Frank Worden, perhaps Iowa's most widely known ossified man, passed to his final reward at the home of a niece near Newbern a century ago --- on Aug. 11, 1923 --- and his remains were buried in the cemetery at Swan (in far northwest Marion County) four days later, on the 15th.
I had hoped to find a tombstone for this minor celebrity from Iowa's past --- but apparently his widow, Mary, returned to their permanent home in Lawton, Oklahoma, after his death without having made arrangements to have one erected.
Some 25 years earlier, Frank was living at Colfax when whatever it was that ailed him, most likely rheumatism, made it impossible for him to work. So he took to the road as a sideshow attraction, a route paved earlier by New York's Jonathan R. Bass and others, and by all accounts made a decent living at it.
The Chariton Leader's Newbern correspondent noted Mr. Worden's presence in a column published on Feb. 27, 1923, as follows, probably not long after the Wordens had returned to the upper Midwest for what they had hoped would be just another season on the road.
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We have a man visiting in our neighborhood at the Jeff Thompson farm known as the "ossified man." His name is Frank Worden and he is an uncle of Mrs. Thompson. "Ossified" means turning to bone or stone. His joints are stiff and rigid and he has no control over the muscles of his face. He can roll his eyes but cannot turn his head to look at one. He talks most of the time he is awake. This man has been lying on his back for 25 or 30 years, unable to turn to the right or left. He lies on his back while he eats his food which is especially prepared for him. He cannot chew at all, but sucks his food in. This man's case has baffled doctors all over the country as he has traveled from coast to coast, having been in exhibition for about 16 years. This man could once run and jump and play, worked on a farm and lived the same carefree life as we now live. Think of the contrast now. But he is happy and says he doesn't have a pain at all and enjoys and loves company. He does not want pity; he has plenty of money and many friends. He will shortly be out on exhibition again, taking in more money.
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The Quad-City Times of April 12 published an article datelined Newton that offered a few more details:
Newton --- April 12: Would you be able to laugh and joke and enjoy life if you were almost completely turned to bone? Could you joke at misfortune if your back was as rigid as a steel bar; if you could move only the muscles of eyes, eyelids, tongue and finger tips?
Frank Worden, known as the "Ossified Man," a former Jasper county farmer, is still doing just that --- enjoying life --- on his visit to his niece, Mrs. Jeff Thompson, near Newbern. He lies constantly on his back, which has become bowed through years of the hardening process. A sort of blood flow continues but is little more than a seepage. His jaws are perfectly rigid but early in his affliction wooden wedges were inserted so that he can masticate soft foods and indulge in smoking.
He has made a fortune in the freak show business and still faces life as an enjoyable pastime. Recently, he told a caller (for he is extremely fond of company), "I have outlived a hundred thousand as good Iowa men as you since I took on this life of comparative ease." Mr. Worden's one fear is blindness. He accepts the idea of death most philosophically.
Mr. Worden farmed near Colfax more than 30 years ago. He attended school near Prairie City, where he formed a friendship for a Newton man, Judge W. C. Clements. He visited Judge Clements here in 1912 and while here, Newton physicians held a clinic over him, informing him he would not live 12 years.
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But by August it was becoming clear that Mr. Worden was on his final journey. The Chariton Leader of Aug. 14 carried the following brief report:
The ossified man, who had been with relatives near Newbern and who the papers have so frequently mentioned, was in Chariton on Friday evening, in his carryall, in which he constantly reclines as he has no action of himself, only the use of his arms. He has been in a state of illness of late and it was given out that he was dying. However, he survived the night and his attendant took him away next morning.
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The Herald-Patriot of Aug. 16 carried this follow-up report, headlined "Ossified man almost dead."
Frank Worden, "The Ossified Man," who was in this city some time ago seeking aid and assistance to carry on his fight, is near death's door. A dispatch from Creston states that he is now at the county home near that city in a very serious condition, and in all probability will lose in the struggle to keep the spark of life burning. Following is the item sent out from Creston:
Frank Worden, ossified man, who with his wife has been traveling over Iowa in a horse-drawn hack since July 4, is near death's door at the county farm near Creston.
The hack carrying him and his wife arrived in Creston recently and Mr. Worden was in critical condition. He was given medical treatment and taken to the county farm until he recovers or the end comes. Mr. Worden has written a history of his life.
Later --- Mr. Worden was brought to Chariton, but after leaving here he went to the home of his niece, Mrs. Jeff Thompson near Newbern, where he died.
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The end had come by the time these final reports had been published --- overnight on Aug. 11-12 at the Johnson home near Newbern. The following obituary was published in The Knoxville Express of Aug. 22, 1923:
Knoxville people will remember Frank Worden, the "ossified man," who was exhibited in a wagon in this city earlier in the summer. The Lacona Ledger tells of his death.
Frank Worden, known as the "ossified man," who was on exhibition in Lacona last spring, passed away Sunday, August 12, at the home of his niece, Mrs. J. E. Thompson, in Marion county, the disease causing his death being chronic endocarditis. He has been in a helpless condition for years, lying on his back unable to move any part of his body except his forearms for 14 long years. He seemed to be cheerful, taking an optimistic view of life, though he must have suffered through all these years.
Mr. Worden was born in Oswego, N.Y., Nov. 21, 1859. He leaves a wife, Anna Worden, of Lawton, Okla., a brother at Swan, Iowa, and a niece and nephew who live near Lacona.
The remains were taken to Swan where burial services were held and the body laid to rest in the cemetery there.
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Mr. Worden's death certificate provides a few more pieces of biographical information, identifying his parents as Ben and Martha Worden. And the attending physician, Chariton's Dr. James B. Robb, attributed his condition to deformities caused by arthritis.
Sadly, there seems to be no trace of the history of his life that he reportedly had written.
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