William Whitworth (1929)

GREEN, PURCELL, WHITWORTH

Posted By: Linda Brittain
Date: 12/4/2006 at 12:27:49

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, December 19, 1929
Page 2

William Whitworth

William Whitworth, a retired farmer of Macksburg, was a native of England but had completely identified his interests with those of his adopted country. He was born in Cambridgeshire, on the 18th of December, 1941, and died Thursday, December 12, 1929, at the age of 87 years, 11 months and 24 days, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ida Purcell, with whom he had made his home the past five years. He was next to the youngest of six brothers and four sisters, whom have all departed this life. He was a son of Robert and Elizabeth Green Whitworth, also natives of England. In June, 1853, he emigrated to the United States and landed at New York, and proceeded on to Cleveland, Ohio. The deceased was a child of eleven years when he came over with his parents, and continued his education in the county.

In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Fifty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain F. A. Beatty and Colonel F. J. Hobart, and on December 18, the anniversary of his birth, was enrolled in the United States service. He took part in the battles of Fort Donelson, Fort Henry and Shiloh. At the last named engagement he was wounded in the knee by the cross fire of the enemy. He was sent home and remained away from the command for thirty days, after which he rejoined his regiment and saw considerable skirmishing, but participated in no important battles thereafter, and was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1865, and returned to Bean county, Illinois. He was a member of J. D. Craven Post No. 322, G. A. R., at Macksburg, until it disbanded and took justifiable pride in his military record.

In 1870 he came to this county and purchased 80 acres of wild land in Grand River township, which he improved. On January 2, 1876, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth J. Green. To this union two children were born, a son who died in infancy, and a daughter, Ida Purcell, who lives south of Winterset, who survives, besides several nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.

His wife Elizabeth, departed this life on April 18, 1901. He was a member of the Baptist church.

Chapel services were held in Winterset, by the G. A. R., assisted by the Rev. Eugene Alexander, and funeral services were held in the Methodist church at Macksburg, conducted by the Rev. Alexander, assisted by the Woman's Relief Corps. Members of the American Legion were pall bearers and color bearers. Burial was made in the Moon cemetery.

Link to Gravestone Photo
 

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen