Hopkins Co., TX - Obit - William A. Wortham ***************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: June E. Tuck USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************** From the files of June Tuck WORTHAM, WM. A. - (This tribute is offered by his comrades, asked to be published in the Sulphur Springs Gazette at his home. From Commander John A. Martin, Lee Camp, Ft. Worth) William A. Wortham, died at the residence of his son, Hon. Louis J. Wortham, in this city, Oct. 1, 1910, in the eightieth year of his age. He was born in Maury County, Tennessee, Nov. 3, 1830, and came with his widowed mother to Texas in 1842 and settled first in Harrison county. At an early age he took up the calling of newspaper work, and pursued it the greater part of his life. In 1852 he married Miss Adeline E. Ashcroft of Tyler, Texas, and two years later settled at Sulphur Springs, which was his home for many years. Of this union, five sons were born, Louis J., who recently returned as representative from Tarrant county in our Legislature, William B., Albert A., Thomas James, and Levi D. Wortham. He volunteered in Crump's Battalion in 1861, of Confederate Cavalry, and was elected Lieutenant in one of its three Companies. This command and Weaver's Battalion were later on consolidated and merged into the 10th Texas Cavalry, with James A. Weaver, Colonel and Wm. Wortham, Lieutenant of this command. Afterwards he was elected Lieutenant Colonel of the 24th Texas Cavalry, in which service he continued until the close of the war. He was in many hard fought battles, Richmond, Ky., Elkhorn, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Jackson, Miss., Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Yellow Bayou. He was a soldier of the Cross, a grand and devoted Christian, and did what few soldiers ever did; that is, held services continually in camp at his tent and led many wayward souls to the true light. He was appointed, by Governor Hogg, Superintendent of the Orphans' Home at Corsicana, and retained by Governor Culberson in this position at the special instance of Gov. Hogg. Signed by Capt. S. H. McElreath, 11th Texas; Lieut. Col. A. Harris, 14th Texas; M. S. McElreath, 6th Ga. Inf.