Worrell, Edwin A.

WORRELL, KIRK, DYER, LINCOLN, FRINK

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/14/2003 at 17:22:09

EDWIN A. WORRELL

Among the brave defenders of the union during the dark days of the Civil war was Edwin A. Worrell, who is to-day one of Clinton’s most public-spirited and progressive citizens. He was born in Morgan county, Ohio, November 12, 1843, and comes of a very patriotic and loyal family. His parents were Isaiah C. and Elmira R. (Kirk) Worrell, also natives of the Buckeye state, and the latter a sister of General Kirk, of Sterling, Illinois, who during the Rebellion raised a regiment at that place, and our subject’s two brothers served under him. When Edwin was a lad of ten years the family removed to Whiteside county, Illinois, and first located at Hubbard’s Grove, in Jordan township, but in 1859 settled near Sterling, where he grew to manhood. There the father died in 1874, but the mother long survived him, and passed away in Pasadena, California, in 1900. There were nine children in their family, of whom James L. and Albert A. were both members of the Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war. The former carried the colors at Shiloh when every man around him was killed, and after the battle was presented a flag by General McCook for bravery and also was tendered a commission but refused it. He is now a resident of Clinton, Iowa. Albert A., who was wounded in the battle of Stone River, makes his home in Perry, Iowa. Edwin A., our subject, is next in order of birth. William is a resident of Clarinda, Iowa, and Charles K., of Santa Anna (sic), California. Elizabeth is the wife of Heman Dyer, city auditor of Pasadena, California. Katherine is the wife of Freeman Church, of the same place. Pasadena is also the home of Irvin B. and Lewis E., the two younger brothers of the family.

On the 27th of February, 1864, Edwin A. Worrell enlisted in Company C, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, under General Farnsworth, and during the battle of the wilderness, May 5-7, that year, he was detailed to carry dispatches from General Grant’s headquarters to the other generals. July 4, 1865, the regiment being in Washington, were sent up the Potomac river to oppose Early on his invasion of Maryland and advances on Washington, and met him at Point of Rocks and drove him back across the river. Early then crossed the river at Middletown, and the regiment fought them all the way back through Frederick City to Monocacy Junction, Maryland, where they were met by the Sixth Corps. During the time Early was in Maryland he was in the saddle and under fire almost constantly for twenty-seven days and nights, during which time they lost heavily, leaving Washington July 4, with eighty-four men in the company. Twenty-seven days later only twenty-eight men answered the roll call, and was also within the rebel lines for three days, during which time he was reported captured, his company being detailed to go down the Monocacy river and burn a bridge to prevent the enemy from crossing with their artillery. While thus employed they were cut off from the Union army. They participated in the engagements at Fort Stephens and Winchester, and then returned to the defenses of Washington, being known as the First Separate Brigade of the defenses of Washington, having been assigned to the defense of that city, including operations against colonel Mosby’s guerrillas. They were in the engagements at White Plains and Upperville, and were between Appomattox and Fairfax Court House when Lee surrendered, after which the regiment was detailed to go in pursuit of J. Wilkes Booth. Mr. Worrell has in his possession a bridle-bit which he captured from one of Mosby’s men at Leesburg when his prisoner came between two fires in a hand-to-hand combat. At the close of the war he was mustered out at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, July 27, 1865, and returned to his home in Whiteside county, Illinois.

In December, 1866, Mr. Worrell was appointed deputy sheriff under L. A. Lincoln, and after serving in that capacity two years was elected sheriff, which position he most acceptably filled for six consecutive terms of two years each, this being a longer time than any other man in Illinois had held that office. In 1880 he became interested in North Dakota property, where he was interested in the real estate business for several years, and at the end of that time returned to Whiteside county, Illinois, where he owned a very fine farm, and to its operation he devoted his energies until coming to Clinton, Iowa, in 1890. Here he has carried on the real estate and insurance business when his time was not occupied by this official duties, for here he has also been called upon to fill positions of honor and public trust. He efficiently served as chief of police of Clinton from 1892 to 1894, and in the spring of 1900 was elected councilman at large, in which capacity he is now serving. He also owns a farm of two hundred acres at Blue Grass, Iowa, and another at Onawa, Iowa, and also one is South Dakota
Mr. Worrell married Miss Lucretia M. Lincoln, of Morrison, Illinois, who was born in New York, and is a daughter of Willard and Jalana Lincoln. They have three children living, namely: Clifford L and Harry H. are now operating a stock farm at Blue Grass, Muscatine county, Iowa in partnership. Clifford L. served as a member of Company L, Forty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, during the Spanish-American war, and was with his regiment in Cuba. Anna Bell is the wife of E. F. Frink, a mail carrier of Clinton. Florence died in Morrison, Illinois , at the age of three years.
The Republican party has always found in Mr. Worrell a stanch supporter of it s principles, and he has taken quite an active part in politics. He is also prominently connected with several civic societies, and is at present commander of General N. B. Baker Post, 88, Grand Army of the Republic, at Clinton. He is also a member of Dunlap Lodge, 321, A. F. & A. M., of Morrison, Illinois; Keystone Chapter, R. A. M., of Clinton: the Knights of the Maccabees; and the Knights and Lades (sic) of the Golden Precept, and is serving as supreme vice-president of the last named order. As a soldier he was always found at his post of duty gallantly defending the old flag and the cause it represented, and as a public official and private citizen has been true to every trust reposed in him.
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.