Biography - R. S. WORCESTER
R. S. Worcester has been and is distinctively a man of affairs in White
Hall and one who has wielded a wide influence. He has figured prominently in
financial circles here throughout his business career and is now cashier of
the White Hall National Bank. His father, Judge Linus E. Worcester, left the
impress of his individuality for good upon the public life of Greene county,
aiding in the promotion of its material, moral and political interests. A
native of New England, he acquired his early education in the common schools
of Vermont and supplemented his preliminary mental training by study in the
Chester Academy of that state. After putting aside his text-books he turned
his attention to agricultural pursuits and followed farming in New England
until twenty-three years of age, when he resolved to seek a home in the west
and in 1836 came to Greene county, Illinois. Here he followed teaching for
three years and later accepted a clerkship in a dry goods store, thus
gaining his first mercantile experience. Two years later he became a partner
of Chester Swallow in the establishment and conducted a general mercantile
enterprise, but Mr. Swallow lived for only a year after this business
relationship was established and at his death the business was closed out.
Subsequently Judge Worcester formed a partnership with Simeon Brothers and
with them engaged in general merchandising for ten years. He was afterward a
druggist of White Hall for four years and for five years was engaged in the
manufacture of farm implements. On the expiration of that period he turned
his attention to the lumber trade, in which he continued for three years. In
all of his business transactions he manifested keen discernment, marked
enterprise and strong executive ability and after carefully considering his
plans was resolute in their execution, carrying forward his work to
successful completion.
Judge Worcester was influential in political circles and in early manhood
espoused the cause of the democracy. A strong mentality and marked
individuality combined with devotion to the general good well fitted him for
leadership in public affairs and made his opinions a force in molding public
thought and action. In 1843 he was elected justice of the peace, which
position he filled for five years and in November, 1843, he was commissioned
postmaster of White Hall and again in 1845 and by further appointments was
continued in that office for twelve consecutive years. On the 16th of
November, 1853, he was elected county judge for a term of six years and in
the meantime he had taken an active and helpful part in forming the organic
law of the state, having been a member of the constitutional convention in
1847. While upon the bench he rendered opinions which were strictly fair and
impartial and which won for him the confidence as well as respect of the
entire community. From 1859 until 1867 he served as a state trustee of the
deaf and dumb asylum. In 1856 he was elected a member of the state senate of
Illinois, serving until 1860, and while a member of the upper house he was
appointed notary public. Ever fearless in defense of his honest convictions
and unfaltering in his support of what he believed to be right, he was one
of the fixe democrats of the senate who dared to ratify Lincoln's
emancipation proclamation. After his retirement from the legislature he was
again elected county judge, being chosen to the position in 1863 and for a
term of nine years continued upon the bench. In 1876 he was chosen a
delegate to the democratic national convention in St. Louis, which nominated
Samuel J. Tilden. Thus for many years he was a recognized leader in
democratic circles in Illinois and his course was so honorable and
straightforward that he commanded the respect of even his political
opponents.
Judge Worcester was three times married. It was in February, 1856, that he
wedded Luthera Ladd, a native of Vermont, who became the mother of R. S.
Worcester of this review. Judge Worcester was a member of no church or
secret organization and was known to be a free-thinker. To do good was his
religion and many who knew him testify to his charitable spirit, his many
kind deeds and his generous assistance to those in need. Honorable in
conduct, fearless in action, stainless in reputation, his public career
covered a long period and over the record of his official service there
falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil.
R. S. Worcester, whose name forms the caption of this review, having
completed his education, entered upon his business career at the age of
eighteen years in connection with the White Hall Bank Association. He was
afterward for a time assistant cashier in the People's Bank and upon the
organization of the White Hall National Bank on the 1st of January, 1904, he
became its cashier, in which capacity he is now serving. This institution
has already made for itself a reputation that places it with the strong
financial concerns of the county. Its officers are G. S. Vosseller,
president; S. N. Griswold, vice president; and R. S. Worcester, cashier,
while its directors and stockholders are numbered among the most prominent
and substantial business men of the county.
In 1890 was celebrated the marriage of R. S. Worcester and Miss Minnie
Rickard, and unto them has been born a daughter, Helen, now twelve years of
age. Like his illustrious father. Mr. Worcester holds membership with no
church and he is a member of only one fraternal organization, the Knights of
Pythias. In political thought and action he has always been independent,
carrying out his honest views without fear or favor. In business he has
achieved success through honorable effort, untiring industry and capable
management, and in private life he has gained that warm personal regard
which arises from true nobility of character, deference for the opinion of
others, kindliness and geniality.
Extracted 2021 Aug 01 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Greene County, Illinois, by Ed Miner, published in 1905, pages 266-267.
