The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-06-14
PRACTICED MEDICINE
HALF A CENTURY
Dr.. II. o. Worthen, Who Died Yesterday
Afternoon, Had Also Been Prominent
in the Business and Civic Life
of Barre.

I
of Barre.
DIR. Fl. 0. Worthcn, whose name ha
been linked with the professional, finan
cial and civic life OF Barre for half cen
tury, passed away yesterday afternoon a
his home on Keith avenue after fou
months of illness with a chronic disorde
OF the stomach. 1t was on Feb. that h,
was compelled to give up the practice o
the medical profession, to which he hat
been devotedly attached for 80 years, an,
from that time he gradually declined il
health until two weeks ago, when thu
ailment seemed to, make greater inroad'
on his constitution. During the last few
weeks his son, DR.. Clarence +. Worther
of Weston, Mass, had been in constant
attendance.
Hiram Owen Worthen was born in
Orange on Aug is, 1888, the son Of Sam.
uel and Susan Owen Worthen, and was
the eighth child of family of nine chill
dren. He received his early education in
the district schools of Orange and then
entered Barre academy under Principal
Jacob Spaulding, an institution to which
he later in life was to give strong service.
He entered the medical department of
Dartmouth college and then, following
out the custom of those days, associated
himself with a physician for practical
work. He thus came under the direction
of DIR. A. B. Carpenter, a prominent doe
m af Ra m nj inn n
very soon succeeded, as DR.. Carpenter
died in a short time. DR.. Worthen began
practicing medicine in Barre in 1864 and
later he attended the medical department.
of the University of Vermont and secured
his degree from that institution in 1869.
For the half century and year DR..
Worthen has been one of the leading
practitioners of Washington county, be-
ing essentially typical doctor of the old
school but nevertheless being eager to
keep abreast with the advance of medi-
cal knowledge. He had, of course, prac-
ticed longer than any other physician in
Barre, and during that long service he
had given his time and his strength un-
reservedly to the alienation OF suffering,
and not few persons are able to say
that he was as willingly selfsacrifcing
in regard to financial emoluments as he
was in giving his time and strength.
The older residents of Barre will recall
that he first had his office in the Mrs.
Judith Keith house on North Main street,
where now stands the Worthen block, un-
til 1890, when he built the Worthen resi-
dence on Keith avenue.
DIR. Worthen's interest and confidence |
in Barre in the early days of the towns |
greatest progress, thus far, was shown
by the erection of the Worthen block and |
Did village and in quarry land. Indeed, |
ne was markedly concerned in the well |
fare of the community in many ways,
not the least noticeable manifestation be-
ng in his strong efforts to keep alive the
,ld Barre academy after Jacob Spauld-
ng's death and later to secure the site |
IF the old academy for the new Spaufding |
graded school structure. When the pro-
1osal for the incorporation of the city
vas uppermost, DR.. Worthen was
me of the leaders for the change. being
II that time member of the Vermont
senate and thus being instrumental in
the consummation of the plans.
That was in 1894. Prior to that he had
erved the town rs representative in the
legislature of 1888.
In the banking life of the community
Dr.. Worthen had been prominent for
nore than quarter of century. He
Tss one of the original incorporators of
nd one of the hardest workers for the
irsnite Savings Bank & Trust Co., and
inee that institution was chartered in
SIS he had been a director and vice.
resident. holding those positions at the :
me of his death.
In frsternal life he was a member of !
arious Masonic orders. including the
nights Templsr. He also was a mem
er of the Washington County Medical y
,ciety and Of the Vermont State Medi- a
Il association. ?
DR.. Worthen was first married to Dru-
la Wood of Barre, the date of their = :,
arrisge being Sept. Z, 1866. She died
rb, p. 1868. On Sept 10. 1870. he mar.
ed Edna L. Field. daughter Of Dr. and g
rs. A. +. Field. and she survives him, ',
lgether with their four children. DR.. u
arence r. Worthen Of Weston. Mass.
rnest y. Worthen Of Springfield. Mass, :
iss J. Craze Worthen Of Los Angeles =
H.. and Or. Ray o. Worthen of Weston. =
ass He also is survived hy one sister. ~
r.. Sarah Nye OF Park street. this city. ~
d one brother George L. Worthen Of y
ontpelier. There are also two grand ~
ildren. the children Of Ernest y. p
orthen.
The funeral i TO be held al the resi- =
nee. 10 Keith avenue. Tuesday after
on at , O'Clock. Rev. y. w Barnett Of -
r Congregational church Officiating. and
!, As4staf - q. A. =. Irt.,....,...A - at