Mercer County PAGenWeb


Hiram Worley


HIRAM WORLEY,  farmer, post-office Mercer, was born March 24, 1848, in Wilmington Township, the son of Henry and Susannah (Moon) Worley. The father of our subject was born near Hagerstown, Md., in January, 1809, and came to Mercer County in 1822, with his mother and stepfather, Jacob Ruthrauff and Barbara (Tice) Ruthrauff. He learned the millwright’s trade with James McGrath, working on the famous old Crill mill in Findley Township, and others in the county. He followed his trade for some years, married Susannah Moon in 1832, moved to his farm in Wilmington Township, Mercer County, in 1835, and lived there, clearing up his farm, which was nearly all woods at that time. In his latter days be devoted his entire time to farming, and died in August, 1871. His children were: Uriah, Ruth A., Mary J., Angeline, Emeline, Seth, enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Thirty ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, and died in a hospital at Washington one month later; Hannah J., Hiram, Hugh, Charlotte, Ira, Amanda, Milton, Elmer and Susan. Our sub­ject was educated in the common schools in his native township, and was brought up at farm labor. He began learning the carpenter business in 1868, with James S. Collins, and followed that for twelve years. He worked nearly six years on pattern work in the machine shop at Mercer, and one year at Hamlin, Sons & Co., at Greenville. He came to his present farm of 108 acres in 1878. He was married in 1873 to Mary Crill, a sister of John T. Crill, whose family is mentioned elsewhere. His children are: Susan J., Frank G., John H. and Lewis A. He is serving as supervisor of Cool Spring Township, is a Republican, and his wife is a member of the Cool Spring Presbyterian Church. Some of the troops belonging to Col. Hosack’s regiment, while on their way to Erie, in the War of 1812, encamped for a short time on the farm now owned by Mr. Worley. Near his house, the site of the, camp, he found two coins, dated 1772 and 1809, which were no doubt lost by some of the soldiers. These coins are still in his possession.

History of Mercer County, 1888, page 995


Return to Biographies Index Page