Dr. James McWorkman (deceased) was a well-known physician of the State, and was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, May 4, 1819. During his early youth he was studious and industrious, and after arriving at the proper age chose the profession of medicine as his calling through life, and began his preparatory study under the direction of Dr. A. H. Lord, of Bellefontaine, afterward entering and graduating from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. He was married to Juliette Hanford September 18, 1838, and afterward moved to Lebanon, Ind., where he practiced medicine until 1857, and from 1854 to 1857 owned and edited the Boone County (Ind.) Pioneer. At the latter date he was appointed superintendent of the Blind Asylum at Indianapolis, in which capacity he acted till 1861, when he resigned his position and came to Cole County, Mo., where he bought a farm of over 400 acres, eight miles west of Jefferson City. In 1872 he was elected to represent his county in the State Legislature, and the following year was appointed superintendent of the Blind School at St. Louis, in which position he served with honor and distinction until 1882, when he resigned and returned to his farm, where he resided until his death, which occurred quite suddenly on the 15th of March, 1885. His first wife died in 1873, and the following year he wedded Miss Rebecca Long, a native of St. Louis, who still survives him. He also left two children: Susie C. and James. All Dr. McWorkman's neighbors agree in saying that his heart was overflowing with love for his fellow men and was ever ready with a kind word for all, and those in distress never applied to him in vain. For true manliness and honest dealing he had great admiration, but for insincerity, indirectness and sham he had the utmost contempt. He fulfilled in an eminent degree the duties of husband, father and friend, and was one among the few who could see and recognize his neighbors' rights as well as his own. In preparing a few notes in reference to his busy and eventful life, he concluded with these words: " When I die it is my wish that I be plainly buried in the little graveyard on my farm in Cole County, where lie the remains of my former wife, and there let me rest." His wish is now realized, and he sleeps in peace within his narrow bed, guarded by forest sentinels, whose swaying boughs alternately admit sunshine and shadow to play across his grave. His sudden death is a warning to us all to have our lamps burning when the summons comes, for death is something we all must face.
 

Death is the crown of life.

Were death denied, poor man would live in vain,

Death's wounds to cure; we fall, we rise, we reign;

Spring from our fetters, fasten to the skies.

When blooming Eden withers from our sight,

The King of Terrors is the Prince of Peace.

Dr. McWorkman's father, D. McWorkman, was born in Harrison County, Ky., and removed with his father to Logan County, Ohio, about 1809, where he in time became sheriff of the county, and afterward represented his district in the Ohio Senate. Both he and his father died and were buried in Logan County. The latter was born in Ireland, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and afterward drew a pension for services rendered. The Doctor's mother's maiden name was McPherson. Her father, James McPherson, was also a soldier in the Revolution. Mrs. McWorkman is a daughter of Judge John F. Long, who was born at "White Haven," St. Louis County, in 1816, and was educated in St. Charles College, which institution he entered in 1834, and from which he graduated in 1836. He then taught a private school for two years, and among his pupils were many who afterward became celebrated—Judge Wolf, and Mrs. U. S. Grant and her sisters. In 1838 he engaged in business in Jefferson County, in partnership with George W. Dent, the firm name being Long & Dent. After doing newspaper work on the Missouri Argus for some time he was appointed deputy marshal under Capt. George H. Kennerley, and was chief of police of St. Louis in 1843. He served as postmaster, justice of the peace and surveyor for many years, and in 1855-56 he was a member of the city council and the school board. In 1860 he was elected a member of the State convention, and exerted all his powers to keep the State in the Union. In 1874 be was appointed by President U. S. Grant as surveyor and collector of the city of St. Louis, and held this position with credit to himself for four years. He died in February, 1888, and is well remembered as one of the enterprising and prominent citizens of St. Louis.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).