The following is a biography of Joseph Worth, the First President of the Norwich Rotary Club from A modern history of New London County, Connecticut; by Marshall, Benjamin Tinkham.
JOSEPH CHRISTOPHER WORTH— Prominent in the business world of New London county, Connecticut, popular in social circles, and well known fraternally, Joseph Christopher Worth is a leader of the group of younger men who are carrying the city of Norwich forward in every branch of worthy endeavor. Mr. Worth is a son of Joseph Christopher Worth, Sr., and Eliza Ann (Williams) Worth. The elder Mr. Worth is now deceased.
Joseph Christopher Worth, president of the Jewett City Textile Novelty Company, and president (1920-21) of the Rotary Club, of Norwich, was born in Norwich, July 2, 1892. He received his education in the public schools of Norwich, and the Norwich Free Academy from which latter institution he was graduated in the class of 1910. After his graduation he entered the Dime Savings Bank, as clerk, remaining for one year. Then going to New York City he entered the employ of Charles F. Noyes, a former Norwich man, then in the real estate business in that city, and remained in that connection for one year. Returning to Norwich, he became associated with his father in the wholesale produce business, the firm being J. C. Worth & Company, and being then a partnership between the elder Mr. Worth and Alexander Jordan, whose career is also reviewed herein. At his father’s death, on February 15. 1916, Mr. Worth took over his half interest in this business, and was himself identified with the business until December 17, 1917. On that date he sold his interest to Alexander Jordan, who still continues the business under the old name. Immediately after disposing of his business interests in Norwich, Mr. Worth became engaged in war work, with the Federal War Trade Board in Washington, District of Columbia. He was later assigned to the War Trade Board in New York City as an expert on food in charge of foodstuffs, and continued there until the end of the war.
Returning to Norwich, Mr. Worth bought an interest in the Jewett City Textile Novelty Company, of Jewett City, accepting the offices of vice-president and secretary of this concern, and on January 1, 1921, became president, also serving as sales manager. This association still continues. The company is engaged in the printing and bleaching of cotton textile goods, largely in novelty fabrics and designs, and their plant is located in Jewett City, Connecticut, nine miles north of the center of Norwich. Mr. Worth is also treasurer and director of Herbert E. Ring Company, Inc., of Norwich, who operate a public market in Norwich.
Mr. Worth is a member of the Norwich Chamber of Commerce, of which he is a director. He was chairman of the committee that organized the Norwich Rotary Club in April, 1920, and upon the completion of this work he was elected its first president. Under his enthusiastic leadership the club prospered and gained an influential membership, and ranks as one of the up-to-date, live Rotary organizations of New England. Mr. Worth was elected to the Common Council of Norwich, in 1916, for a term of two years. Politically, he supports the Republican party, but is broadly interested in the public welfare, and gives generously of his time and energies to forward the progress of the City, State and Nation.
Fraternally, Mr. Worth holds the thirty-second degree in the Masonic order, is a member of Somerset Lodge, No. 34, Free and Accepted Masons; Franklin Chapter No. 3, Royal Arch Masons; Franklin Council, Royal and Select Masters; Columbia Commandery, Knights Templar; and in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite holds the degrees of King Solomon Lodge of Perfection, Council of the Princes of Jerusalem, Norwich Chapter of Rose Croix, Connecticut Consistory.
Mr. Worth’s clubs include the leading social organizations of this city. He is president of the Norwich Golf Club, where he enjoys his favorite recreation. He is a member of the Arcanum Club, of Norwich, and of the Thames Club, of New London.
On October 31, 1917, Mr. Worth married Olive Huntington, of Norwich, who was born in New York City, but reared and educated here. Mrs. Worth is a daughter of Channing and Helen Barstow (Piatt) Huntington. Her father, who is now deceased, was born in New York, and her mother was born in Norwich, and still resides here. Mr. and Mrs. Worth have one son, Huntington, who was born in Norwich, December 2, 1918. The family are members of Christ Episcopal Church, of Norwich, of which Mr. Worth was at one time a vestryman.
Below is the founding announcement in the August 1921 edition of “The Rotarian.”
Additional Information
Another son, Joseph Christopher Worth, Jr. was born in 1924.
Joseph Worth passed away in 1955.