****************************************************************************
File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
Copyright 2008, all rights reserved.

These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format 
without the written consent of the author at http://fulton.ilgenweb.net.

****************************************************************************

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

****************************************************************************

The Biography of Isaiah C. WORLEY 

Pages 355-356, transcribed in full by Danni Hopkins 

[Surnames: CLARK, DYCKES, HOWARD, SHERMAN, WORLEY] 

    
ISAIAH C. WORLEY, Master in Chancery, of Fulton County, an honored citizen of Lewistown, and a distinguished veteran officer of the late war, has been for many years identified with the civic life of this county and is classed among the ablest men who are at the head of the judicial department of its government. 
    
Mr. Worley was born on a farm near Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pa., and is a son of Daniel and Mary Worley. He was but two years old when his parents moved to Ohio and settled in Richland County, and he was only seven years old, when he had the misfortune to lose his father. His boyhood was still further saddened by the death of his mother at a later period, and he went to live with his brother Nathan for a time. At the youthful age of fourteen years, the manly, self-reliant lad commenced the battle of life on his own account. A venturesome, enterprising spirit brought him from Ohio, to this State in 1849, and from that time he has made his home in Lewistown, with the exception of the time he passed in the South during the war. He was engaged at various kinds of occupation until twenty years of age, when he accepted the position of assistant in the office of the Circuit Clerk, remaining there until 1862. 
    
The patriotism of our subject was roused by the great struggle that was carried on between the North and South during the late conflict, and August 1, 1862 he volunteered in defense of the honor of his country, enlisting in Company A, One Hundred and Third Illinois infantry. His superior qualifications gave him the position of Second Lieutenant of his company, he being mustered into service in that capacity. Later he was promoted to be First Lieutenant, and fought bravely with his regiment in the battles of Vicksburg, Jackson, Memphis and Missionary Ridge, and did valuable service while with Sherman in his march to Atlanta and the sea, fighting with the enemy in many an important engagement of that campaign. From Savannah, Lieut. Worley accompanied the victorious army to South Carolina. He was taken sick at Beaufort and his gallant military career was there brought to a close, as on consultation with Gen. Howard, that officer perceiving the bad condition of his health, advised him to resign his commission, and he did so. 
    
After leaving the army, our subject returned to Lewistown, and as soon as able resumed his position as Deputy County Clerk, retaining it until 1873. His long and valued services in that capacity earned him merited promotion to the office of Clerk of the County Court, to which he was elected in the year mentioned. He held that office by re-election nine years until he was appointed in 1883, Master in Chancery and has been in this position ever since. Our subject has been twice married. His first marriage which was consummated in 1862, was to Amanda L. Clark. She was a native of Lewistown, and a daughter of Charles and Amy Clark, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Mrs. Worley departed this life May 14, 1888. Mr. Worley was married a second time, June 4, 1890, taking as his wife Emma Alice Dyckes. She is a native of this county, born in the town of Bernadotte, and a daughter of Joseph and Lucinda Dyckes, of whom see sketch on another page of this volume [827]. By his first marriage Mr. Worley became the father of two children, Amy Mabel and William Clark. 
    
Mr. Worley possesses a thoughtful, clear mind, an intellect well balanced, and executive talent of a high order, and his constant re-appointment to the important office of which he is an incumbent, shows the high estimate placed upon his services as Master in Chancery. He is a true Christian gentleman, and in him and his amiable wife the Presbyterian Church finds two of its leading members. Politically he is a Democrat, one of the most intelligent supporters of his party in this vicinity. He has aided in the management of civic affairs, as a member of the City Council and of the local School Board. He belongs to Lewistown Lodge, No. 104, A. F. & A.M.