Stephen G. Wentworth
Encyclopedia
Stephen G. Wentworth was the founder of Wentworth Military Academy
in Lexington
, Missouri
.
Stephen Girard Wentworth was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts
, on October 10, 1811. He left home at an early age and decided to seek his fortunes in the West. After a short stint in Virginia, he emigrated to Saline County, Missouri, near Brownsville, today known as Sweet Springs
. In 1838, he married Miss Eliza Jane Kincaid of Union, Virginia. They lived in Sweet Springs until 1840, then moved to Lexington where he soon became involved in a number of entrepreneurial and public pursuits. From 1851 to 1864, he served as public administrator of Lafayette County. In 1862 he became a partner in the Exchange and Banking House of Alexander Mitchell & Company, later known as the Morrison-Wentworth Bank, of which he became president in 1875. (In 1866, this bank was robbed by Jesse James
and his gang in the country’s second daylight bank robbery.) He also served briefly as president of the Farmer’s Exchange Bank from 1862 to 1865. He helped to incorporate and served as a member of the board of trustees of the Elizabeth Aull Seminary from 1859 to 1897, also serving as treasurer from 1859 to 1880 and president from 1883 to 1897. He became a member of the First Presbyterian Church
of Lexington in 1844 and served as a deacon and elder. In 1879, his son William died, and in 1880 he established Wentworth Male Academy as a memorial to his son. In 1890, the school would change its name to Wentworth Military Academy
. He died in 1897.
Wentworth Military Academy
Wentworth Military Academy and College is a private four-year college preparatory high school and military junior college. It is located in Lexington, Missouri, part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area. Wentworth is the oldest military academy west of the Mississippi River, and the...
in Lexington
Lexington, Missouri
Lexington is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,453 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lafayette County. Located in western Missouri, Lexington lies about 40 miles east of Kansas City and is part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
Stephen Girard Wentworth was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown is a town in Berkshire County, in the northwest corner of Massachusetts. It shares a border with Vermont to the north and New York to the west. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,754 at the 2010 census...
, on October 10, 1811. He left home at an early age and decided to seek his fortunes in the West. After a short stint in Virginia, he emigrated to Saline County, Missouri, near Brownsville, today known as Sweet Springs
Sweet Springs, Missouri
Sweet Springs is a city in Saline County, Missouri, along the Blackwater River. The population was 1,628 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sweet Springs is located at...
. In 1838, he married Miss Eliza Jane Kincaid of Union, Virginia. They lived in Sweet Springs until 1840, then moved to Lexington where he soon became involved in a number of entrepreneurial and public pursuits. From 1851 to 1864, he served as public administrator of Lafayette County. In 1862 he became a partner in the Exchange and Banking House of Alexander Mitchell & Company, later known as the Morrison-Wentworth Bank, of which he became president in 1875. (In 1866, this bank was robbed by Jesse James
Jesse James
Jesse Woodson James was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. He also faked his own death and was known as J.M James. Already a celebrity when he was alive, he became a legendary...
and his gang in the country’s second daylight bank robbery.) He also served briefly as president of the Farmer’s Exchange Bank from 1862 to 1865. He helped to incorporate and served as a member of the board of trustees of the Elizabeth Aull Seminary from 1859 to 1897, also serving as treasurer from 1859 to 1880 and president from 1883 to 1897. He became a member of the First Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church may refer to:-Alabama:...
of Lexington in 1844 and served as a deacon and elder. In 1879, his son William died, and in 1880 he established Wentworth Male Academy as a memorial to his son. In 1890, the school would change its name to Wentworth Military Academy
Wentworth Military Academy
Wentworth Military Academy and College is a private four-year college preparatory high school and military junior college. It is located in Lexington, Missouri, part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area. Wentworth is the oldest military academy west of the Mississippi River, and the...
. He died in 1897.