Eight Worley Brothers

SWMODave

Sergeant Major
Thread Medic
Joined
Jul 23, 2017
Location
Southwest Missouri
3d%20iowa%20cav.jpg

Photo courtesy 3rd Iowa Cavalry Reenactors
David Worley was born on July 2, 1839 in Putnam County, Indiana, the 8th child of Valentine Worley II and Mary Elizabeth Arnold. Valentine Worley II was born in Cripple Creek, Virginia in 1801 and a grandson of German immigrant, Michael Worley. Valentine II followed his family west to Laurel Creek, Tennessee in 1820, where he married two years later. Four of David's siblings were born there. The family then moved to Indiana, where older brother Michael was born in 1833. Five years and four sons later, David Worley was born.The family then moved to Pike County, IL in 1843, and finally to Davis County, Iowa.

With the outbreak of the Civil War all eight brothers would serve the Union Army. Oldest brother James, #3 oldest Michael, #4 John, #5 Felix, #7 David, and #8 Jacob Miller would all serve with the 3rd Iowa Cavalry Company E and D. #2 Henry and #6 Andrew would serve with the 9th Kansas Cavalry Companies I and D. Michael and Jacob Miller would be wounded at the Moore's Mill battle in July of 62, but both would serve throughout the war. #4 John would also serve until the end of the war, but #7 David would be discharged for disability in Dec of 63. Except for these injuries, all eight sons would survive the war and return home.

WorleyM-534.jpg

Michael Worley, wounded in leg at Moore's Mill
They were much luckier than the children of their uncle Johan George Worley, who would die before the war started, but give birth to five sons. Of these Wisconsin first cousins, one would die at Shiloh, one of disease shortly after joining, and 2 others at the Battle of Atlanta. According to family legend, only one son would come home. (information on these Worley deaths received from other sources and not yet verified by me).

After #7 David was discharged for disability, he returned to Davis County, Iowa. Also residing in that county, resided a Margaret Ellen Humphrey, who was married to Epaph 'Ransom' Longfellow, off at war serving with the 30th Iowa Infantry Company F. Married in 1861 in Schuyler County, MO because she was only 14 and too young to be married in Iowa. Ransom enlisted in the 30th Iowa in August of 62, just days after his first child was born. The rest of this story is based mostly on family legend with little evidence to confirm one way or another. Sometime in December of 1863, Margaret became pregnant with her second child. Who the father was remains a mystery. Ransom shows in a hospital in Iuka, Mississippi in Sept of 63 and then Keokuk, IA in May of 1864. Was he transferred sometime between, putting him in Iowa in December? Or was another freshly discharged veteran the father? (more next entry)
 
Last edited:

The story goes Margaret was told sometime in 1864 that Ransom had died, when in fact he was listed as deserting in June of 64. Now a widow with two small children, one an infant, Margaret married David Worley in April 1865, once again in Schuyler County, MO, according to county records. Sometime after the Worley brothers all returned from war, most of the group moved to Kansas. There David and Margaret had two more children, Amon Arthur in March 1867 and Catherine Elizabeth in December 1868. David would become a circuit preacher in Kansas, traveling to different towns to minister. Sometime in late 1869 or early 1870, Ransom Longfellow reappeared from the dead and appealed to Margaret to return to Iowa with him. For unknown reasons, she did and took all four children with her. Whether David was home at the time or out ministering on the circuit is also unknown. They then got on a train, and somewhere between Kansas and their final destination, Ransom apparently got off the train and never returned. Once again abandoned, Margaret stayed with family in Davis County, Iowa, where she reportedly fell ill and died in March of 1870 from what family legend calls 'a broken heart'. Her family contacted David and asked him to come get his two children, which he did, with Ransom's children being raised by Margaret's sister. Many mysteries surround this story. Where was Ransom from 1864 to 1869/70? Where did Ransom go after he jumped off the train in 1869/70? Why would e suddenly appear after 5 years only to disappear again?


David would eventually remarry in 1873 and have eight more children. His brother John would marry twice and the second marriage would give him nine children, including the fifth, being Sara Martha Worley, born in 1880. David's first born, Amon Arthur apparently fell in love with his cousin, because in 1900, when he was 33 yeas old and Sara was 20, the two took a train to Colorado, where first cousin's could legally marry, and they were married.

Amon and Sara were my great grandparents on my father's mother's side.
 
I would say that the family more than gave themselves to the cause of the Union. It was a miracle that all 8 made it home. That is a mark of distinction that should be noted in history. The mystery disappearance is one of those things in age and time when you could disappear, change your name and become someone new in a new place. Maybe not change your name and just restart your life again.
 

Learn About Us
About CivilWarTalk
Contact the Webmaster
Meet the Staff
Link to CivilWarTalk
Join Our Community
Register
Browse Forums
View Today's Discussions
Search the Forum
Get Help
FAQ
Student Guide
Forum Rules & Etiquette
Copyright / DMCA

     Contact Us CivilwarTalk on Facebook CivilWarTalk on YouTube CivilWarTalk on Twitter RSS Feed

Bringing the American Civil War and More to Life.
© 1999 - , CIVILWARTALK, LLC - Site Version 10.0

SlaveryTalk.com - SecessionTalk.com - CivilWarTalk.com - ReconstructionTalk.com
Back
Top