Addenda to Worsham and Washam Family History

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This page last edited on 24 Feb 2008

Page 726

1.  Ludwell Worsham b abt 1771 of Caswell, NC. He md 1st) Elizabeth Cox 3 Sep 1807 Caswell Co., NC & md 2nd) Nancy Bennett 3 Jul 1813 Caswell Co., NC. He wrote his will 19 Mar 1849 & proved 16 Apr 1849 Jackson Co., GA. Descendants lived in Jackson Co., GA. 

Will of Ludwell Worsham from Jackson Co, GA Will Abstracts, Books A & B 1803-1888. A-199 Ludwell Worsham. Will dated Mar. 19, 1849, probated April 16, 1849, recorded May 7, 1849, pp. 303-305: (Ed Rowe, 2002)

"I give & bequeathe to my wife NANCY the land & plantation on which I now live & the five following Negro Slaves Anaca James Leaner Judith & Areminta - & two choise Horses - two choise cows & calves twelve head of hogs & the Stock of Sheep & years provision, two beds with the nessary furneture one desk one Chest one trunk one fine table with the necessary furniture for the Same ten split bottoned, chairs one clock, one loom, one spinning wheel, all which I give her during her life time."

"At the death of my wife I direct my hereafter named Executors to Sell the land I have here willed her & the proceeds thereof to be Equally divided amongst my three daughters (Viz) Frances M. Marlow, Mary C. Moon & Elizabeth B. Thurmond - & I direct that the Negro property that I have willed her at her death to be lotted of & their Increase if any, & to valued & drawn for amongst all my Children - & I direct at my death for my Executors to sell all the Stock & household furniture & every thing & things whereof I am in right Seized of Except what I have will’d to my wife, to be sold to pay my debts if any & the ballance or Surplus if any to be divided amongst all my Children."

"I direct that the Negro property Except those I have will’d my wife - at my death Should be valued & lotted of & drawn for amongst all my children. I give & bequeathe to my Son John H. Worsham the land & Plantation known as the CASH tract which I give to him & his Heirs & assigns forever. I give & bequeath to my Son Wynn A. Worsham the tract of land on which he now lives on the South Side of the Mulberry fork of the Occonee to him & his Heirs & assigns forever. I give & bequeathe to Thomas J. Thurmond the tract of land on which he now lives on the north side of the Mulberry fork of the Occonee - Provided his own funds or mony be Sufficient to pay for the Same but in event of Mony or funds haveing to go to pay for it - it is then to be considered as a part of my Estate & to be Sold & Equelly divided amongst all my children."

Son, Wynn A. Worsham, appointed as the trustee of his dau. Elizabeth B. Thurmond to receive & receipt for her & to deal out to her & in her behalf, etc.

Executrix: Wife, Nancy Worsham, & Executors:Son-in-law, Peterson T. Marler (Marlow), & sons, John H. Worsham & Wynn A. Worsham

1A.1. Frances M. Worsham md Peterson T. Marler 18 Dec 1826 Pittsylvania Co., VA. License was issued 10 Dec 1826. He is Peterson Marlow and she is Frances Worsham, dau. Of Ludwell Worsham, who requests this license be issued. (Marriages of Pittsylvania Co., VA 1806-1830 by Kathleen Booth Williams, Danville, VA, 1965 pub. By author, p 101). Additional information on this family submitted by Clayton Hicks, Ft. Worth, TX, 2000. Peterson b 13 Feb 1801 Halifax Co., NC & d 25 Mar 1887 Jackson Co., GA. Frances d bef 1887 Jackson Co., GA. They were on the Jackson Co., GA Census for 1850. He is age 49 & she is age 36. They are on the 1860 & 1870 census. He is Peter T. Marlow age 79 b NC in District 455, Jackson, GA 1880 Census, p 636B. She is age 71. He wrote his will 3 Aug 1886, probated 4 Apr 1887, recorded June 10, 1887 (Jackson Co., GA. Will Bk B, 1860-1888, p 377. 

"I, P. T. Marler of said state and county being of sound mind and disposing memory do make this my last Will and Testament. Item 1st: I give bequeath and devise to my son John E. Marler Sixty acres in the East end of my tract of land including the residence in which I now live also Two spotted Hogs free from all charges or limitation whatever to his own proper use benefit and behoof. Item 2: I give bequeath and devise to my sons S. L. Marler D. P. Marler and daughter Mary Jane Jackson (formerly Marler) Sarah A. Strickland (formerly Marler) Martha O. Lay (formerly Marler) the remainder of my tract of land containing One hundred Acres more or less including the dwelling now occupied by D S Lay to be equally divided with said heirs above named. 3rd It is my will that the household and kitchen furniture stock including farming utensils & c be sold and the proceeds equally divided between S L Marler D P Marler Mary J Jackson Sarah A Strickland Mary O. Lay. 4th I further bequeath to my son John E Marler all the money and debts coming to me after all expenses of my burial &c are paid. Item 5th I hereby constitute and appoint my son John E Marler and son in law D S Lay Executers of my last will and testement. This the 31st day of August 1886 /s/ Peter T x Marler. Probated 4 Apr 1887

His obituary: 

Peterson T. Marlow was born in Halifax County, VA February 13th 1801. He was married to Frances M. Worsham in Halifax County, VA December 19th 1826 and moved to Georgia in 1830, where he lived until death claimed him March 25th 1887. He was buried beside his wife, who preceeded him to his grave but a few years, at his old home place and family burial ground in the upper portion of Jackson County, Georgia. Besides his relatives a very large concourse of neighbors and friends were present at his burial, though the services were conducted in a quiet, unostentatius manner at the grave. His civil relations were faithfully maintained during his long and busy life. Those who knew him best, praise him abundantly as a strictly honest man, a just, true, energetic and conscientious neighbor whose door were ever open to appeals of charity and whose hands were ever full in ministrations to the need and afflicted. His hospitality was limited only by his means and the occasion; so central in his life was the trait, that just a few hours before he died he gave specific directions concerning the welfare of those attending him. His social relations were very pleasant and inviting. His home relations were conductive to happiness and contentment to his large family, even delicate enough to said much in leading every single child of eight or nine in number into the fold of Christ’s flock, though himself not a member of any church. Every relation assumed by him was well filled, as is testified by those who dealt with him most and who knew him best. He thought he ought to have joined the church in early life, but, neglected to do so. Just before death came to him, he remarked; "If anybody every trusted Jesus, I do now," and repeatedly expressed himself as desirous to die and be with his Redeemer. He was conscious of a spiritual change and was very happy at the prospect of death. He was conscious until a very short while before he died, his mind being exceptionally clear and active.

Children:

1A.1.1. William L. Marler b abt 1827 NC. (23-1850; 32-1860)  William was a lawyer in Jackson Co, GA.

1A.1.2. Elizabeth W. Marler b 23 May 1830 Jackson Co., GA md John Macafee Green 31 Mar 1850 Jackson Co., GA. They are on the 1850 Jackson Co., GA Census. She is age 20. They are in the 1880 Hurricane, Saline, AR Census p 253C. He is age 52 b GA & she is age 50. She d 1 May 1910 Hot Springs, Garland, AR. Bur Greenwood Cem., Hot Springs, Garland, AR. (Death Certificate in file of Clayton Hicks, Ft. Worth, TX)

Children:

1A.1.2.1. Thomas P. Green b 1 Feb 1851 Hall Co., GA md. Salina Ann Roark

1A.1.2.2. William Daniel Green b 2 Nov 1852 Gainsville, Hall, GA md Moriah Adeline Roland 24 Dec 1871 Saline Co., AR. They were in the 1880 Hurricane, Saline, AR Census, pg 253C. He is age 28 b GA & she is age 27 b AR. He d 15 Jun 1928 Saline Co., AR. Bur McPherson Cem., Saline Co., AR. Children Sarena J. Green b 1874, Larrus W. Green (dau) b abt 1876, Benjamin F. Green b 1878, McFee Green b 1879.

1A.1.2.3. Pete Green

1A.1.2.4. Unknown Green

1A.1.2.5. Unknown Green

1A.1.2.6. Unknown Green

1A.1.2.7. Alfred B. Green 15 Feb 1868 Saline Co. AR. (10-1880)

1A.1.2.8. Chester Jane Green b 28 Jun 1870 Saline Co., AR. (8-1880) Md George Primrose Tull 1891, d 28 Jun 1962 Falls Co., TX & bur Chilton Cem., Chilton, Falls, TX

1A.1.2.9. John F. Green b 19 Dec 1871 AR (7-1880).

1A.1.2.10. Margaret P. Green "Meg" b 3 Jun 1874 AR (5-1880) & d Aug 1968

1A.1.3. D. P. Marler.  He is mentioned in his father’s will.

1A.1.4. Sarah A. Marler b abt 1833 Jackson Co., GA (17-1850) md Mr. Strickland abt 1859 Jackson Co., GA. She is in District 455, Jackson Co., GA 1880 Census, p 636 V with sons Howel C. Strickland age 20 & Sydney A. Strickland age 18.

1A.1.5. Mary Jane Marler b abt 1836 Jackson Co., GA. (14-1850) md Mr. Jackson bef 1886 Jackson Co., GA.

1A.1.6. Middleton Marler b abt 1841 Jackson Co., GA. (9-1850)

1A.1.7. John E. Marler b ab t 1842 Jackson Co., GA. (8-1850; 38-1880)

1A.1.8. Martha O. Marler b abt 1844 Jackson Co., GA (6-1860) md D. S. Lay bef 1886 Jackson Co., GA. In her father’s will, she is referred to as Martha O. Lay.

1A.1.9. Samuel Lesley Marler b 13 Nov 1849 Jackson Co., GA d 22 May 1936 Jackson Co., GA.

Page 729

1B.1.  John H. Worsham m. Elizabeth B. McWhorter.  Elizabeth is bur. Thyatira Presbyterian Church Cem. in Jackson Co., GA.

1B.1.1. John L. Worsham. J. L. Worsham md Esther A. Giddens 21 Aug 1859 Jackson Co, GA. Esther b 29 May 1840 Jackson Co, GA & d. 20 Mar 1872 Jefferson, Jackson, GA. (Roy Giddens Jr.)  During the War Between the States, he was a member of company C of the 18th GA Volunteer Infantry from Jackson Co. His Confederate soldier compiled service record lists him as a prisoner of war in 1864 and as late as Jan. of 1865. According to some notes written by his son, William Anderson Worsham, he "died in the hotter part of the year 1864 on staff of quartermaster of Wofford's brigade". (Ed Rowe, 2002)

Children:

1B.1.1.1. William Anderson Worsham Worsham b 30 Sep 1860 Jackson md Nov 21 1880 Amanda Jane Dunnahoo "Kate."  She was b 21 Oct 1861 and she d 30 Jan 1906 in Newton, GA.  Amanda the d/o Thomas Jordan Dunnahoo and Florillah Catharine Finch.  William d. 9 Mar 1921 & was bur Covington City Cem, Newton Co, GA.  According to some notes written by Ed Rowe’s mother (Sarah Belle Stringfellow Rowe), "William A. Worsham was raised by his grandfather, Hosea Camp Giddens, after John L. did not return from the War and I guess since William's mother died in Aug. of 1872. My mom's notes also say that Hosea C. Giddens died in Texas while visiting relatives there."  In "Descendents of James Giddens" by Andrew Giddens p. 295:

"In the deeds records of Banks Co., GA, Hosea is recorded deeding to his two grandchildren William and Sally Worsham about seventy acres for five dollars. This was in 1881 or 1882, just before he departed for Tarrant County, Texas." 

On pp 301-302:

"Esther A. was born in Jackson County, Georgia, on May 29, 1849. She died in Jackson County, Georgia on March 20, 1872. She is buried in the Oconee Church Cemetery in Jackson County. She was the daughter of Hosea Camp Giddens and Esther Morgan Giddens."

In the 1880 census of Banks Co., GA, Willian A. Worsham age 19, and Sallie E. Worsham age 18, were recorded living with their grandfather, Hosea C. Giddens. (Roy Giddens Jr., 2001)  Photograph of William Anderson Worsham from great grandson, Ed Rowe, 2002.

Children: (Ed Rowe, 2002)

1B.1.1.1.1. Myrtle Emmaline Worsham b. 11 Oct 1881 of Jackson Co., GA & killed by lightning inside of their house while standing near the fireplace during a thunderstorm 21 Aug 1892.

1B.1.1.1.2. Edna Madge Worsham b 7 Feb 1883 Jackson Co., GA & md. Thomas Walker 1 Nov 1909.  She d. 20 Sep 1964 Cobb Co, GA. Child: Katie Knight Walker.

1B.1.1.1.3. Jane Worsham b. 25 Nov 1884 & d. 26 Nov 1884 of Jackson Co., GA.

1B.1.1.1.4. John Ludwell Worsham b 8 Oct 1886 of Jackson Co., GA & d. 14 Aug 1955 Fulton Co, GA. He md Bertha Terry b. 8 Jul 1894 & d. 12 Dec 1985 Cartersville, Bartow, GA. Children: Doris Worsham, Jack Worsham, Alex Worsham, Mary Worsham & Delilah Worsham.

1B.1.1.1.5. Thomas Jordan Worsham b 1 Sep 1889 of Jackson Co., GA & d. 23 Dec 1953 Fulton Co., GA.

1B.1.1.1.6. Kate Claxton Worsham b 9 May 1891 of Jackson Co., GA, d. 6 Oct 1976 Greene Co, GA & md. James Smith. Children: Cosima Smith, Bill Smith, Thomas Smith, Hosea Smith & Owen Smith.

1B.1.1.1.7. Winford Worsham b. & d. 11 Mar 1893 of Jackson Co, GA.

1B.1.1.1.8. Winnie Worsham b. & d. 11 Mar 1893 of Jackson Co, GA.

1B.1.1.1.9. Ishbel Worsham "Bell" b 3 Mar 1894 of Jackson Co., GA, md. Fletcher Bailey & she d. 27 Feb 1989 Clarke Co., GA.  Children: Mary Bailey & Savilla Bailey.

1B.1.1.1.10.  Isma Dooley Worsham "Doots" b. 9 Jan 1897 of Jackson Co, GA & d. 22 Aug 1963 of Covington, Newton, GA. She md. John Dempsey. Children: Mary Dempsey & Savilla D. Dempsey b. abt 1922 md. Jack C. Brewer & she d. 31 Aug 1996.

1B.1.1.1.11. Mary Lou Worsham "Sue" b. 30 Oct 1898 Jackson Co., GA & d. 9 Apr 1984 of Covington, Newton, GA.

1B.1.1.1.12. Sarah Elizabeth Worsham b. 31 Jul 1900 Jackson Co, GA & d. 19 May 1970. She md. Charles Guy Stringfellow who along with children, Jack Hamilton Stringfellow and Hazel Stringfellow, d. 1931 Dunedin, Pinellas Co, Florida from injuries sustained in a tragic accident after their car was hit by a train. Other children: Sarah Belle Stringfellow & Helen Hope Stringfellow.  Photograph of Sarah Elizabeth Worsham & children, Sarah Belle Stringfellow & Helen Hope Stringfellow, from Ed Rowe, 2002.

 

 

 

1B.1.1.1.13. Fannie Ruth Worsham b. 18 Aug 1902 of Newton Co, GA & d. 3 Apr 1982 McDuffie, GA.  She md. William Earl Beeland b 26 Sep 1901 & d. 7 Mar 1976 White Plains, Greene, GA. Children: Billy Beeland, Margy Beeland, Mary Beeland, Samuel Beeland, Johnny Beeland, Cherie Jo Beeland, Faye Beeland and Renee Beeland.

1B.1.1.2. Sallie E. Worsham b abt 1862 Jackson Co., GA md. Frank A. Rhinehart 12 Jan 1886 who was b abt 1860 & he d abt 1913 Banks, GA.  Photograph of Sallie E. Worsham from Ed Rowe, 2002.

1.B.1.2. Esther Worsham should be deleted, she is the wife of John L. Worsham and they were living with his father, John H. Worsham, in the 1860 Jackson Co, GA census.

Pages 731

1.  Miles Worsham b abt 1755 of Chesterfield Co., VA md Mary Patram abt 1782. He served in the Rev. War. He died about 1820.

Pages 733

1.  Miles Worshamn b abt 1795 of Amelia Co., VA. Mother's name is Martha. Miles md 1st) Elizabeth Ann Warriner 22 Jul 1819 Amelia Co., VA & 2nd) Eliza W. Webster. He d 1842 Amelia Co., VA. Descendants lived in Amelia Co., VA; Nottoway Co., VA; Alcorn Co., MS; Tippah Co., MS.

1.1. William W. Worsham b abt 1822 d 8 Sep 1895 & bur Henry Cemetery, Corinth, Alcorn, MS. He md 1^st) Mary E. F. Webster who was b. 12 Dec 1825 Amelia Co., VA, d. 11 Jul 1882 Corinth, Alcorn, MS & bur Henry Cemetery, Corinth, Alcorn, MS. (Alcorn Co., MS Cemeteries pub by Rose Pub Co., Humbolt, TN, 1999)

A history was written about the Worsham family in "The History of Alcorn Co., MS by Alcorn Co. Historical Association, 1983 & published by National Share Graphics, Inc., p 601 & 602. Pictures of Dr. Luther Wesley Worsham & Ben Frank Worsham are included: (Submitted by Clifford Worsham, more information on Ben Frank, III and Robert Hayden & their descendants is in the book, "The History of Alcorn Co., MS")

 

"Major W. W. Worsham and his family moved from Virginia to the Ripley, Mississippi area and then into the Corinth area in 1874. Major Worsham died in 1895 and his wife Mary on July 11, 1882. Both are buried in the Henry Cemetery at Corinth.

Major W. W. Worsham (1821-1895) was born in Virginia and married Mary Webster Worsham (12/12/1825-7/11/1882). Their son, Luther Wesley Worsham was born in Burkeville, Nottaway County, Virginia, January 31, 1847. A daughter, Ellen, was married to W. T. McPeters and lived most of her life in Corinth.

L. W. Worsham entered the Confederate Army when he was 15 years old. He served with the Second Richmond Howitzers under General Robert E. Lee, and after his army service in the War Between the States was educated in dentistry at Baltimore Medical College. On June 9, 1880, he married Miss Attie Flippin (9/1/1849-9/22/1887) of Amelia County, Virginia.

Dr. L. W. Worsham and his wife, Attie, had three sons, Leroy, Ben Frank and Addie, all born in Corinth. Addie died as an infant (9/20/87-8/19/88) and Attie died two days after his birth on September 22, 1887. Dr. Worsham later married Mrs. Helen Whitmore McWilliams who died in 1948. They had no children. Mrs. McWilliams had one son, Alonzo, by previous marriage who spent most of his life in Maplewood, New Jersey. Dr. Worsham practiced dentistry in Corinth for over 60 years and at the time of his sudden death on November 6, 1936, he was the oldest practicing dentist in the United States.

Leroy Worsham was born June 3, 1881 and married Margaret Jefficoat of Yazoo County, Mississippi, and they lived most of their adult life in Memphis, Tennessee. Leroy died on March 27, 1848 and Margaret died in the 1960's. They had no children. Both were very talented, he in mechanics and she in nursing.

Ben Frank Worsham was born April 6, 1884. He attended Corinth High School and the University of Mississippi and became an attorney-at-law in about 1905--a wonderful career which lasted 70 years. He was highly respected throughout Mississippi as a lawyer and a Methodist Layman, serving in countless community and civic endeavors. A beloved citizen of Alcorn County, he died in a tragic automobile accident on July 16, 1975. On June 20, 1906, Frank married Helen Louise Boone" also of Corinth. She too was educated in Corinth High School and Hollins College in Virginia. Her father was Jordan Mitchell Boone and her mother was Alma Green, both of Corinth. Her great-grandfather was Reuben Boone, credited with having been the first white settler in what is now Alcorn County. He came in 1834, two years before old Tishomingo County was formed. She had two sisters; Natalie (Mrs. N. N. Northcross) and Gladys (Mrs. Gayle P. Kyle) Helen Boone Worsham was born June 20, 1886 in Corinth and died on December 2, 1972 after an extended illness.

Frank and Helen Worsham had three sons: Ben Frank, Jr., Clifford Green, and Leroy Westley. All three attended Corinth High School and graduated from the University of Mississippi with Civil Engineering degrees.

Frank, Jr. was born September 26, 1909 and married Dorothy Hess on May 3, 1933. Dorothy was born in Memphis, Tennessee January 27, 1913. Her parents were Frank H. and Ethel McCracken Hess, originally from Huntingdon, Tennessee. They had two sons: Ben Frank, III and Robert Hayden.

Children:

1.1A.1. Luther Wesley Worsham b 31 Jan 1847 Burkeville, Nottoway, VA. After he served in the Civil War, he was educated in dentistry at Baltimore Medical College. He md 1^st) Attie Flippin 9 Jun 1880 Alcorn Co., MS who was b 1 Sep 1849 Amelia Co., VA, d 22 Sep 1887 Corinth, Alcorn, MS & Bur Henry Cem., Corinth, Alcorn, MS. Luther md 2^nd) Mrs. Helen A. Whitmore McWilliams. Helen b 5 Apr 1861, d 28 Nov 1948 & Bur Henry Cem., Corinth. Dr. Worsham practiced dentistry in Corinth for over 60 years. Pictured is his obituary published in the 9 Nov 1936 New York Times.

 

Children:

1.1A.1A.1. Leroy Worsham b 3 Jun 1881 Corinth, Alcorn, MS md Margaret Jefficoat of Yazoo Co., MS & d 27 Mar 1948 Corinth, Alcorn, MS. He is bur Henry Cem., Corinth.

Page 736

1.1A.1A.2. Ben Frank Worsham b 6 Apr 1884 Corinth, Alcorn, MS md. Helen Louise Boone 20 Jun 1906 Corinth, Alcorn, MS. Helen b. 20 Jun 1886 Corinth, Alcorn, MS d/o Jordan Mitchell Boone & Alma Green. She d 2 Dec 1972. He was an attorney-at-law. He d 16 Jul 1975 Corinth, Alcorn, MS in an automobile accident & both are bur Henry Cem., Corinth.  The following is an interview with Ben Frank Worsham by Bruce Evans 11 Nov 1974; as published in Corinth Information Database Version 1.3(c) 1995 Milton Sandy, Jr:

BE: Have schools changed much, education changed much, over the years?

BW: Well, of course I'm sort of old-timey about that. I believe in every kid knowing his ABC's and I believe in knowing how to read, write particularly. I believe in teaching them sort of how to write. I believe in thoroughness, which looks like to me that we', in our education, are probably traveling too fast-going faster than we should. I went one year to prep school up in Tennessee and I there learned how to study and I found that you had to understand what you were studying not memorize it- you had to understand it. I don't think we have enough understanding of what they are teaching out here. They're teaching it too fast and getting 'em out.

BE: Do you think there's a discipline program in school nowadays too?

BW: Well, there is no discipline, hardly in colleges. They're on their own. They do as they please, whatever they want to do. It looks like they are going wild, but in local schools, I think they maintain a fairly good disciplinary program. That's what they do. It looks like it to me. I think the local schools, the lower grades and up to and maybe through the high school, I think they try to set a real nice program.

BE: Do you think because there is no compulsory education, do you think that it hurts?

BW: Let me get back to where I'm prejudiced again, don't you see. No, I think it is bad, but I think it's the only answer for us. I think sooner or later we're going to have to face but we're going to have to

face it head on. Yea, that's what I think.

BE: I've heard that Mrs. Worsham's family was the Boones? Is that right?

BW: Yes.

BE: Do you remember anything interesting about them?

BW: Yes, Mr. Boone was my father-in-law, of course, and he's one of the best lawyers I ever knew.

BE: He was in law too?

BW: Yes, I was in partnership with him and in his office for twenty years or longer. He was a great man, a great citizen. As I said, I believe he's the best all-around lawyer I ever knew and I've known em by the hundreds, and I know a good lawyer when I see one and when I watch them operate. He was at home in justice court, circuit court, equity and chancery court, federal court, supreme--court...

BE: Just anywhere?

BW: Anywhere, he was at home-and in any location. We had the railroad, the Mobile and Ohio for instance, through the whole state of Mississippi and we went up and down the road there--had forty or fifty courts a year, don't you see-they feared him everywhere.

BE: They feared him? He was that good?

BW: Yes, he was a powerful advocate. He was a simple, brilliant and constant student who never stopped studying.

BE: Always kept up with everything.

BW: Always, yes, right jam up to date-very involved.

BE: Well, I've certainly got a "blockbuster" here for you.

BW: Hm?

BE: If you could change any one thing--I know that's sort of second guessing--but if you could change one thing in your life, what would it be-IF you wanted to change something?

BW: Well, I related the most drastic experience and that was the loss of many, many thousands of dollars. I remember one year I paid over four thousand dollars interest on what I lost, don't you see. Outside of that, I've been wonderfully blessed in many, many ways. I started out as a young lawyer with a good practice, making a good living, and as long as I stayed in practice-"I never had a big practice--but I had a very rewarding and satisfying practice. I've worked all my life, pretty close, and I told you about Mr. Boone being a student. It almost forced me to be a pretty good lawyer just to keep up with him, to stay with him. Of course, when you go from court to court, town to town, you're a stranger. You run into, take Meridian, in every town, you run into sure enough lawyers, and you gotta be a pretty good lawyer or you'd better not go there, don't you see this?

BE: You remember any judges that made an impression on you?

BW: Oh, yea. One that made the most impression on me, I guess, the most novel impression anyway would be old Judge Niles, who was a Federal Court Judge out of this district. We had just two judges, the Southern district and we had a Northern district. Any my first, I remember very distinctly, my first appearance before Judge Niles. By the way, this Mr. Taylor that I was telling you about, his affairs went into the Federal Court and every- thing. That liquidation of the banks, and river estates and the oil mills and all that, had to come through under the supervision of the Federal Court. Judge Niles lived in Kosiusko. You might have a mortgage that you could foreclose, but you couldn't foreclose without getting the waiver of the-commissioner of the Federal Court to do it--had to go through--that's what was required, and going to see him in Kosciusko. I did wind up there. This was the first I was before a Federal Court judge, and I was of course, a young man, a peanut, and I tried as best I could to get him to say something in his office out in the yard. I was out there and he came in and I spoke to him. He sat down and I tried to get some statement out of him. Be didn't talk at all. I kept on and finally I got something to say. I said, "Judge Niles, I have a petition here. Whenever you feel like taking it up, I'll be glad to present it to you". He says, "Young man, let me tell you something". He says, "Federal Court is like the Gates of Hell. It's always open! What the hell you got for me? Bring it on up and let's see what it is". That was my first experience with that! (Laughs) He was very gruff but a wonderful old man. So, I knew him. Of course, I knew all the judges. By the way, I knew, I think, the smartest man that had ever been in the Senate. That was John Sharp Williams from Yazoo City.

BE: John Sharp Williams?

BW: John Sharp Williams.

BE: I'm not familiar with him.

BW: Well, he's old-timey', way back there, you know. He was in the same age period as James K. Vardaman was and, anyway, I knew him real well. He was a brilliant man and a great man to know. He made two or three races and I drove him around the territory and associated with him-horse and

buggy it was (laughs). Of course, I was a boy. He was a brilliant man and I think he was a big man. I think he was not of the type, morally, as Judge Stennis-I mean, Senator Stennis-is, but he was a statesman. But, he was a liquor head, he'd get drunk but he'd never get off his feet. He'd stay on his feet always, and he knew where he was at. Every time he spoke he knew what he'd said, you know.

BE: At least he kept his wits about him.

BW: That's right. He was a great man. I knew him. I knew Judge Sikes who was a great man. Of course, I practiced with Williams and Dalton all around the Federal Courts and practiced in a good many courts.

BE: Do you remember any one case that sticks in your mind? Any one case that you had?

BW: Yes, I had a case growing out of the failure of the First National Bank back here when it went "kaflooney". I took the position. I represented a bunch of depositors, I reckon, oh, twenty or thirty that had money on deposit, like Ford Motor Co., Dalton Motor Co., the Ford people here. He had a-his checking account balance was, say, four thousand dollars. Well, the older bank had his running account. Say, fifteen thousand dollars, whatever it was, and I took the position that he had the right to apply four thousand dollars as a credit on the fifteen thousand dollars. There was a difference, don't you see, and was ready to pay the Federal Reserve Bank ... by the way, Mr. Fant, who was Sammie Smith's father-in-law...

BE: Mr. Fant?

BW: Fant, yea, was the District Attorney and he represented the Federal Reserve Bank.

BE: So he was your opponent.

BW: He was my ... he sure was!

BE: You make it sound like he was quite an opponent.

BW: Well, he was the type of fella that, just like a lot of city government people, he felt just like, hell, you work for him, he ain't working for you, you work for him... as far as that's concerned he ran over me the best he could, pretty well. So anyway, why, I accused the Federal Reserve Bank-of knowing that the bank, the local bank, was not in good shape and, knowing what they were doing, they switched from discounts to loans which meant they called the loans to note.' .. discounted it would just give them the money, the Federal Reserve would give them 100% on it, except for the retainer or accrued interest or something of that sort, but you got 100% on it. They switched from that to loan and they made the bank a direct loan of $2,300 and took three or four times that much in notes, and I took the position that they knew because they worked for the Federal Government and they knew, had access to and were familiar with the reports of the inspectors, and so forth and so on, the examiners, as they came and they knew the condition of the bank and that it was a matter of right. They had 'to-be, they should be forced to stay off my depositors until they exhausted... That involved--we've gone a long way as far as that's concerned because the effects of that case, that situation!--there was no precedent--just really a new field, an open field. No real precedent there.

BE: When was this,--do you recall?

BW: 19 ... oh, a long time ago. Likely 19 ... no, early 20's somewhere. No late 20's, early 30's, that's when it was.

BE: Just before the serious, the great depression.

BW: "29, right along in there or so, when all these banks went down, yea, that's when it was, yea; Of course, he beat me. Cost all my men, oh, I guess $100,000 all told. Fifteen or twenty of them in there, don't you see. Really that much --- $100,000 today ain't worth half as much as $100,000 was back then, anyway a big amount. He very promptly beat me in the lower, in the circuit court and I carried it to the Supreme Court. We had two Supreme Court divisions and...this is quite interesting if your legally inclined--they had divided into six judges, but they had two divisions, A and B. Those two divisions enabled them to hear a lot of cases, and if they were considered of enough significance they'd be referred to what they called the Court in Banks, the full court don't you see.

BE: They voted as a full court though, on cases, is that right?

BW: Yes, Yes. So, this was division A lip there. When I got to that, Division A reversed the case and I won it. Well, when they did that, why, Mr. Fant filed a mean motion. Oh, he was horrible. He should have been indicted. He should have been cited for contempt of court. His criticism of this Division A was horrible. Anyway, I came back just as far as he did,, and so in my reply to his, I said I thought he should be cited for contempt of court for the things held said.

BE: Things he had said against the court?

BW: Yes. But anyway, they re-opened it and put it then to the six judges. Well, as a matter of fact his son, Sammie Smith's wife's daddy--the Fant I was talking about was Sammie Smith's wife's grand-daddy--he sent his son Fant, Lester, Lester Fant--who was a brilliant lawyer, who was a much better lawyer as far as that's concerned than his father was--much better technical lawyer. He was the one I argued against during the first trial. When I got down there I had to argue with Mr. Fant. So we - had-- this is a right funny story--a meeting here of the wholesale grocers when they went bankrupt. I guess twenty or twenty-five lawyers were interested all over the country. We had this meeting and Mr. Fant was making fun of me for the things I said and I returned my reply to his motion for suggestion of error, what it was, and I told him and I said, "Mr. Frant, you remind me of the little negro that was in trouble, sho nuff trouble, and he tried everything, everything. Finally, came to the conclusion there wasn't but one thing left for him to do and that was call on the good Lord. So he called on the good Lord and he was praying to Him and finally wind up by sayin', 'now good Lord, this is a serious thing. This is a man sized job, so don't send Your Son down here, you come yourself-. I said, "You'll be here, you ain't goin' to send your son down here". It liked to kill him, he got so danged mad (deep laughter). And, I won it, in that case we got the principle. I won on my principles, what I was fighting for---that there was an element, that there was inequity, ethics and so forth and so on. You probably don't know what it means; not supposed to I don't think, but ...

BE: No-, I'm kind of limited in my legal knowledge.

BW: Yea, but anyway it was a very serious lawsuit. They weren't going to let a final Judgment go down against them. However, the Supreme Court in handing that down, in Bank with the full court, said in their opinion that it appeared that the Federal Reserve bank was on the border of being guilty of the situation they had opened up.

BE: That's what you said.

BW: Yes,-that's what I was trying to say in all that. They took it pretty hard. When I tried it down there, Charles McConigo represented the overall Federal Reserve System. He was the general attorney for the overall Federal Reserve System.

BE: What was his name-McConigo?

BW: McConigo. He came from St. Louis and it was so serious a lawsuit that he decided he would come down to Jackson and argue the case to the Supreme Court, and he did. So, I had Mr. Fant and General McConigo to fight down there at Jackson. But it developed that the general was not familiar with the rules of our local courts and in minutes he was just like a fish out of water and he just ...

BE: He was lost?

BW: Oh, he was lost, that's all there was to it. The judge called him down, For instance he started out to say, "I'd like to tell you something about the functions of the Federal Reserve System." Judge Smith, he was a prince of a fellow, soft and nice he said, "General, we are very much interested in the Federal Reserve System and would be glad to talk with you about it, but is that involved in this lawsuit? If it isn't we'd appreciate it if you would stay with the record".

BE: Stay with the case, eh?

BW: And then, the rule down there was you couldn't read out of the law books; you had to put it in your brief. If you wanted to quote anything you had to quote it from your brief, not from books.

BE: No books?

BW: No books, you see. Of course, there were quotations from the books, and he had two or three books, and he picked up a book and started reading on it, and the judge set him down again, and in ten minutes he was through. Hell, that's all there was to it.

BE: That killed his case.

BW: Which meant that Mr. Fant--Mr. Fant was going to close it for them--he opened and Mr. Fant closed. Well, the judge had given us an hour and a half apiece to argue, or something, and after ten minutes, well, on the rejoinder back then, on the closing, he can't go any longer than the opening, don't you see, so Mr. Fant was pinned to about ten minutes himself.

BE: I'm sure he didn't appreciate that, did he?

BW: What did you want? Did you want to ask something about this thing here?

BE: How about some recollections? Do you recall anything---of course it was a bad time during the depression here--how did it affect Corinth as opposed to the rest...

BW: You mean way back in 1907?

BE: No, no, the big one. 1930--1929,30,31.

BW: Well, as I told you, Frank was in the school at Ole Miss., and on March 4, when the President shut all the banks, closed down all the banks, I had a case set for trial in Aberdeen, Federal Court in Aberdeen. Of course, I had an automobile. I had maybe, fifteen or twenty dollars in my pocket.

(tape one ends here. The following-is reconstructed from memory). I remember traveling to Aberdeen and seeing a lot of people just sitting around, not doing anything because there was no work. It was bad all over, of course, but most everyone got through. The churches helped a lot of people...

Tape two.

BW: ( ) ... and one man was graduating school together, in 1900. You

remember all about that, I'm sure!!

BE: Right!!

BW: And we graduated here and we were very close friends as we carne along. Then he got into some sort of trouble around here so he had to leave town. But he was a brilliant fellow, a smart man. He went to Oklahoma, Oregon, San ... California, and finally, years ago, stopped--landed--in San Antonio and died about two years ago. All down there.

BE: San Antonio is a nice town. I lived there for several years.

BW: I visited with him two or three times, and we kept up with each other. He lived out here by the part area, and his daddy kept cows, two or three cows, and it was his job in the morning to milk the cows. Well, the great thing in that day and time was hoboing on the railroad, and we'd hobo on down to Booneville and go to see the girls, and eleven, twelve, or one o'clock we'd catch a freight train and come back home. Well, he was a clumsy old cuss, and he couldn't catch the darn freight train.

I'd already caught the freight train and saw that he wasn't going to make it, so I got off and stayed with him. Another train didn't come along. Got along way up to one or two o'clock in the morning, he says, "I gotta be at home in the morning. I slipped out tonight. Daddy will catch me and I've got to be home in the morning in time to milk-the cows. I go-Eta go. He can't find out. I'll just walk". And I, like a darned fool--so, we walked from Booneville to Corinth after one or two o'clock in the morning

BE: What time did he have to be back?

BW: Well, when he got to his farm, his daddy was already out there and, of course, he was dressed up, so he took his coat off and said, "Daddy. which cow you want milked? He said, "If you'd been here, you woulda known"" So, we walked for nothing!! (laughs). That was a ... but I kept up with him. He was the type of man that he had troubles like I did.' Hit wife was an invalid, so was mine. And we were close enough. Children, I could brag on my children and tell him they were the greatest children in the world. He would agree with me and turn right back around and say no, his children were the greatest. And he loved his friends, and of course he and I were just as close as any two could be.

BE: Like brothers?

BW: That's right.

BE: Do you know Mr. Mangum out in Burnsville?

BW: Who?

BE: Mr. Mangum, Autrey Mangum.

BW: In Booneville?

BE: Burnsville.

BW: I don't know him.

BE: He's the fellow that wrote the history of Iuka, "Down Memory Lane" it's called. He went to Mississippi. Graduated in the class of '13, I think.

BW: Mangum?

BE: Mangum. Their family came down from Hardin County, Tennessee and lived in Iuka most of their lives. He was a chemist for a long time at the University-. He owns a little farm out there now.

BW: Closer to Burnsville or around Iuka?

BE: No, near Burnsville. Just this side.

BW: Well, (my Son)--my brother-in-law was a traveling man and he was coming back home from one of his trips and he was coming through Burnsville. And, he didn't allow the pace and the town marshal stopped him and arrested him for speeding through the town. So, he set it for a few days and said, "I'll be back here. I'm not going to pay you nothing. Be back with my lawyer and we'll fight you out. It ain't nothing in it at all'.'. Said, O.K., who's your lawyer?" Says, "Mr. Worsham, down in Corinth. "Well", he says, he's the man who wrote the ordinance representing the city." He said, "Oh, Hell!! How much is the fine?" (Laughs).

BE: Once he hear that, he knew held had it!

BW: Yea, Lord have mercy!

BE: Well, Mr. Worsham, I guess that's all. We sure appreciate it.

BW: Glad I could do it.

BE: Thank you very much.

BW: By the way, you might like this (hands paper to me). I was president of the Corinth Brick Company.

BE: Brick?

BW: Yea, and beginning in 1923, I was president until '29, about six or seven years, and two other boys here (worked with me), and we converted -it from an old tiny brick yard to the modern one. They're using our foundry and kilns, for instance, out there now that we put in there. I gave that. I was supposed to be the credit man for them and I passed it on the credit. The other boy was salesman and the other a production man, don't you see, so that was a trio. I enjoyed it very much. That's the only real one I made a lot of money out of.

BE: But you enjoyed it.

BW: Oh, yes, I enjoyed it very much. Well...

BE: O.K.

BW: You might put in there that I'm gonna stay here until I'm a hundred years old and I'm just ninety now, so I've got another ten years to go.

BE: So you have a ways to go!

BW: Ah, Lord! (Laughter)

Postscript: Mr. Worsham was fatally injured in an automobile accident on Jul 17, 1975. SOURCE: Bruce Evans and Margaret Green Rogers. CORINTH VOICES, Vol. I. Corinth, MS: Northeast Regional Library, June, 1979.

Children:

1.1A.1A.2.1. Ben Frank Worsham b. 26 Sep 1909 Corinth, Alcorn, MS md Dorothy Hess 3 May 1933 Corinth. Dorothy b 27 Jan 1913 Memphis, TN d/o Frank H. Hess & Ethel McCracken. He d 1 Dec 1989 Corinth & bur Henry Cem., Corinth. She d. 29 Aug 1999 Corinth, Alcorn, MS. Children: Ben Frank Worsham, III and Robert Hayden Worsham

1.1A.1A.2.2. Clifford Green Worsham md Frances Mildred Mercier d/o Dewitt Mercier and Francis Blount. Children: Helen Rebecca Worsham & Catherine Worsham.

1.1A.1A.2.3. Leroy Wesley Worsham md Sara Elizabeth Biggers d/o James David Biggers and Adrienne Taylor. Children: Janice Elizabeth Worsham & Sara Helen Worsham.

1.1A.1A.3. Addie Worsham (male) b 20 Sep 1887 Corinth, Alcorn, MS, d 19 Aug 1888 Corinth & bur in Henry Cem., Corinth.

“Assuming that the average strength of infantry companies in the Confederate service in 1861 and 1862 was 70 to 80 men, Tippah County had sent between 1250 and 1450 men to the colors before the war reached home soil. As the county was primarily a community of small farmers the sudden removal of a considerable portion of the labor force brought about much hardship in the families of the soldiers. The State recognized this condition early in 1861, when the Legislature enacted the first of the many Military Relief Acts it was to pass before the fighting ended. Under the provisions of this law the Board of Police at its May 1861 meeting appointed a committee composed of O. Davis, B. F. Worsham, Daniel Hunt, J. E. Rogers, and H. W. Stricklin, to "enquire minutely into the condition and wants of each family in the county, the husband or father whereof is engaged as a solider in the service of the State or the Confederated States, and if the said committee shall be of the opinion that the family stands in need of pecuniary assistance to prevent it from becoming a charge on the county . . . said committee . . . shall certify the amount of assistance required by each family to the Probate Clerk, who shall thereupon issue a warrant on the County Treasurer payable to some member of the committee who shall use and appropriate the money so drawn to the maintenance and support of the family of the absent soldier". The sum of $3,000.00 was appropriated for immediate relief purposes, and three committee men were appointed from each beat to report to the central committee. At the August meeting of the Board a tax of 100 percent of the State tax was imposed for Military Relief, and loan warrants not to exceed $8,000.00 in principal sum and bearing interest at the rate of 8 percent were authorized in anticipation of the collection of the tax. In January 1862 the tax was reduced to 50 percent of the State tax. At the February meeting names of 84 families receiving Military Relief were placed on the minutes; 69 names were added in April, and 108 more in May.”

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