BIO: David W. Worst, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2011.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

                              CHAPTER LIX.

                         UPPER ALLEN TOWNSHIP.

573  UPPER ALLEN TOWNSHIP.

  DAVID W. WORST, justice of the peace, Shepherdstown, was born October 
2, 1839.  His father David Worst, who was born in Frankford Township, 
this county, December 26, 1797, was a carpenter by trade, and carried 
on business in this county, many substantial buildings still standing 
as monuments to his industry.  He also went to Cuba and erected a large 
number of sugar houses for planters on that island.  January 30, 1834, 
he was married to Mary Ann Zearing, who was born November 7, 1814, and 
was a lineal descendant of the celebrated Rupp family.  David and Mary 
Ann Worst were the parents of the following named children:  Jacob, 
Sarah A., Daniel, David W., Eliza A., Susan A., Sarah A., Jacob H. and 
Mary E., all of whom were born in Mechanicsburg, Penn., David Worst, 
Sr., died in 1850, and his widow subsequently married John Lininger 
December 29, 1851, and bore him three children:  Catharine, Elizabeth 
and Alice V.  David W. Worst, our subject, at the age of eleven years 
was turned out to shift for himself, and was engaged by John Houser on 
a farm.  At the age of eighteen he commenced a clerkship with Messrs 
Goswiler & Zook, in Shepherdstown, continuing with them a number of 
years.  May 31, 1866, he was united in marriage with Annie M., daughter 
of ex-Sheriff Bowman, and by this union are the following named 
children:  Carrie I., Annie G., Mary E., Edith G. and Martha W.  All 
are making rapid progress with their education and form a pleasant 
family circle, where books, music, etc., are prominent features.  Mr. 
Worst's popularity in his county is shown in the fact of his being 
elected prothonotary of Cumberland County in the autumn of 1872, which 
position he held three years with honor to himself and credit to his 
constituents.  The people residing in his township nominated 

574  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

him justice of the peace in 1877, and re-elected him in 1882, his 
official term expiring in 1887, and during his public life he bears a 
clean record.  He is a straight Democrat and one of the most prominent 
local politicians in his township.  Liberal in everything which 
advances the interests of society, he is ranked among the best citizens 
and most public spirited men of the county in which he has for a number 
of years been a central figure.