Mr. Whorton was born in this county, and was the son of John and Mary Whorton. The boyhood and youth of George W., our subject, passed in a comparatively uneventful manner, nothing of importance transpiring until the outbreak of the Civil War. He then enlisted in Company B, 101st Illinois Infantry, and did good service as a soldier until the close of the war, participating in many important battles thereof - being at Bull Run, and marching with Sherman to the sea. During this time he seldom missed a roll-call, was never wounded, and, although suffering hardship and privation in common with his comrades, he returned home comparatively unharmed.

On the 4th of April, 1867, George W. Whorton was united in marriage with Miss Naomi Ream. This lady was born Nov. 4, 1844, on North Prairie, Cass Co., Ill. She is still living, and occupies the valuable homestead left her by her husband, and which is located as noted in our opening paragraph. Mrs. Whorton is the daughter of Daniel and Mary (Parr) Ream, the latter of whom was a native of Kentucky. The Ream family is of German ancestry. The parents of Mrs. Ream were early settlers of Cass County, this State, and located on North Prairie. Their family included six children, three of whom survive, namely: Mrs. Whorton; Lydia, the wife of James Van Dyke, of Gallatin, Mo., and Maggie, the wife of Anderson Hood, of Cherokee City, Ark.

Mrs. Whorton suffered the loss of her mother when about twelve years old, and was then taken into the family of the late John H. Fox, of this county, where she lived until her marriage, which occurred April 4, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Whorton commenced their wedded life together in Concord Precinct, and for years with the mutual purpose of building up a homestead for themselves and their children, and giving to the latter advantages beyond what they themselves had enjoyed in their youth. They were greatly prospered in their labors, and Mr. Whorton at his death left a valuable farm of 200 acres and other property. As an agriculturist he was thorough and skillful, and as a man and a citizen possessed all the elements which inspire esteem and respect among men. He was a man of decided views - one whose opinions were held in respect - and gave his support, politically, to the Republican party. In his death, Morgan County lost one of her best citizens and most enterprising men. He was not a member of any G. A. R. post, but, at the request of immediate friends, the funeral was conducted by Chapin Post No. 524, under Commander Anderson, assisted by Camp No. 40, of Chapin, and Camp No. 20, of Concord. A sermon was delivered by the Rev. A. J. Ives, at the residence, and was listened to by a large audience which had assembled to show their respects to the deceased. When the last carriage had passed down the drive-way at his late home the hearse had almost reached the cemetery, about a mile distant. The beautiful burial service of the Grand Army was then delivered by the officers present. Most all of the brothers and a goodly number of the comrades attended in regulation uniform, and the services were exceedingly impressive. To Mr. and Mrs. Whorton was born a family of five children, only two of whom survive namely: Jessie M. and Grace E. The others are Oscar, Charles W., and a babe unnamed, who died in infancy.

Mrs. Whorton and her two daughters reside at the homestead - a very pleasant place, where they are surrounded by the comforts of life. Mrs. Whorton and her daughters are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are prominent and popular in the social circles of their community.