Jonathan Worth, 1802-1869, who was the son of David Worth of Guilford County, North Carolina. He studied law under Archibald D. Murphy, married Martitia Daniel, and started practicing law at Asheboro, North Carolina, in 1825.

Worth was a member of the North Carolina state legislature in 1830, 1831, 1840, 1858, and 1860-1863, and was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 1841 and 1845. He opposed secession but accepted it after the fact, was public treasurer from 1863 to 1865 under the Confederate and then the Provisional government, and took office as governor under the Provisional government 28 December 1865. He was reelected in 1866 and continued in office until July 1868 when the government was suspended. He died 6 September 1869, leaving a widow, one son, and five daughters.

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John Milton Worth was the younger brother of Jonathan Worth who served as Treasurer and Governor during the 1860s. John Worth served several terms in the State Senate, representing Moore and Montgomery Counties in the 1840s. Like his older brother, he was a Unionist or Anti-Secessionist, until the war broke out and then he became loyal to the southern cause, serving as commanding officer of the Sixth Reserves.

In 1870, he was elected Senator from Randolph County. It was not a good time for the State. The Republican legislature of 1868 had looted the State treasury, authorizing some $16 million in bonds (later found to be fraudulent and repudiated) on top of previous debt equal to that sum, and Governor W. W. Holden had been impeached by the General Assembly and removed from office.

When David Jenkins resigned before the end of his term, Governor Brogden named Worth to fill the unexpired term as Treasurer. He already had been elected to serve a four-year term in November. His name added strength to the ticket and is credited with helping the Democrats regain power in the State. As Treasurer, he faced up to the difficult task of settling the State's debt on a fair and equitable basis to both the bond holders and the citizens of the State.

Worth was re-elected Treasurer in 1880, serving just over four more years. He served the State well, with honor, integrity and capability and was highly respected for his service. He is quoted as once commenting upon his guiding philosophy, saying, "My earnest wish has been to be useful to the State."

After leaving public service, Worth became president of the Bank of Randolph and of the Southern Stock Mutual Fire Insurance Company. His Worth Manufacturing Company operated successful cotton mills in Worthville and Central Falls in Randolph County, not far from where the North Carolina Zoological Park is located today. By the time of his death in 1900 at age 90, he had become one of the State's wealthiest citizens.