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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of Albert M. WORTMAN, M.D. 

Pages 813-815, transcribed in full by Karen CRANE Goggin 

[Surnames: DILLWORTH, DRAKE, KINNEY, METCALF, NEWMAN, SIMPKINS, WORTMAN] 

    
ALBERT M. WORTMAN, M. D. This gentleman is a retired physician and the owner of the Vermont Stock Farm which is well known to breeders and lovers of horses. As a horseman the reputation of Dr. Wortman has extended over a large territory, and those who have made his acquaintance during the past few years know him best for this and his fine social qualities. While he was engaged in the practice of his profession he met with remarkable success, as is evidenced by the fact that he was able to retire with a fortune at the early age of thirty-five years. His professional labors were principally carried on in one of the great commercial centers of the country. 
    
Before entering upon the life of Dr. Wortman it will not be amiss to note a few facts regarding his ancestors. His grandfather, John Wortman, was born in Pennsylvania and took his place among the pioneers of Muskingum County, Ohio. He established a carding-mill, operating it for some years. He possessed the peculiar qualifications which fitted him for pioneer life, and after his locality in Ohio became quite well settled, he removed farther west. He settled near Ottawa, Ill., in a region which was then but sparsely settled, but after the outbreak of the Black Hawk War he, with many other families, returned to the Buckeye State. He lived in various parts of the commonwealth but spent his last years at Monroeville, Huron County. There his faithful companion also breathed her last. She had borne the maiden name of Rebecca Simpkins and was of Scotch ancestry. 
    
The father of our subject, Dr. William S. Wortman, was born in Ohio near Zanesville. At the early age of thirteen years he began to earn his own living. He succeeded in obtaining education sufficient to teach a country school and carefully hoarding the money thus earned, he further promoted his knowledge until he was graduated from the medical department of the Western Reserve College at Cleveland. He began the practice of his profession at Sandusky City, but in 1862 he removed to Missouri, locating at St. Louis. There he secured a large practice and won a high reputation for his theoretical knowledge and professional skill. His death took place in that city June 10, 1884. His wife, formerly Lucretia S. Metcalf, was born in Attica, Seneca County Ohio. Her father, George Metcalf, was engaged in mercantile pursuits and farming there. To Dr. Wortman and his estimable wife seven children were born, five of whom were reared to manhood and womanhood. These are our subject, Mary Belle, Ella May, Carrie M. and Myrtle J. The last mentioned has made her home with her brother since the death of her mother, which took place July 11, 1888. Miss Myrtle is a lovely girl with a sweet, unselfish disposition which endears her to all about her. 
    
The birth of Albert M. Wortman took place in Shelby, Richland County, Ohio, October 19, 1852, and he was ten years old when his parents removed to St. Louis Mo. He had previously attended the Mayflower School in Cleveland and at his new home continued his studies in the city schools for a short time. He then entered the College of the Christian Brothers and by reason of his aptness in comprehending and assimilating facts was graduated at the age of eighteen years. He at once began the study of medicine, his tutors being his father and Drs. S. T. Newman and F. O. Drake. After having read with them a sufficient length of time he attended medical lectures at the St. Louis Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1873. 
    
The young physician was at once chosen assistant in the St. Louis City Hospital and after fully discharging the duties, which proved a great benefit to himself as well as to the inmates of the institution, for a twelvemonth, he left the city. He established himself in Vermont, Ill., but after practicing there a year and a half removed to Baltimore, Md., that he might have a wider field for his labors. In that city he conducted a successful practice until 1887, when he determined to retire from professional work. He came to Vermont, which had been the home of his wife during her maidenhood and where her nearest relatives were still living. The following year he bought a half-interest in a farm adjoining the town and in 1889 purchased the remaining interest and also the Vermont Stock Farm. 
    
The same year Dr. Wortman purchased eleven Kentucky-bred horses, Ray Boyd standing at the head of the herd. This fine animal is a half-brother to Maud S., whose time of 2:08 3/4 is the fastest on record. His dam is a half-sister to Goldsmith Maid, whose time is 2:14 and who has been the greatest campaigner the world has ever known. Ray Boyd is by a son of Hambletonian and is inbred to the sire of Hambletonian's dam. Ray Boyd's dam is by a son of Hambletonian and is inbred to the sire of Hambletonian's dam. Ray Boyd's sire is by Hambletonian and is inbred to the sire of Hambletonian's dam. It is stated on good authority that Ray Boyd possesses more of the Blood--Messenger and Bellfounder--that produced the great Hambletonian 10 than any other horse living, with the possible exception of Egbert. The Doctor also has fifty standard and non-standard breeding mares. 
    
The fine horse farm of Dr. A. M. Wortman joins Vermont on the northeast and extends to the "Q" Lake. The farm by nature and outlay of the Doctor's money is one of the best fitted and equipped in the State for the purpose. It consists of one hundred and fifty acres of rolling land set in pasture, divided into seventeen pasture fields, or paddocks, by neat and substantial plank fences, all connected by gates. Each field is supplied with plenty of pure water, the majority by springs that never fail, one of which flows a stream continually an inch in diameter, as clear as crystal. The buildings are all substantial structures on brick foundations. The tenant house is very handsome equal to many in town. The main barn built on a natural eminence is 52x92. The lower floor is divided by a driveway the entire length of the building, on each side of which are large box stalls, fitted with all the modern conveniences, including harness closets, salt boxes and folding mangers, the latter connected with the loft above by trap doors, through which the horses are fed hay. The sides of the stalls next the drive-way are boarded up four feet and that surmounted by two feet of iron lattice work; this insures plenty of light and air. The upper story is fitted with a storage room for grain connected with the lower floor by shutes to lower the feed, and besides will hold one hundred tons of hay. The stalls in this building are used exclusively for brood mares. The stallion stable, a few rods south is 20x32 divided into two stalls, both with two outside doors, the one opening outward being of plank and the one opening inward of heavy lattice work; when the former are open and the latter are closed the air and light pass through. The door on the east opens into a paddock 52x80 that is boarded up eight feet, in which the horses can be turned loose for exercise. Each stall is lined and fitted similar to the ones in the main stable excepting the manger, the stallions being fed from the ground. South of this is another barn 14x90, hay barracks and granaries. Altogether the farm is one of the finest in the county, and with its fine horses attracts wide-spread attention. 
    
Realizing that it was not good for man to live alone, Dr. Wortman wooed a young lady connected with the best families of the county and personally well fitted to be his companion. This was Miss Laura E., daughter of Col. Thomas J. and Abigail (Dilworth) Kinney. She was born at Browning, received a good education and the careful home training which qualified her for the duties she owes to society and the home circle. The marriage rites between Dr. Wortman and Miss Kinney were solemnized at the bride's home, November 26, 1874. 
    
Dr. Wortman belongs to the Royal Arcanum and Knights of Honor. He is jolly and good-natured, ever ready to enter into the sports of the society which he frequents, yet by no means spending his entire time in recreation. The oversight of his stock farm occupies considerable of his time and calls forth his tact and business foresight. A fine library and the prominent magazines and journals of the day afford him food for thought and keep his knowledge of and an interest in the affairs of the world. He is a skillful performer upon the piano, has written brilliant compositions for that instrument and given appropriate setting to many songs.