Robert Worthington
Robert Worthington, farmer and stock raiser, was born September 28, 1831. His father, Joseph Worthington, was born in Ross County, this state, February 8, 1804. In the year 1827, he married Hannah Shields, and the following year moved to Fairfield Township, Highland County, this state, and settled on a farm where he has continuously resided until the present time. He has been one of the most widely and well known men of this county; although taking no very active part in politics or other affairs. His occupation has been farming, and he has been remarkably successful, accumulating a large property. This aged couple has been blessed with four children: Thomas, born in 1829 ; Joseph, born in 1883; William D., born in 1837, died June 4, 1854.
Our subject married Catharine Cox, March 17, 1853, by whom he had one son, who was left motherless by the death of the mother, which occurred in one year after her marriage. Mr. Worthington's mother took charge of the infant babe, and has seen him grow up to manhood. He still remains with his grandparents, though twenty-seven years of age. Robert remained single for eight years, living a lonely life on his large farm. Sometimes having a family with him in his house, and sometimes all alone. In July, 1863, he was called to Chillicothe, this state, in defence of his country, and especially in opposition to John Morgan and his raiders. By a seemingly strange coincidence of circumstances, he was led in the midst of that most wonderful excitement, on that memorable occasion, to the house of Andrew McDonald for food and shelter, where he formed the acquaintance of his present wife. Miss. Jennie McDonald, daughter of Mr. McDonald. Miss Jennie, was a bright, intelligent, and cultivated young lady, teaching school in the city and residing with her parents. December 10th, of the same year, they were married; soon after, she came with her husband to his log cabin, on his magnificent farm, on the waters of Rattlesnake Creek, on the road leading from Staunton to Leesburgh.
This is quite a change for Mrs. Worthington, from the city, the school room and a nice city home, to the log cabin on a thousand acre farm; but she was equal to the task, and most grandly has she succeeded in this new order of things. Mr. Worthington thinks that the Morgan raid was not so disasterous after all, at least so far as he is concerned. They have two children: Maggie, born December 29, 1866; William, born April 19, 1870. They have also, an adopted daughter, Rhoda Tobin, adopted when but four years of age, now a young lady of nineteen, much loved by the family. Indeed, she is regarded as one of the family.
The farm consists of twelve hundred and twenty-two acres, all in a high state of cultivation, mostly used for grazing purposes. Some three hundred head of cattle are fed and grazed by Mr. Worthington each year on this farm.
In 1871, he bnilt a magnificient residence, which is one of the finest in the county, at a cost of more than nine thousand dollars, which he occupies. This family are devout Christians, all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The writer of this sketch has been in the ministry for more than thirty years: In all that time, seldom, if ever, has he met a family of so much wealth and business, so fully devoted to God and his cause as this family.
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County