In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910), History of Lafayette County, Mo., carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, cities, towns and villages, together with a (1881)
STEPHEN G. WENTWORTH.
Mr. Wentworth, president of Morrison & Wentworth's bank, of Lexington, is a native of Williamstown, Mass., born October 11, 1811. The Wentworth family is of English origin, and one of prominence in both England and America, three of Mr. W.'s ancestor's having occupied the gubernatorial chair in the United States. His father was a veteran of 1812, and a soldier whose record is above reproach. At the early age of 14 years, and with what education could be obtained by an attendance upon the common schools in that early day, the subject of this brief sketch started out to care for himself a place among the successful devotees of the fickle goddess of fortune. His capital was youth, health and energy, an incomplete education, and one dollar and a half. In 1831 he went to Monroe county, Va., and engaged in clerking. Remained there until 1837, when he removed to Saline county. Mo., and located where the town of Brownsville — of which he is the founder — now stands. Was engaged in the mercantile trade. In 1840 he came to Lexington and engaged in clerking, collecting and the real estate business. In 1851 he was appointed administrator of public affairs for this county, which office he held until 1864. In 1863 he was elected president of the Farmers' bank, which position he held until the institution wound up in 1869. In 1865 he became connected with the banking firm of Morrison, Mitchell & Co. In 1868 the firm became known as " Wm. Morrison & Co. " and in 1875 it was again changed to " Morrison & Wentworth." Mr. Wentworth has been its president since 1868. He has been a member of the Presbyterian church since 1844, of which he has also been a deacon for twenty-six years, and an elder for eight years. He has been a trustee of the AuU female seminary for twenty-one years, and president of its board for four years. Is founder of the Wentworth male academy, and president of its board. Has been a Mason for twenty-five years. Mr. Wentworth is a man of strict integrity and business enterprise, and in all his dealings in public affairs — and their name is legion— naught can be said but to his credit. Has always been a strong supporter of the union. April 18, 1838, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Jane Kincaid, formerly of Union county, Va. She died Oct. 9, 1864, at Lexington, Mo. Twelve children were born to them, only two of whom are now living, viz.: James and Frances J. James Wentworth is a graduate of Central college, Danville, Ky., and also of the law department of Harvard university, Cambridge, Mass. Was U. S. consul at Moscow, Russia. Frances J. is the wife of Richard Field, attorney at law, of Lexington. Jan. 21, 1868, Mr. W. was again united in marriage to Mrs. Rebecca Bird, nee Gay, of, Kentucky.
As printed in History of Lafayette County, Mo., carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, cities, towns and villages, together with a (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
STEPHEN G. WENTWORTH.
In nearly every community are individuals who, by innate ability and sheer force of character, rise above their fellows and win for themselves conspicuous places in public esteem. Such a man was the late Stephen G. Wentworth, who was conspicuously identified with the history of Lafayette county for many years, his life having been closely interwoven with the material growth and development of the locality, while his career as a progressive man of affairs was synonymous with all that was upright and honorable in citizenship, and any history of this county would not be complete were there failure to give him proper mention, for although he has long since taken up his journey to "that undiscovered bourne from wdience no traveler ever returns," his influence is still a potent factor in many lives, and his memory is revered by a host of friends and acquaintances.
Mr. Wentworth was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, October lo, 1811. There he grew to maturity and received his primary education, which was later supplemented principally by a systematic course of home study and miscellaneous reading, and by actual contact with the world until he became an educated man. He emigrated to Monroe county, Virginia, in 183 1 and there began life for himself by engaging in the mercantile business for a period of six years, then he made the long overland journey to Missouri, becoming a pioneer of the then western frontier. In the year 1838 he was married to Elizabeth Kincaid, in Brownsville, Missouri, where he resided until 1840, in which year he came to Lexington, in which town, with the exception of three years spent on a farm near that place, he continued to reside until his death, July i, 1897, which occurred at his beautiful Lexington residence, which had for decades been the favorite mecca for numerous admiring friends, who ever found there a hospitable welcome.
Mr. Wentworth was appointed public administrator of Lafayette county in 1 85 1, which position he held with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned until his resignation in 1864. He took an abiding interest in educational affairs and this resulted in incalculable good. He was trustee,
4l8 secretary and treasurer of the Lexington Female Collegiate Institute until the corporation was dissolved. He was made a trustee of the Elizabeth AuU Seminary when that institution first opened, and served upon the board until his death. He gave freely of both his time and money to advance the interests of these institutions. His work in this line eventually culminated in the founding of the Wentworth Military Academy in 1880. Mr. Wentworth contributed means to this school from time to time until it was made self-sustaining, and his work in its behalf continued up to within a few days of his death. The plan upon which he began this school, namely, to establish one that should do foundation work by preparing boys for college instead of taking on college pretentions, as so many short-lived educational enterprises were doing in the West, proved a corner-stone to the success which has been attained. The military feature adopted later proved a second corner-stone, and, reared upon these, the school has been a monument which will give a luster to his memory that could have not been secured in the erection of a stately granite or bronze obelisk or shaft. The establishment of a school modest enough to be known as a preparatory school or an academy at the time of the inception of this enterprise is a part of the history of education in the West. The causes of the church never appealed to him in vain, and young men were educated for the ministry by means of his liberality.
In business circles Mr. Wentworth was for many years a prominent figure in Lexington. From 1863 to 1869 he was president of the Farmers Bank of Missouri; he was one of the originators of the first banking house opened in Lexington after the war between the states, and for many years he was president of the Morrison-Wentworth Bank.
Mr. Wentworth joined the Presbyterian church in 1844, was elected deacon in 1847, "d ruling elder in 1874. By his first wife twelve children were born, only two of whom, James Wentworth, of St. Louis, and Mrs. Richard Field, of Lexington, survive. The death of Mrs. Wentworth occurred in 1864, and Mr. Wentworth was again married in 1868.
The life of such a noble, useful and praiseworthy character as Mr. Wentworth may be studied with profit to the youth whose destinies are matters for future years to determine.
As printed in Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name Stephen G. Wentworth: Elizabeth Aull Female Seminary
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.