The Whitney Families of Linn County, Iowa

der of birth, is now deceased; Caroline is the wife of P. Bartlett. a resident of Bureau county. Illinois: PIkcIjc Ann is the wife of 'william Brown, a farmer of Tennessee; Silas is deceased; and Rebecca is the wife of Edwin Shaw, a resident of Colorado.

The early educational advantages of our subject were such as the common schools of his native county afforded during his boyhood. At the age of nineteen he accompanied his parents on their removal to Lee county, Illinois, where he began farming for himself. There he was married in 1852 to Miss Dorothea A. Peterson, a native of New York state and a daughter of Jonathan Peterson, who was one of the early settlers of Lee comity, Illinois, where he engaged in farming until his death. Unto j\Ir. and Mrs. Whitney were born six children, namely: 'warren, who married Eftie Fields and resides on a farm near his father: George, who married Celestie Coquilctte, now deceased, and resides on a farm on section 19, Bowlder township; Lelia. wife of Adolphus Atkins. a farmer of Spring Grove township, this county; Inez, wife of Wesley Wagner, a farmer of Sioux comity, -Iowa; Carrie, wife of Daniel Coquilette, a farmer of Spring Grove township, Linn county; and Elmo, who is at home with his parents.

Mr. and Mrs. XMiitne)- began their domestic life on a farm in Lee county, Illinois. where they remained for a few years, and in 1855 came to Linn county, Iowa, settling on section 23, Bowlder township, where he entered a half section of land. lie immediately turned his attention to the improvement of this property, but a year later removed to his present farm on section 29, the same township, which borders on Buffalo creek. He erected a gristmill, which he operated for some time in connection with farming, and then sold. Since then he has devoted his entire time and attention to farming and stock raising. He has also speculated quite extensively in land, buying and selling farms in Bowlder township, and is still the owner of over one thousand acres in the vicinity of his home farm, most of which is in Bowlder township. Although he still continues to reside on the old homestead, he is now practically living retired, having rented most of his land, but Still continues to look after his farming interests.

On August 13, 1862, Mr. Whitney enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry, for three years' service or during the war. This regiment saw considerable active service, being engaged in the famous charge of Champion Hill, conceded to be one of the hottest engagements of the war, in which during a twenty minutes engagement one-half of the regiment was either killed or wounded. Thev were also engaged in a number of important battles, such as the battle of Port Gibson and siege of Vicksburg. IMr. Whitney was taken ill after the battle of Champion Hill, and was transferred to Jefferson Barracks, Alissouri. He was honorably discharged July 20, 1865, at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and is now a member of G. A. R post located at Monticello. Iowa. Was promoted sergeant at the battle of Port Gibson.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

VILLIAM M. WHITNEY. This esteemed citizen is a retired farmer, now enjoying the fruits of his early toil, and living quietly in his comfortable home in Fairfax village. Mr. Whitney came to Linn County from Troy, Wis., near which town he carried on agriculture for a number of years, and to which place he had come from Rockford, Ill., in company with his uncle, Richard Montague. He was originally from Oneida County, N. Y., and with his parents, when a lad of eight years, removed from Delaware County, the latter-named State, where he was born Aug. 19, 1819. His father, Isaac Whitney, was a farmer, and he died in Wisconsin in 1850. His removal there occurred in 1839. The country was new, and he took up a tract of land in the wilderness, which he cleared and successfully cultivated for some years. His marriage occurred in Hadley, Mass., July 16, 1818, the lady of his choice being Miss Laura Montague, a native of the same place. Short!

iiii! Hi after their marriage they went into the Empire State, locating in Delaware County, where they remained for ten years, removing thence to Oneida County. The decease of both parents occurred in LaFayette, Walworth Co., Wis., that of the father May 1. 1850, and the mother passing away Nov. 12, 1863.

The Montague family trace their history back to the sixteenth century, previous to which time they rank among the nobility of France. The original progenitor of the family in the United States, Richard Montague, settled in Hadley, Mass., and another brother, Peter, settled in Virginia at about the same time.

William M. Whitney was the eldest child of his father's family, and, with the exception of two years spent with an uncle in Illinois, he remained with his parents until he attained the age of manhood. May 6, 1840, he contracted a matrimonial alliance with Miss Augusta II. Marsh, a native of Montague, Mass., and daughter of Enos Marsh, Jr., who was the son of au old Revolutionary soldier who fought under Gen. Washington for a number of years. The name of the latter was also Enos, and he died at Montague, Mass., at the advanced age of ninety-six years. His wife was a New England lady, and her life rounded up with about the same number of years as did that of her husband.

Mrs. Whitney, the wife of our subject, was born April 24, 1820. The maiden name of her mother was Rebecca Hawley, and she was a native of Hadley, Mass. Her father was a finely educated man, and was a teacher during the last years of his life.

His decease occurred at Granby, Oswego Co., N. Y., in May, 1831, when he was preparing himself for the duties of a minister of the Baptist Church. The mother was also finely educated, a graduate of South Hadley Academy, and for many years was engaged as a teacher; her death occurred in

[ Port Huron, Mich., Aug. 4, 1855. Mrs. Whitney was reared mostly by her grandparents until twelve a years of age; she then resided with her mother. She was educated in select schools, and at the age of eighteen began teaching at Racine, Wis., and two years later became the wife of our subject.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. W. settled in LaFayette Township, in the State of Wisconsin, where they were engaged in farming for a time and then Mr. Whitney, being seized with an attack of the gold fever, made his preparations to visit the State of California. The journey was made via the Isthmus of Panama, and after passing safely within the Golden (late he proceeded to the mining regions, and was there engaged successfully in quartz and other mining for two years. He then set his face homeward, having accumulated enough money with which to purchase another home. He continued in LaFayette Township, engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, until the spring of 1864, when he became possessed of a desire to change his location to that of a home in the Hatvkeye State. Accordingly he proceeded thither, came into Linn County, and purchased a farm of eighty acres, which he immediately set about improving and cultivating, and upon which he remained until 1880. He had been continuously successful, and wisely concluded to retire from active labor and care, and leave the field open to younger and more vigorous men.

Into the household of Mr. and Mrs. Whitney were born four children, of whom only two are living, viz.: Harriet L., who became the wife of Wilford II. DeBerard, dealer in lumber, grain, coal, etc., and also engaged in the insurance business at Fairfax Village (see sketch); and Frank W., who married Florence L. Cleaveland; he is engaged in farming in Fairfax Township.

The family are all members in good standing of the Congregational Church, and in politics Mr. Whitney is an uncompromising Democrat. He occupies au enviable position in his community as a good citizen, and is held in high esteem by his neighbors and acquaintances.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

F. W. WHITNEY.

FcAV if any of the residents of the state of Iowa can trace their ancestry back to as remote a date as can the subject of this sketch.

Eustis De Whitney, of Flemish de.-cent. was the founder of the present family of Whitney. Thomas Whitney, having taken up his residence in England, was the first to omit the prefix "De" from the name. His son. Johji. burn in London in the year 1592. was the first of the family to take up his above in the wilds of America. Having reached its shores in the year 1635. he settled near Watcrtown. Xew York, with his wife. Eleanore, and their five children.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Isaac Whitney, father of Mr. Whitney, was a well-known farmer in Wisconsin, where lie died in 1850. He was born in Delaware county, New York, where upon reaching manhood he took up a tract of land, barren and wild, and cleared and successfully cultivated it for seven years. In the year 1818 he married Laura Montague, also a native of New* York. The family of Montague dates back to the sixteenth century, when in the year 1645 Richard, the founder of the family, settled in Hadley, Massachusetts.

Our subject's mother was born April 24. 1826, being the daughter of Enos and Rebecca (Hawley) Marsh, her father being the son of the Revolutionary hero above mentioned. Enos Marsh, Jr.. as he was known, was possessed of a very fine education and taught school for many years. He ]passed away at Granby, Oswego county. New York, in May, 1831. just as he was preparing himself to enter the ranks of the Baptist ministry. Mrs. Marsh was a resident of Port Huron. Michigan, at the time of her death. August 4. 1853. To the marriage of William M. and Augusta H. Whitney were born four children, only two of whom are now living: Harriet L. is the wife of Wilford 11. De Berard and resides in Fairfax, Iowa; and the subject of this sketch.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

At the age of seventeen years Mr. Whitney joined the Congregational church, since which time he has been a member of the highest standing. He is also a member of the Iowa Legion of Honor and modern Brotherhood of America.

A stanch Republican in politics, our subject held the office of township clerk for three years, and was also township trustee for the same length of time. However, although Mr. Whitney is a firm supporter of the Republican party in national affairs, in township and county elections his vote is always cast for the man whom he seems best fitted to fill the office.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.