by Nona Worthington Shibley and Alice Allred Pottmyer
James Worthington was a descendant of one of the old sturdy English families. The progenitor of the family in this country was Isaac Worthington, the father of James Worthington. Isaac Worthington was born in Cheshire County, England, and immigrated to America and settled in the state of Pennsylvania in the late 1700s where he spent the remainder of his life. Records indicate that Isaac Worthington was the fourth child of William and Ann Platt Worthington of Wilmslow, Cheshire County, England. (This is near Manchester, England.)
Isaac Worthington was born March 28, 1777. He married Lucinda Mitchell, April 1, 1802, in Greencastle, Pennsylvania. Lucinda Mitchell was born August 5, 1779, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Isaac was listed on the 1806 Franklin County tax list as a flying spindle weaver. Isaac died in 1806 leaving Lucinda a very young widow. There is no information available on the cause of death or where he was buried. On July 4, 1807, Lucinda took her three young children, James, William and Maria, to the East Conococheague (pronounced con ca jay) Presbyterian Church where they were baptized. The log church no longer exists. There is a small cemetery on the location. However, there is no indication that Isaac Worthington is buried there. Lucinda died April 20, 1851, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
James Worthington was born January 9, 1803, in Greencastle, Antrim Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, the son of Isaac and Lucinda Mitchell Worthington. He was reared in that vicinity in south central Pennsylvania and spent the first 25 years or so of his life in Franklin County. James was married May 15, 1827, to Rachel Staley, a daughter of Jacob and Mary McMurray Staley. Jacob was born at sea while his parents were immigrating to America from Germany. Rachel was born October 4, 1803, in the same town as her husband, James. Eight children were born to them as follows:
• Anna Mariah was born February 21, 1828, in Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She died February 10, 1833, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
• James Mitchell was born January 3, 1831, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He died May 17, 1903, in Oakley, Idaho.
• Samuel Ross was born, December 18, 1832, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
• Martha Jane was born May 4, 1835, and died the next day, in Bridgewater, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
• Stephen Staley was born April 3, 1836, Bridgewater, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He died August 18, 1911, in Grantsville, Utah.
• Mary Lucinda was born May 25, 1840, in Lima, Hancock County, Illinois. She married John Michael Bach.
• Don Carlos Smith was born May 19, 1842, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. He died September 15, 1843, in Nauvoo, Illinois. The Nauvoo records indicate that he suffered from "bloody flux."
• Alpheus Cutler (Cutt) was born in Nauvoo, Illinois December 13, 1844, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. He died at Oakley, Idaho, January 8, 1908.
The first child of James and Rachel, Anna Mariah, was born in Greencastle. However, by the time the second child, James Mitchell, was born, the family had moved to the Bridgewater area of Beaver County in western Pennsylvania.
James and his wife, Rachel, first heard the Gospel preached by Orson Pratt in Pennsylvania. James became interested and invited the Elders to his home. Rachel was very bitter and was opposed to the Mormons. She refused to prepare any food for them or in any way make them welcome into her home. This attitude went on for several months, when finally she received a vision or visit from a heavenly being that appeared to her three times in succession, telling her to repent of her sins and to be baptized. This impressed her very much so she began investigating the doctrines and teachings of the Church. She then had a change of heart and was converted to the Church. Both James and Rachel were then baptized. The baptism was held in the Ohio River, September 20, 1836, near Bridgewater, Pennsylvania. They were baptized by Sampson Avard about a year after hearing Orson Pratt preach when he visited their area.
Diary of Orson Pratt
Oct. 14 [1835].—Started on a mission to the Ohio River, preaching by the way; tarried two or three weeks in Beaver county, Penn.; held sixteen meetings; baptized a few and raised up a small Branch of the Church, and ordained Dr. Sampson Avard an Elder, to take charge of them and then returned to Kirtland, where I arrived on the 16th of November.
Note: Dr. Sampson Avard was a former Cambellite preacher. He later became an active Mormon dissident. He was excommunicated March of 1839.
James and Rachel gathered with the Saints sometime after their baptism, moving to Missouri in 1837 or 1838. They lived through the terrible mobs and persecutions in Missouri. They then moved to Adams County, Illinois, where they lived for two years. James filed a Redress Petition in Adams County.
James Worthington Redress Petition
The State of Illinois)
Adams County ) ss
Before me William Laughlin one of the Justices of the peace for said County personally came James Worthington
Who being duly sworn according Laws deposeth and saith that he is the true owner of the Southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section Sixteen in Township 55, Range 28, in the County of Caldwell and State of Missouri which forty acres of land the Militia under command of Generals Lucas and Willson compelled him to assign away by a deed of trust running to the State of Missouri, sometime in the month of October or November in the year 1838: And this Deponent further states that previous to, this he was chased by four of said militia and when they could not get him they fired four guns at him and about three or four days afterwards he was taken prisoner by said Militia who kept him a prisoner about six or seven days and after he was released they hunted and chased him about twelve days: and that afterwards said Militia compelled him to leave said land without any compensation: that they also compelled him and his family to leave the said State of Missouri, that he was a Citizen of said State in the year aforesaid: and further this deponent saith not.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 7th day of January A.D. 1840
Wm. Laughlin J.P. James Worthington
(signature) (signature)
James was ordained a Seventy in 1838 by Brigham Young and belonged to the 3rd Quorum.
After leaving Adams County, the family lived in Nauvoo, Illinois, where they passed through all the trouble and privations which the Mormons suffered at that time. Two of their children were born in Nauvoo, Illinois, and one son, Don Carlos Smith Worthington, died in Nauvoo on September 15, 1843.
James and Rachel received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple on January 9, 1846.
James Worthington was a member of the Nauvoo Legion, in the 2nd Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Regiment. He was a captain and later was promoted to major on July 4, 1843. During the battle, at the time of the eviction of the Mormons from Nauvoo in 1846, he had charge of one of the old historic guns made from the shafts of an old river boat. Others of this Nauvoo Legion group who settled in Grantsville, Utah, were James Palmer, Bishop John Rowberry and Arroet Hale. James Worthington also was a body guard for the Prophet Joseph Smith on many occasions.
After the 1846 exodus from Nauvoo, the Worthingtons settled in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Their part became Mills County in 1851. James is listed on the 1852 Iowa State Census.
James and Rachel crossed the plains in pioneer fashion in the company of Captain Thomas Brierly. They arrived in Utah in 1853. They stayed in Salt Lake City one month and located at the shores of the Great Salt Lake near what is now called Garfield. Here they were engaged in manufacture of salt during their first winter in Zion. They were able to trade the salt to others to get necessary items to exist during those days of extreme poverty and hardship.
They gave this up and in the spring of 1854 moved to Grantsville, Utah. They were among the first settlers there. Here he was engaged in farming and cattle raising. Early in the year of 1858, he was called on a mission to establish a colony among the Indians and to preach the Gospel to them. This call was to Ibapah or Deep Creek in western Utah. Before leaving on this mission he deeded his property and belongings to the Church through President Brigham Young.
They stayed at Ibapah for many years, laboring among the Indians teaching them the Gospel. Rachel taught the Indians to sew, cook and perform many other domestic duties. James taught them how to farm and helped them to utilize the water from nearby creeks for irrigation. Some of the creeks were named after James' sons. Even at the present time the creeks bear the names of James' sons. The names were Sam's Creek, Steve's Creek and Dad's Creek. Upon leaving Ibapah, James and his sons gave their holdings of land and water to the Indians.
After this mission to the Indians, James and Rachel settled in Grantsville again. The Indians frequently came all the way from Deep Creek to visit with James and Rachel and to seek advice and counsel or to settle their differences for them. The Indians affectionately called them "Mom" and "Pap."
Later on James owned property west of the J.U. Hicks home on Main Street. They lived in a log cabin there. After that he had the place where LeRoy Sutton lives and he died where Gus Sandberg's home is now. Rachel slipped on the ice and fell causing a broken hip and other injuries in January 1882. She suffered very much from these injuries and died six weeks after the accident on February 24, 1882. James died July 29, 1885, at the age of 82 in Grantsville.
In an old letter dated July 1879 from relatives of James' who had remained in Pennsylvania, it stated that the family there remained with the Methodist faith and were glad of it. (Some of the family joined the Methodist faith after the original baptism of the three young children into the Presbyterian faith in 1807.) James and Rachel remained faithful to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and they too were glad of it.
Nona Worthington Shibley was a great granddaughter of James and Rachel Worthington.
Alice Allred Pottmyer is a great great granddaughter of James and Rachel Worthington.
James Worthington was a descendant of one of the old sturdy English families. The progenitor of the family in this country was Isaac Worthington, the father of James Worthington. Isaac Worthington was born in Cheshire County, England, and immigrated to America and settled in the state of Pennsylvania in the late 1700s where he spent the remainder of his life. Records indicate that Isaac Worthington was the fourth child of William and Ann Platt Worthington of Wilmslow, Cheshire County, England. (This is near Manchester, England.)
Isaac Worthington was born March 28, 1777. He married Lucinda Mitchell, April 1, 1802, in Greencastle, Pennsylvania. Lucinda Mitchell was born August 5, 1779, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Isaac was listed on the 1806 Franklin County tax list as a flying spindle weaver. Isaac died in 1806 leaving Lucinda a very young widow. There is no information available on the cause of death or where he was buried. On July 4, 1807, Lucinda took her three young children, James, William and Maria, to the East Conococheague (pronounced con ca jay) Presbyterian Church where they were baptized. The log church no longer exists. There is a small cemetery on the location. However, there is no indication that Isaac Worthington is buried there. Lucinda died April 20, 1851, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
James Worthington was born January 9, 1803, in Greencastle, Antrim Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, the son of Isaac and Lucinda Mitchell Worthington. He was reared in that vicinity in south central Pennsylvania and spent the first 25 years or so of his life in Franklin County. James was married May 15, 1827, to Rachel Staley, a daughter of Jacob and Mary McMurray Staley. Jacob was born at sea while his parents were immigrating to America from Germany. Rachel was born October 4, 1803, in the same town as her husband, James. Eight children were born to them as follows:
• Anna Mariah was born February 21, 1828, in Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She died February 10, 1833, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
• James Mitchell was born January 3, 1831, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He died May 17, 1903, in Oakley, Idaho.
• Samuel Ross was born, December 18, 1832, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
• Martha Jane was born May 4, 1835, and died the next day, in Bridgewater, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
• Stephen Staley was born April 3, 1836, Bridgewater, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He died August 18, 1911, in Grantsville, Utah.
• Mary Lucinda was born May 25, 1840, in Lima, Hancock County, Illinois. She married John Michael Bach.
• Don Carlos Smith was born May 19, 1842, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. He died September 15, 1843, in Nauvoo, Illinois. The Nauvoo records indicate that he suffered from "bloody flux."
• Alpheus Cutler (Cutt) was born in Nauvoo, Illinois December 13, 1844, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. He died at Oakley, Idaho, January 8, 1908.
The first child of James and Rachel, Anna Mariah, was born in Greencastle. However, by the time the second child, James Mitchell, was born, the family had moved to the Bridgewater area of Beaver County in western Pennsylvania.
James and his wife, Rachel, first heard the Gospel preached by Orson Pratt in Pennsylvania. James became interested and invited the Elders to his home. Rachel was very bitter and was opposed to the Mormons. She refused to prepare any food for them or in any way make them welcome into her home. This attitude went on for several months, when finally she received a vision or visit from a heavenly being that appeared to her three times in succession, telling her to repent of her sins and to be baptized. This impressed her very much so she began investigating the doctrines and teachings of the Church. She then had a change of heart and was converted to the Church. Both James and Rachel were then baptized. The baptism was held in the Ohio River, September 20, 1836, near Bridgewater, Pennsylvania. They were baptized by Sampson Avard about a year after hearing Orson Pratt preach when he visited their area.
Diary of Orson Pratt
Oct. 14 [1835].—Started on a mission to the Ohio River, preaching by the way; tarried two or three weeks in Beaver county, Penn.; held sixteen meetings; baptized a few and raised up a small Branch of the Church, and ordained Dr. Sampson Avard an Elder, to take charge of them and then returned to Kirtland, where I arrived on the 16th of November.
Note: Dr. Sampson Avard was a former Cambellite preacher. He later became an active Mormon dissident. He was excommunicated March of 1839.
James and Rachel gathered with the Saints sometime after their baptism, moving to Missouri in 1837 or 1838. They lived through the terrible mobs and persecutions in Missouri. They then moved to Adams County, Illinois, where they lived for two years. James filed a Redress Petition in Adams County.
James Worthington Redress Petition
The State of Illinois)
Adams County ) ss
Before me William Laughlin one of the Justices of the peace for said County personally came James Worthington
Who being duly sworn according Laws deposeth and saith that he is the true owner of the Southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section Sixteen in Township 55, Range 28, in the County of Caldwell and State of Missouri which forty acres of land the Militia under command of Generals Lucas and Willson compelled him to assign away by a deed of trust running to the State of Missouri, sometime in the month of October or November in the year 1838: And this Deponent further states that previous to, this he was chased by four of said militia and when they could not get him they fired four guns at him and about three or four days afterwards he was taken prisoner by said Militia who kept him a prisoner about six or seven days and after he was released they hunted and chased him about twelve days: and that afterwards said Militia compelled him to leave said land without any compensation: that they also compelled him and his family to leave the said State of Missouri, that he was a Citizen of said State in the year aforesaid: and further this deponent saith not.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 7th day of January A.D. 1840
Wm. Laughlin J.P. James Worthington
(signature) (signature)
James was ordained a Seventy in 1838 by Brigham Young and belonged to the 3rd Quorum.
After leaving Adams County, the family lived in Nauvoo, Illinois, where they passed through all the trouble and privations which the Mormons suffered at that time. Two of their children were born in Nauvoo, Illinois, and one son, Don Carlos Smith Worthington, died in Nauvoo on September 15, 1843.
James and Rachel received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple on January 9, 1846.
James Worthington was a member of the Nauvoo Legion, in the 2nd Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Regiment. He was a captain and later was promoted to major on July 4, 1843. During the battle, at the time of the eviction of the Mormons from Nauvoo in 1846, he had charge of one of the old historic guns made from the shafts of an old river boat. Others of this Nauvoo Legion group who settled in Grantsville, Utah, were James Palmer, Bishop John Rowberry and Arroet Hale. James Worthington also was a body guard for the Prophet Joseph Smith on many occasions.
After the 1846 exodus from Nauvoo, the Worthingtons settled in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Their part became Mills County in 1851. James is listed on the 1852 Iowa State Census.
James and Rachel crossed the plains in pioneer fashion in the company of Captain Thomas Brierly. They arrived in Utah in 1853. They stayed in Salt Lake City one month and located at the shores of the Great Salt Lake near what is now called Garfield. Here they were engaged in manufacture of salt during their first winter in Zion. They were able to trade the salt to others to get necessary items to exist during those days of extreme poverty and hardship.
They gave this up and in the spring of 1854 moved to Grantsville, Utah. They were among the first settlers there. Here he was engaged in farming and cattle raising. Early in the year of 1858, he was called on a mission to establish a colony among the Indians and to preach the Gospel to them. This call was to Ibapah or Deep Creek in western Utah. Before leaving on this mission he deeded his property and belongings to the Church through President Brigham Young.
They stayed at Ibapah for many years, laboring among the Indians teaching them the Gospel. Rachel taught the Indians to sew, cook and perform many other domestic duties. James taught them how to farm and helped them to utilize the water from nearby creeks for irrigation. Some of the creeks were named after James' sons. Even at the present time the creeks bear the names of James' sons. The names were Sam's Creek, Steve's Creek and Dad's Creek. Upon leaving Ibapah, James and his sons gave their holdings of land and water to the Indians.
After this mission to the Indians, James and Rachel settled in Grantsville again. The Indians frequently came all the way from Deep Creek to visit with James and Rachel and to seek advice and counsel or to settle their differences for them. The Indians affectionately called them "Mom" and "Pap."
Later on James owned property west of the J.U. Hicks home on Main Street. They lived in a log cabin there. After that he had the place where LeRoy Sutton lives and he died where Gus Sandberg's home is now. Rachel slipped on the ice and fell causing a broken hip and other injuries in January 1882. She suffered very much from these injuries and died six weeks after the accident on February 24, 1882. James died July 29, 1885, at the age of 82 in Grantsville.
In an old letter dated July 1879 from relatives of James' who had remained in Pennsylvania, it stated that the family there remained with the Methodist faith and were glad of it. (Some of the family joined the Methodist faith after the original baptism of the three young children into the Presbyterian faith in 1807.) James and Rachel remained faithful to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and they too were glad of it.
Nona Worthington Shibley was a great granddaughter of James and Rachel Worthington.
Alice Allred Pottmyer is a great great granddaughter of James and Rachel Worthington.
by Nona Worthington Shibley and Alice Allred Pottmyer
James Worthington was a descendant of one of the old sturdy English families. The progenitor of the family in this country was Isaac Worthington, the father of James Worthington. Isaac Worthington was born in Cheshire County, England, and immigrated to America and settled in the state of Pennsylvania in the late 1700s where he spent the remainder of his life. Records indicate that Isaac Worthington was the fourth child of William and Ann Platt Worthington of Wilmslow, Cheshire County, England. (This is near Manchester, England.)
Isaac Worthington was born March 28, 1777. He married Lucinda Mitchell, April 1, 1802, in Greencastle, Pennsylvania. Lucinda Mitchell was born August 5, 1779, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Isaac was listed on the 1806 Franklin County tax list as a flying spindle weaver. Isaac died in 1806 leaving Lucinda a very young widow. There is no information available on the cause of death or where he was buried. On July 4, 1807, Lucinda took her three young children, James, William and Maria, to the East Conococheague (pronounced con ca jay) Presbyterian Church where they were baptized. The log church no longer exists. There is a small cemetery on the location. However, there is no indication that Isaac Worthington is buried there. Lucinda died April 20, 1851, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
James Worthington was born January 9, 1803, in Greencastle, Antrim Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, the son of Isaac and Lucinda Mitchell Worthington. He was reared in that vicinity in south central Pennsylvania and spent the first 25 years or so of his life in Franklin County. James was married May 15, 1827, to Rachel Staley, a daughter of Jacob and Mary McMurray Staley. Jacob was born at sea while his parents were immigrating to America from Germany. Rachel was born October 4, 1803, in the same town as her husband, James. Eight children were born to them as follows:
• Anna Mariah was born February 21, 1828, in Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She died February 10, 1833, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
• James Mitchell was born January 3, 1831, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He died May 17, 1903, in Oakley, Idaho.
• Samuel Ross was born, December 18, 1832, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
• Martha Jane was born May 4, 1835, and died the next day, in Bridgewater, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
• Stephen Staley was born April 3, 1836, Bridgewater, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He died August 18, 1911, in Grantsville, Utah.
• Mary Lucinda was born May 25, 1840, in Lima, Hancock County, Illinois. She married John Michael Bach.
• Don Carlos Smith was born May 19, 1842, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. He died September 15, 1843, in Nauvoo, Illinois. The Nauvoo records indicate that he suffered from "bloody flux."
• Alpheus Cutler (Cutt) was born in Nauvoo, Illinois December 13, 1844, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. He died at Oakley, Idaho, January 8, 1908.
The first child of James and Rachel, Anna Mariah, was born in Greencastle. However, by the time the second child, James Mitchell, was born, the family had moved to the Bridgewater area of Beaver County in western Pennsylvania.
James and his wife, Rachel, first heard the Gospel preached by Orson Pratt in Pennsylvania. James became interested and invited the Elders to his home. Rachel was very bitter and was opposed to the Mormons. She refused to prepare any food for them or in any way make them welcome into her home. This attitude went on for several months, when finally she received a vision or visit from a heavenly being that appeared to her three times in succession, telling her to repent of her sins and to be baptized. This impressed her very much so she began investigating the doctrines and teachings of the Church. She then had a change of heart and was converted to the Church. Both James and Rachel were then baptized. The baptism was held in the Ohio River, September 20, 1836, near Bridgewater, Pennsylvania. They were baptized by Sampson Avard about a year after hearing Orson Pratt preach when he visited their area.
Diary of Orson Pratt
Oct. 14 [1835].—Started on a mission to the Ohio River, preaching by the way; tarried two or three weeks in Beaver county, Penn.; held sixteen meetings; baptized a few and raised up a small Branch of the Church, and ordained Dr. Sampson Avard an Elder, to take charge of them and then returned to Kirtland, where I arrived on the 16th of November.
Note: Dr. Sampson Avard was a former Cambellite preacher. He later became an active Mormon dissident. He was excommunicated March of 1839.
James and Rachel gathered with the Saints sometime after their baptism, moving to Missouri in 1837 or 1838. They lived through the terrible mobs and persecutions in Missouri. They then moved to Adams County, Illinois, where they lived for two years. James filed a Redress Petition in Adams County.
James Worthington Redress Petition
The State of Illinois)
Adams County ) ss
Before me William Laughlin one of the Justices of the peace for said County personally came James Worthington
Who being duly sworn according Laws deposeth and saith that he is the true owner of the Southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section Sixteen in Township 55, Range 28, in the County of Caldwell and State of Missouri which forty acres of land the Militia under command of Generals Lucas and Willson compelled him to assign away by a deed of trust running to the State of Missouri, sometime in the month of October or November in the year 1838: And this Deponent further states that previous to, this he was chased by four of said militia and when they could not get him they fired four guns at him and about three or four days afterwards he was taken prisoner by said Militia who kept him a prisoner about six or seven days and after he was released they hunted and chased him about twelve days: and that afterwards said Militia compelled him to leave said land without any compensation: that they also compelled him and his family to leave the said State of Missouri, that he was a Citizen of said State in the year aforesaid: and further this deponent saith not.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 7th day of January A.D. 1840
Wm. Laughlin J.P. James Worthington
(signature) (signature)
James was ordained a Seventy in 1838 by Brigham Young and belonged to the 3rd Quorum.
After leaving Adams County, the family lived in Nauvoo, Illinois, where they passed through all the trouble and privations which the Mormons suffered at that time. Two of their children were born in Nauvoo, Illinois, and one son, Don Carlos Smith Worthington, died in Nauvoo on September 15, 1843.
James and Rachel received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple on January 9, 1846.
James Worthington was a member of the Nauvoo Legion, in the 2nd Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Regiment. He was a captain and later was promoted to major on July 4, 1843. During the battle, at the time of the eviction of the Mormons from Nauvoo in 1846, he had charge of one of the old historic guns made from the shafts of an old river boat. Others of this Nauvoo Legion group who settled in Grantsville, Utah, were James Palmer, Bishop John Rowberry and Arroet Hale. James Worthington also was a body guard for the Prophet Joseph Smith on many occasions.
After the 1846 exodus from Nauvoo, the Worthingtons settled in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Their part became Mills County in 1851. James is listed on the 1852 Iowa State Census.
James and Rachel crossed the plains in pioneer fashion in the company of Captain Thomas Brierly. They arrived in Utah in 1853. They stayed in Salt Lake City one month and located at the shores of the Great Salt Lake near what is now called Garfield. Here they were engaged in manufacture of salt during their first winter in Zion. They were able to trade the salt to others to get necessary items to exist during those days of extreme poverty and hardship.
They gave this up and in the spring of 1854 moved to Grantsville, Utah. They were among the first settlers there. Here he was engaged in farming and cattle raising. Early in the year of 1858, he was called on a mission to establish a colony among the Indians and to preach the Gospel to them. This call was to Ibapah or Deep Creek in western Utah. Before leaving on this mission he deeded his property and belongings to the Church through President Brigham Young.
They stayed at Ibapah for many years, laboring among the Indians teaching them the Gospel. Rachel taught the Indians to sew, cook and perform many other domestic duties. James taught them how to farm and helped them to utilize the water from nearby creeks for irrigation. Some of the creeks were named after James' sons. Even at the present time the creeks bear the names of James' sons. The names were Sam's Creek, Steve's Creek and Dad's Creek. Upon leaving Ibapah, James and his sons gave their holdings of land and water to the Indians.
After this mission to the Indians, James and Rachel settled in Grantsville again. The Indians frequently came all the way from Deep Creek to visit with James and Rachel and to seek advice and counsel or to settle their differences for them. The Indians affectionately called them "Mom" and "Pap."
Later on James owned property west of the J.U. Hicks home on Main Street. They lived in a log cabin there. After that he had the place where LeRoy Sutton lives and he died where Gus Sandberg's home is now. Rachel slipped on the ice and fell causing a broken hip and other injuries in January 1882. She suffered very much from these injuries and died six weeks after the accident on February 24, 1882. James died July 29, 1885, at the age of 82 in Grantsville.
In an old letter dated July 1879 from relatives of James' who had remained in Pennsylvania, it stated that the family there remained with the Methodist faith and were glad of it. (Some of the family joined the Methodist faith after the original baptism of the three young children into the Presbyterian faith in 1807.) James and Rachel remained faithful to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and they too were glad of it.
Nona Worthington Shibley was a great granddaughter of James and Rachel Worthington.
Alice Allred Pottmyer is a great great granddaughter of James and Rachel Worthington.
James Worthington was a descendant of one of the old sturdy English families. The progenitor of the family in this country was Isaac Worthington, the father of James Worthington. Isaac Worthington was born in Cheshire County, England, and immigrated to America and settled in the state of Pennsylvania in the late 1700s where he spent the remainder of his life. Records indicate that Isaac Worthington was the fourth child of William and Ann Platt Worthington of Wilmslow, Cheshire County, England. (This is near Manchester, England.)
Isaac Worthington was born March 28, 1777. He married Lucinda Mitchell, April 1, 1802, in Greencastle, Pennsylvania. Lucinda Mitchell was born August 5, 1779, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Isaac was listed on the 1806 Franklin County tax list as a flying spindle weaver. Isaac died in 1806 leaving Lucinda a very young widow. There is no information available on the cause of death or where he was buried. On July 4, 1807, Lucinda took her three young children, James, William and Maria, to the East Conococheague (pronounced con ca jay) Presbyterian Church where they were baptized. The log church no longer exists. There is a small cemetery on the location. However, there is no indication that Isaac Worthington is buried there. Lucinda died April 20, 1851, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
James Worthington was born January 9, 1803, in Greencastle, Antrim Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, the son of Isaac and Lucinda Mitchell Worthington. He was reared in that vicinity in south central Pennsylvania and spent the first 25 years or so of his life in Franklin County. James was married May 15, 1827, to Rachel Staley, a daughter of Jacob and Mary McMurray Staley. Jacob was born at sea while his parents were immigrating to America from Germany. Rachel was born October 4, 1803, in the same town as her husband, James. Eight children were born to them as follows:
• Anna Mariah was born February 21, 1828, in Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She died February 10, 1833, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
• James Mitchell was born January 3, 1831, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He died May 17, 1903, in Oakley, Idaho.
• Samuel Ross was born, December 18, 1832, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
• Martha Jane was born May 4, 1835, and died the next day, in Bridgewater, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
• Stephen Staley was born April 3, 1836, Bridgewater, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He died August 18, 1911, in Grantsville, Utah.
• Mary Lucinda was born May 25, 1840, in Lima, Hancock County, Illinois. She married John Michael Bach.
• Don Carlos Smith was born May 19, 1842, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. He died September 15, 1843, in Nauvoo, Illinois. The Nauvoo records indicate that he suffered from "bloody flux."
• Alpheus Cutler (Cutt) was born in Nauvoo, Illinois December 13, 1844, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. He died at Oakley, Idaho, January 8, 1908.
The first child of James and Rachel, Anna Mariah, was born in Greencastle. However, by the time the second child, James Mitchell, was born, the family had moved to the Bridgewater area of Beaver County in western Pennsylvania.
James and his wife, Rachel, first heard the Gospel preached by Orson Pratt in Pennsylvania. James became interested and invited the Elders to his home. Rachel was very bitter and was opposed to the Mormons. She refused to prepare any food for them or in any way make them welcome into her home. This attitude went on for several months, when finally she received a vision or visit from a heavenly being that appeared to her three times in succession, telling her to repent of her sins and to be baptized. This impressed her very much so she began investigating the doctrines and teachings of the Church. She then had a change of heart and was converted to the Church. Both James and Rachel were then baptized. The baptism was held in the Ohio River, September 20, 1836, near Bridgewater, Pennsylvania. They were baptized by Sampson Avard about a year after hearing Orson Pratt preach when he visited their area.
Diary of Orson Pratt
Oct. 14 [1835].—Started on a mission to the Ohio River, preaching by the way; tarried two or three weeks in Beaver county, Penn.; held sixteen meetings; baptized a few and raised up a small Branch of the Church, and ordained Dr. Sampson Avard an Elder, to take charge of them and then returned to Kirtland, where I arrived on the 16th of November.
Note: Dr. Sampson Avard was a former Cambellite preacher. He later became an active Mormon dissident. He was excommunicated March of 1839.
James and Rachel gathered with the Saints sometime after their baptism, moving to Missouri in 1837 or 1838. They lived through the terrible mobs and persecutions in Missouri. They then moved to Adams County, Illinois, where they lived for two years. James filed a Redress Petition in Adams County.
James Worthington Redress Petition
The State of Illinois)
Adams County ) ss
Before me William Laughlin one of the Justices of the peace for said County personally came James Worthington
Who being duly sworn according Laws deposeth and saith that he is the true owner of the Southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section Sixteen in Township 55, Range 28, in the County of Caldwell and State of Missouri which forty acres of land the Militia under command of Generals Lucas and Willson compelled him to assign away by a deed of trust running to the State of Missouri, sometime in the month of October or November in the year 1838: And this Deponent further states that previous to, this he was chased by four of said militia and when they could not get him they fired four guns at him and about three or four days afterwards he was taken prisoner by said Militia who kept him a prisoner about six or seven days and after he was released they hunted and chased him about twelve days: and that afterwards said Militia compelled him to leave said land without any compensation: that they also compelled him and his family to leave the said State of Missouri, that he was a Citizen of said State in the year aforesaid: and further this deponent saith not.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 7th day of January A.D. 1840
Wm. Laughlin J.P. James Worthington
(signature) (signature)
James was ordained a Seventy in 1838 by Brigham Young and belonged to the 3rd Quorum.
After leaving Adams County, the family lived in Nauvoo, Illinois, where they passed through all the trouble and privations which the Mormons suffered at that time. Two of their children were born in Nauvoo, Illinois, and one son, Don Carlos Smith Worthington, died in Nauvoo on September 15, 1843.
James and Rachel received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple on January 9, 1846.
James Worthington was a member of the Nauvoo Legion, in the 2nd Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Regiment. He was a captain and later was promoted to major on July 4, 1843. During the battle, at the time of the eviction of the Mormons from Nauvoo in 1846, he had charge of one of the old historic guns made from the shafts of an old river boat. Others of this Nauvoo Legion group who settled in Grantsville, Utah, were James Palmer, Bishop John Rowberry and Arroet Hale. James Worthington also was a body guard for the Prophet Joseph Smith on many occasions.
After the 1846 exodus from Nauvoo, the Worthingtons settled in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Their part became Mills County in 1851. James is listed on the 1852 Iowa State Census.
James and Rachel crossed the plains in pioneer fashion in the company of Captain Thomas Brierly. They arrived in Utah in 1853. They stayed in Salt Lake City one month and located at the shores of the Great Salt Lake near what is now called Garfield. Here they were engaged in manufacture of salt during their first winter in Zion. They were able to trade the salt to others to get necessary items to exist during those days of extreme poverty and hardship.
They gave this up and in the spring of 1854 moved to Grantsville, Utah. They were among the first settlers there. Here he was engaged in farming and cattle raising. Early in the year of 1858, he was called on a mission to establish a colony among the Indians and to preach the Gospel to them. This call was to Ibapah or Deep Creek in western Utah. Before leaving on this mission he deeded his property and belongings to the Church through President Brigham Young.
They stayed at Ibapah for many years, laboring among the Indians teaching them the Gospel. Rachel taught the Indians to sew, cook and perform many other domestic duties. James taught them how to farm and helped them to utilize the water from nearby creeks for irrigation. Some of the creeks were named after James' sons. Even at the present time the creeks bear the names of James' sons. The names were Sam's Creek, Steve's Creek and Dad's Creek. Upon leaving Ibapah, James and his sons gave their holdings of land and water to the Indians.
After this mission to the Indians, James and Rachel settled in Grantsville again. The Indians frequently came all the way from Deep Creek to visit with James and Rachel and to seek advice and counsel or to settle their differences for them. The Indians affectionately called them "Mom" and "Pap."
Later on James owned property west of the J.U. Hicks home on Main Street. They lived in a log cabin there. After that he had the place where LeRoy Sutton lives and he died where Gus Sandberg's home is now. Rachel slipped on the ice and fell causing a broken hip and other injuries in January 1882. She suffered very much from these injuries and died six weeks after the accident on February 24, 1882. James died July 29, 1885, at the age of 82 in Grantsville.
In an old letter dated July 1879 from relatives of James' who had remained in Pennsylvania, it stated that the family there remained with the Methodist faith and were glad of it. (Some of the family joined the Methodist faith after the original baptism of the three young children into the Presbyterian faith in 1807.) James and Rachel remained faithful to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and they too were glad of it.
Nona Worthington Shibley was a great granddaughter of James and Rachel Worthington.
Alice Allred Pottmyer is a great great granddaughter of James and Rachel Worthington.
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