HON. JOHN H. WORST. Faithfulness to duty and strict adherence to a fixed purpose in life will do more to advance a man's interests than wealth or adventitious circumstances. The successful men of the day are those wino have planned their own advancement and have accomplished it in spite of snarly obstacles and with a certainty that could have been attained only through their own efforts. This class has a worthy representative in John H. Worst, ex-lieutenant-governor of North Dakota. and president of the Agricultural College at Fargo. A portrait of President Worst is presented on another page.
He was born inn Ashland county, Ohio, December 23. 1850. and is a son of George and Margaret (Martin) Worst. natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father, wino was a farmer be occupation spent his entire life in the Buckeye state, where two of his sons still reside. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Henry Worst. was a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania. and a pioneer of Ohio, where he continued to make his home until called from this life.
The early education of our subject was acquired in the public schools of Wayne county, Ohio, and was supplemented by a course at Smithville Academy, Ohio, at Salem College, Indiana, and Ashland University. In his native state he taught school and engaged in farming for ten years, and during the following four years edited the "Fairfield County Republican" of Fairfield. Lancaster county, Ohio. In September, 1883. he came to Bismarck, North Dakota. and the following year brought his family to this state, locating on land in Emmons county. When the county was organized in 1883 he was appointed county superintendent of schools, and served as such for six years. In 1839 he was elected the first senator from the twenty-sixth district, comprising the counties of Emmons, Kidder, Logan and McIntosh, and filled that office for five years with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. At the end of that time, in 1894, he was elected lieutenant-governor on the ticket with Roger Allen, as chief executive, and served his fellow citizens in that capacity for two years, during which time he was appointed president of the Agricultural College at Fargo. He has most capably filled that office ever since, and in connection with his son Clayton is engaged in cattle raising.
Mr. Worst was married, in 1872, to Miss Susan Wohlgamuth, also a native of Ohio, and three children bless their union: Olive J., Clayton L. and Lloyd W. During our recent war with Spain the elder son served as sergeant of Troop G, Third United States Volunteer Cavalry. Mr. Worst has been a life-long Republican, and has canvassed the state in the interests of his party during every campaign. He is a Scottish Rite Mason, wise master of Rose Croix; prelate of the commandery, and past chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias. He is one of the best known and most highly esteemed men of the state, and his popularity is well deserved, as he has always done all in his power to advance its interests and promote general prosperity.
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota 1900 Page 222