Morley J. Whitworth

BALLARD, BROWN, GREEN, SKIDMORE, WHITWORTH

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/18/2005 at 12:55:34

Among those who are following agriculture as a life work is Morley Whitworth, who owns a farm on section 11, Grand River township. He was born in Cambridgeshire, England, on the 16th of February, 1850, a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Green) Whitworth, more extended mention of whom is made in connection with the sketch of William Whitworth, which appears elsewhere in this volume.

Morley Whitworth was less than three years of age when brought to the United States by his parents, and he grew to manhood in Madison county, Iowa. Upon reaching maturity he began farming for himself, buying eighty acres of land in Grand River township, on which he still resides. He has made a number of improvements upon his place and his industry and practical methods have enabled him to gain considerably more than a livelihood from his agricultural operations. For thirty-six years he has resided upon the same farm, and in that time has won a place among the successful agriculturists of his locality.

Mr. Whitworth married Miss Phoebe Ballard, whose birth occurred in Henry county, Illinois, on the 18th of November, 1858. Her parents, Samuel and Martha Ballard, came to Madison county in 1867, and here the father passed away but the mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Whitworth have one son, LyLe M., who was born on the 17th of October, 1886, and married Miss Mary Brown, a native of Pilot Mound, Iowa, and a daughter of Thomas J. and Alice (Skidmore) Brown, natives of Illinois. Her father, who was a Methodist minister, died suddenly, being taken ill during a meeting, but her mother survives and makes her home in Indianola.

Mr. Whitworth is a republican and for many years held the office of township trustee, his services in that connection being very satisfactory. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a member for twenty years, and she has been identified therewith since a girl of twelve years. Mr. Whitworth and his son are farming in partnership and own one hundred and twenty acres of rich land. They raise both grain and stock, finding that by so doing they receive the largest financial return from their land. Both are highly esteemed by those who have been associated with them and both are valued residents of their township.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.