Biographical Index to History of Whiteside County, IL 1908
By William W. Davis, M. A.
Vol I & II
The Pioneer Publishing Co., 1908
Reprinted by Higginson Book Co., Salem, MA

Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Page 447

WILLIAM L. McWHORTER

A life of industry, diligence and well directed effort has been crowned with success that enables William L. McWHORTER to put aside business cares and enjoy an honorable retirement fro labor. He now resides at No. 801 E Second Street in Sterling and is numbered among the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred in Montmorency township, August 12. 1860. He is one of the seven children of Hon. Tyler and Rhoda A. (WARD) McWHORTER, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this volume.

William L. McWHORTER was reared upon his father's farm in Montmorency township and attended the district schools, while later he was a pupil in the Sterling Business College. He then returned  to the farm and after his father's death he carred on the farm for a fewyears. He then bought what was known as the Frank Utley farm of two hundred and sixty=one acres, living upon it until the spring of 1902, when he reetned the farm and removed to Sterling, where he has since lived retired. His rest is well merited because his life has been active andhis energy and diligence constitute the basis of his success.

On the the 12th of March, 1890, Mr. McWHORTER was married to Miss Arebelia M. BEALE, a daughter of Jacob M. and Margaret (STURTZ) BEALE. The paternal grandfather was Nicholas BEALE, a native of Pennsylvania; who wedded May HARDIN and followed the occupation of farming as a life work. He died when past middle life, having reared a large family. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. McWHORTER was John STURTZ, a native of Pennsylvania and a farmer by occupation. He married Rebecca BEALE, who survived her husband for several yars and lived to an advanced age. The parents of Mrs. McWHORTER were natives of Somerset county, Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer during the greater par t of his life and afterward conducted a general store near Ursina in Somerset county, Pennylvania. He was a soldier of the Civil war, surving throughout the period of hostilities. He died in Ohio at forty-nine years of age. They were Lutheran in religious faith. In their family were two sons and five daughters, as folllows: Calvin L.; Charles H.; Mary J., the wife of Thomas COSTELLO; Elizabeth, the wife of William MARTZ; Martha L. wife of Charles L. WALKER; Arabella, the wife of William L. McWHORTER; Amanda L. who died at th age of two years. Calvin was killed in a railroad accident when not quite twenty-one years of age.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. McWHORTER were born three children: Margaret L, Pauline and Alden Lynn. Of these Pauline died at the age of six months and Alden L. at the age of thirteen months. The parents are members of St. John's Luteran church and Mr. McWHORTER belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. His political allegiance is given to the republicn party and wherever he sees an opportunity to advance community interests or to promote the general welfare he eagerly embraces it. In his business career he has so labored as to win gratifying success and is thus enabled to spend the evening of life in well earned retirement from further labor.