Naomi Hathaway Worley (1828-1909)
(Mrs. John L. Worley)
with husband
1888
The following article was found in the Lowell Public Library local history clipping files (LH--Vital Statistics, vol. 2, page 79):
In the closing summer of 1909, on Sunday, August 29th, Mrs. J.L. Worley, one of our aged members, died at Lowell. She was born in Ohio, June 19, 1828, came to Yates Corner in Porter County when five years of age, and to Lake County in 1843. So most of her long life of more than 81 years was passed in or near Lake County.
The following unidentified newspaper article was in a collection owned by Lowell Town Historian Richard Schmal:
Mrs. Naomi (Hathaway) Worley was born in Ohio, June 19, 1828. At the age of 5 years she came with her parents to Porter county, Ind., and located at what is known as Gates' Corners, where she resided with her parents until she was married to the late Rev. John L. Worley December 20, 1842, and at once began keeping house with him on what has since become the Worley homestead and where she spent most of her married life. To this union were born six children: Nathan, Willis, Perry, Maria, Benjamin and Henry, all living. After the death of her husband in 1902 she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Y.C. Vosburg, spending a large share of her time in visiting her other children and relatives. In her death the Christian church loses its last charter member. Mrs. Worley became a Christian in early girlhood days and lived a consistent Christian life for nearly 70 years. She toiled in the service of the Master with her husband for their entire married life. Her husband, Rev. John L. Worley, was a fearless expounder of the gospel of Christ for nearly 60 years. She was truly one of God's best women and has left this temporal home, which she has adorned with an earnest and Christian life, to receive the blessed inheritance of a mansion in the skies and enjoy eternal life in the bosom of the everlasting God. Surrounded by all her children she departed this life August 29, 1909, aged 81 years, 2 months and 10 days. Her funeral occurred from the Christian church, Lowell, Wednesday, September 1, at 2 p.m., and was very largely attended, the church being filled to its capacity, thus attesting the high esteem in which she was held by her neighbors and friends. Rev. J.B. Dunkleberger, pastor of the Christian church, preached an excellent funeral discourse, which was followed by some appropriate remarks by Elder John Bruce. Fine and appropriate music was furnished by the Christian church choir. Funeral Director John Castle had charge of the burial service. The following old neighbors and friends acted as pall-bearers: E.S. Clark, Fred Fisher, M.J. Sanders, T.W. Cushman, Charles Castle and H.H. Ragon. Interment beside her husband in the Lowell cemetery. She leaves five sons, one daughter, 16 grand-children, 38 great-grand-children, one great-great-grand-daughter, and a host of friends to mourn their loss, but their loss is her gain. . . . [The article is too faded to read beyond this point.]
