Rev.Edson Stone Worley (1890-1966)

with parents	his Iowa church	Nathan Worley family, early 1890's

The following article was found in the Feb. 15, 1917, Lowell Tribune on page5, column 4:

Edson Worley has been confined to the house on account of sickness for several days.

Edson Worley, an employee of the TRIBUNE office, has filed his application with the Adjutant General at Washington, D.C., for an appointment as Chaplain in the Cavalry. Should he pass the examination and receive the appointment he probably will be sent to France for duty.

Thanks to Rev. Worley

Our thanks are more than due Rev. E.S. Worley, who so kindly and ably took charge of the Journal during out two weeks absence, entertaining the "flu." When Mr. Worley first came to Marble Rock he informed us that he was a printer by trade and we told him at that time that we would try and let him have a workout sometime. The opportunity came for the workout and Mr. Worley gladly pulled off his coat and went to it and successfully got out the Journal for us and looked after the other business of the office during out forced vacation, all of which we are sincerely grateful. We hope that a similar occasion will not happen again soon, but should it we know Mr. Worley would again willingly help us out. -- Marble Rock, Iowa, Journal.

A preacher printer is a handy article to have around and we have wished many times during our rush of work this winter that Ed. was back in the old home town and he would have had a workout a day or so each week in the shop where he learned his trade.

Third Ministry Here

Serving his third pastorate in the Sheldon Church of Christ, E.S. Worley will have charge of the 60th annual homecoming program at the church Sunday afternoon. It is the gala day of the year for the local church.

Mr. Worley, born on a farm near Lowell, Ind., studied for the Christian ministry in Phillips Bible Institute at Canton, Ohio. He also studied at Minnesota Bible University and Central Christian College at Centerville, Iowa.

He held pastorates in Wisconsin and Iowa, coming to Sheldon from the latter state in 1922. Since that time he has served the local church more than twelve years.

His present family consists of Mrs. Worley, and two daughters, Mrs. Lowell Cole, and Miss Janet, both of Sheldon.

Recalled to the local church a year ago this month, the townspeople as well as the congregation were much pleased that he accepted the call to continue the work of the church in the community.

The following undated article from an unknown source comes from the collection of Mrs. Doris Jean Worley Hartman:

Trailer dwelling Rev. and Mrs. E.S. Worley, formerly of Lowell, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday, Nov. 19 at Sheldon, Ill.

Sheldon Church of Christ held a reception in honor of the occasion. A review of the Worleys’ lives in the Sheldon area followed at evening services in the church.

Edson S. Worley, twin brother of Edmond Worley and brother of Frank Worley, both of Lowell, was born on Worley Point, at the edge of the Big Kankakee marsh -- property now owned by Lowell relatives of Bobo Rockefeller.

(Edmond preached a quarter century or so as supply minister of Shelby Christian church; Frank, now retired and an elder in Lowell Church of Christ, was a long time Lowell area farmer and operated the "midget grocery" here in former days.)

Took Bride Here in 1911

Edson S. Worley, son of the late Nathan and Melissa Worley of Lowell, Ind., and Miss Ethel Trump, daughter of the late Jackson and Eva Trump of Lowell, were married Friday Nov. 17, 1911 at 7 p.m. in Lowell by Elder John Bruce, a retired Baptist minister, in the Bruce home. Witnesses were the bride’s mother, Mrs. Eva Reyels and the bridegroom’s niece, Miss Pearl Westberg.

The Worleys lived in Lowell where Mr. Worley was employed by the Lowell Tribune until 1915 when he began his study for the ministry at Canton, Ohio. In 1918 he accepted a call to Footville, Wis. where he began his active ministry. In 1920 he accepted a call to Iowa where he held a pastorate at Marble Rock and Clarion. In 1922 he accepted a call to the Church of Christ in Sheldon. He preached in Sheldon 19 years under three pastorates.

Other activities of the Worleys have included the owning and publishing of The Donovan Echo, a newspaper at Donovan, Ill. from 1922 until 1940 while being engaged in full time ministering. He also has worked as a printer in Watseka and Sheldon, Ill. and Morocco and Kentland, Ind. He has served churches at Sheldon, Donovan, Darrow, Martinton and Pittwood in Iroquois County and a part time ministry with the Brook, Ind. Christian church.

Preached From His Bed

November 29, 1953 Rev. Worley suffered a severe heart attack which kept him from his pulpit for five months. Members of the church carried on until he was able to preach from his bed at his home each Sunday morning to his congregation at the church using a public address system. This brought about his retirement from active service. He retired July 1, 1956.

Rev. and Mrs. Worley have two daughters, Mrs. Janet Salm of Kankakee and Mrs. Lowell Cole, Sheldon. They have nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A daughter, Verna June, died in 1932 at age of four months and a son, Cordie, died in 1949 at the age of 36.

From 1922 until this date, covering a period of 39 years, the Worleys have spent two and one-half years outside of Iroquois county, which was at Danville, Ill., and West Lebanon, Ind. The remainder of this time their residence was maintained in Sheldon and Donovan. They now live in a house trailer at 375 W. Depot St., in Sheldon.