Pulaski County ArArchives Biographies.....Worthen, William Booker 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 August 16, 2009, 9:53 pm

Source: See Full Citation Below Biography
Author: S. J. Clarke

WILLIAM BOOKER WORTHEN.

    William Booker Worthen, who was long at the head of the oldest and most
substantial private banking institution in Arkansas, classed for many years with
the honored and leading citizens of Little Rock, was born in the capital city
September 17, 1852. He was descended from New England ancestry, connected with
the history of the country from early colonial days. The line is traced back to
Ezekiel and Hannah (Martin) Worthen, who were living in Amesbury, Massachusetts,
in 1663. His father, George Alfonso Worthen, was born in Winchester, Kentucky,
June 28, 1816, and in antebellum days became a resident of Little Rock, where
his demise occurred June 30, 1864. He was married on the 14th of November, 1849,
to Louisa Booker, who was born in Springfield, Kentucky, October 8, 1827. The
Booker family came originally from England, near the border of Wales, and Sam
Booker, grandfather of Mrs. Louisa Worthen, was born in Virginia in 1758. He
served throughout the Revolutionary war and was a lieutenant under Washington at
the time of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. Mr. and Mrs. George A. Worthen
became parents of four children: William Booker; Eliza H., born in 1855; George
A., in 1858; and Paul, in 1862. The mother died March 29, 1895, having for more
than three decades survived her husband.

    William Booker Worthen began his education in the public schools of Little
Rock and completed his studies in St. John's College. However, he early assumed
the duties and responsibilities of life. He was but twelve years of age at the
time of the death of his father, who had lost all of his means during the Civil
war, so that upon William Booker Worthen devolved the support of his widowed
mother and the younger brothers and sister. He early displayed those forces of
character which made him in later years one of the strongest representatives of
financial interests in the state. His initial step in business was made as rod
man with an engineering party and in 1866 he was employed by David P. Shaw, who
was conducting a real estate and brokerage business in Little Rock. Mr. Worthen,
although then but fourteen years of age, eagerly applied himself to the duties
assigned him and gained wide and valuable experience in connection with
financial affairs. After severing his association with Mr. Shaw he entered into
partnership with Gordon N. Peay on the 8th of Hay, 1874, when a young man of
twenty-two years, for the conduct of a private bank and the relation between the
two continued until the death of Colonel Peay on the 1st of January, 1877. A new
partnership relation was then entered upon, resulting in the organization of the
firm of Parker & Worthen, which was maintained until June, 1888, when Mr.
Worthen purchased the interest of Mr. Parker and continued actively in banking
under the style of W. B. Worthen & Company until August 2, 1902. Articles of
incorporation were then taken out under the style of the W. B. Worthen Company.
The business was developed upon the principles of inflexible integrity and a
most careful and wise safeguarding of the interests entrusted to their care.
There was no citizen of Arkansas more familiar with the great scientific and
economic principles underlying banking, for he was ever a close student of
political economy and his opinions carried great weight in the banking
fraternity of the state. He was also the author of a volume entitled "Early
Banking in Arkansas," which was published in 1906 at the request of the Arkansas
Bankers Association.

     On the 3d of June, 1879, Mr. Worthern was married to Miss Mollie C. Peay,
who was born in Little Rock, June 25, 1856, a daughter of Gordon N. and Sue
(Crease) Peay, for long years honored residents of the capital city. Mrs.
Worthen was educated in a convent of Little Rock and in a boarding school at
Patapsco, Maryland. The children of this* marriage are: Sue Peay, who was born
in 1881 and is the wife of Dr. M. D. Ogden of Little Rock; George Gordon, who
was born in 18S3 and is assistant cashier of the W. B. Worthen Company;
Elizabeth Agee, who was born in 1887 and is the wife of I. S. Hirsch of Little
Rock; Louisa Booker, who was born in 1893; and Mary Booker, in 1897.

    The military record of Mr. Worthen covered service in the Arkansas State
Guard in young manhood, in which connection he won the rank of major. His
political endorsement was always given to the democratic party and he was
untiring in effort to advance its success. He took a conspicuous part in the
Brooks-Baxter contest in 1874 and served as a lieutenant with the state troops
that were upholding the cause of Governor Baxter. In the early '80s he was
prominently identified with the organization of the Business Men's League and
Board of Trade of Little Rock, both of which have constituted potent forces in
the development of industrial and municipal progress. Major Worthen ever stood
as a stalwart champion of all those activities and forces which have featured
most largely in the city's growth and substantial improvement, interested in
everything that promoted civic virtue and civic pride. His religious faith was
that of the Presbyterian church, while his wife belongs to the Episcopal church.
William B. Worthen died at his home in Little Rock, October 23, 1911. In all of
his life he never deviated from a course which he believed to be right between
himself and his fellowmen, and while success came to him in large measure as the
result of business ability, he also won that good name which is rather to be
chosen than great riches.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922



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