Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 944 - 945

CALVIN McWORTER, an enterprising and energetic farmer of Park Township, residing upon section 24, is a native of Pulaski County, Ky., and was born May 14, 1841. His paternal grandfather, Francis McWorter, was born in slavery, his birth having taken place while his mother was at work. She brought the infant to the house in her apron, and presented it to the master. He grew up, and lived in slavery until he was quite an old man, and, having been hired out at odd times to work in a saltpeter cave, he thus accumulated money enough to purchase his freedom. From that time onward he labored diligently to procure more money, with which he bought his wife, children and grandchildren, all of whom were born slaves. He thus paid out over $10,000 to liberate his own flesh and blood. He finally died in Pike County, Ill., quite a well-to-do and highly respected citizen.

             Calvin McWorter, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a slave, who, after all of the ups and downs incident to the life of a bondman, was bought by a man of the name of Elliott, who was his owner at the time of Calvin's birth. The mother of our subject, Sarah McWorter, was the property of a family named Dunham, and is now living in this county, having already attained the age of threescore years and ten. She was the mother of five children, all of whom have grown up. Their names are as follows: Lucy Ann, the wife of George Brooks, who resides in Jacksonville, Ill.; Hiley, the wife of Alexander Clark, of this county; Calvin, the subject of our sketch; Parmelia, the deceased wife of William Stephenson, who died leaving one child, and Commodore, of Sedgwick County.

             The subject of our sketch was born a slave in the family of O. B. Dunham, who reared him until he was sixteen years old. At that age he was sold to Jenkin Victory, with whom he remained until he had attained his twentieth year. His grandfather being a free man as related above, then purchased Calvin of his master, and being out of bondage, the young man went to Pike County, Ill., where his grandfather was living. He remained in that locality until 1870, when he came to Kansas, and settled in Humboldt, where he worked as a common laborer. During the year 1875 he came to Sedgwick County, and settled in Park Township, where he has remained a resident ever since. He is the owner of 125 acres of fine land, on which he carries on farming, and which by his industry he has brought to an excellent state of cultivation. He pays particular attention to the rearing of cattle, in which he has been very successful in a pecuniary point of view. His residence, which is erected upon his farm, is very handsome and comfortable, and is a monument to his business energy and good management.

             Not wishing to live a life of single blessedness, in 1873 Calvin McWorter was united in marriage, in Missouri, with Miss Sarah McCampbell, who is a native of Missouri, born free from bondage, as her parents were not slaves. They are the parents of seven children, as follows: Arthur, John, Willie, Sarah, Maggie, Henry and Thomas C.

             When Mr. McWorter came to Kansas almost his entire property consisted of his span of mules, but since living here he has not only risen in the world in a financial sense but has gained the esteem of his neighbors and the community in general. Industry, honor and uprightness will always win in the end, as is evidenced in the life of the gentleman of whom we write. He is, in politics, a strong Republican, and has served in the position of School Trustee for one term. Being a Prohibitionist from conviction, be is a member of the I. O. G. T. His wife draws her spiritual consolation from the Baptist Church, of which denomination she is a member. A view of the home of Mr. McWorter is shown elsewhere in this work.

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