JOHN HENRY WORST
John Henry Worst, LL. D., was born December 23, 1850, in Ashland county, O., and was reared on a farm.
His parents removed from Ashland to Wayne county, O., when subject was nine years old. His mother died in 1861, and his father, who was a German Baptist clergyman for many years, died August, 1898.
John H. was educated in the rural schools; took courses of study at Smithville, O., Academy; Salem, Ind., College, and Ashland, O., University. He taught school every winter from 1866 until 1878, working on farm or attending school during summers.
He married Susan Wohlgamuth, October, 1872, and has three children: Olive Jeanette, Clayton Leroy and Lloyd Warner.
He lost health and spent summer of 1876 on the eastern shore of Maryland. Returning, he was editor of the Fairfield County, O., Republican for two years. He came to Emmons county, N. D., and took up homestead near Williamsport, in September, 1883. He moved his family to this homestead in the spring of 1884 and lived upon it for twelve years. He farmed at first, but later engaged in mixed farming and ranching. He was appointed county superintendent of schools when Emmons county was organized, in the fall of 1883, and held the office by election until elected to the State senate in 1889. He held the office of State senator until elected lieutenant governor in 1894.
He was appointed president of the North Dakota Agricultural College and director of the Experiment Station in 1895 and nas held the position continuously since. He has brought the college into a very prosperous condition and popularized it throughout the State. He has perhaps delivered more public addresses, on the stump, on 4th of July and Memorial day occasions, at Farmers' and Teachers' institutes, etc., than any man in the State. He is a Republican in politics, and has always taken an active interest in public affairs. He is an active Mason, having taken the York and Scottish Rite degrees, and is wise master of the Rose Croix. He is also past chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias.
From A History of the Province of Louisiana Under France and Spain, and of the Territories and States of the United States Formed Therefrom, Edited by Weston Arthur Goodspeed, Volume VII, by The Western Historical Association, 1904.
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