BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 687-688.

JOSHUA WORLEY

One of the well-known families during the early period of the settlement
of Belmont county was that of which Joshua Worley, now a leading citizen
of the county, is a representative. He is a son of Jacob Worley, who was
born in Pennsylvania, in 1772, and when about sixteen years of age came
to Ohio, with his father, Joseph Worley, and his family. They erected the
first cabin where Bridgeport now stands, and settled in the woods among
the hostile Indians and wild animals. A considerable number of years
later, Joseph Worley removed to Marion county, Ohio, leaving here Jacob
and an older brother. The latter entered lands and cleared the same,
acquiring valuable and extensive farms. At the time of the Hardesty
floods in 1819, Jacob Worley lived on McMahan creek, and suffered much
from the calamity. Jacob married Mary Holtz, a native of Germany. Their
son, Joshua, was reared in Pultney township, and in 1845, was married
to Margaret Greenley, who was born in Belmont county, in which she died
in 1852. To this union two children were born, James A., who died at the
age of nineteen years, and Mary J., who became the wife of Francis McCann,
and has two children living: James and Rena. She died in 1880. In 1854,
Mr. Worley was married to Susan Lucas. He and wife are members of the
Presbyterian church. He is an influential citizen, and has served
officially as township trustee, two terms in Smith township and three
in Richland. He has a valuable and extensively improved farm of 185 acres.