, when, with his
family, he moved to Blackford county, settling on a farm east
of this city. They moved into the city proper in 1891,
residing on west Franklin street, and thence on east
Washington street.
A happy companionship between Mr. and Mrs. Worley was broken
on November 28, 1919, when Mrs. Worley died at the family home
here. After the death of his wife, Mr. Worley then moved to
his son's home, where he continued to reside until his death.
His passing occured Wednesday morning during a heavy slumber.
During his period as city marshall Mr. Worley was the
arresting officer in the Rae Kraus murder case. The picture
appearing in this article was taken of Mr. Worley at the time
of the Kraus murder.
Mr. Worley also served as the arresting officer in the
Sanderson murder case. His fearlessness was widely known and
he was seldom compelled to use force. When necessity required
it however, he was physically able to handle the situation. He
was a man of military bearing and liked well his work.
Mr. Worley was a member of the Red Men's lodge in Ohio, being
affiliated with the fraternal organization for a period of
fifty years. He aided in organizing the Hartford City lodge of
Red Men. He was also a member of the Eagles lodge here.
Mr. Worley was a member of the Jacob Stahl Post of the Grand
Army of the Republic. At an early age he was baptized into the
Baptist church and held to that faith. He fondly recalled his
religious affiliation as a "Hard Shelled Baptist."
Funeral services will be conducted from the Charles Worley
home in east Washington street Friday afternoon at 2:30
o'clock with Rev. L. G. Jacobs in charge. Burial will be made
in the I. O. O. F. cemetery.
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