In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1855
From Past and present of Winneshiek county, Iowa; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement (1913)
LEWIS B. WHITNEY.
A foremost representative of commercial and financial interests of Decorah and Winneshiek county is Lewis B. Whitney, who in 1897 helped to establish the National Bank of Decatur, of which institution he has served as president ever since. Born in Jefferson county. New York, on March 29, 1855, he is a son of Brayton and Martha M. (Rockwood) Whitney, natives of New York. The father was for many years a sailor on the Great Lakes, his run being from Oswego to Chicago, at a time when that city was yet Fort Dearborn. He subsequently moved to Wisconsin and there successfully operated a farm until 1861, when he enlisted for service in the Civil war with Company B, Twentyninth Wisconsin Volunteers, being afterward transferred to the Sixteenth Ohio Battery, with which he served until the close of the war. At the cessation of hostilities he returned to Wisconsin and there again followed agricultural pursuits until 1867, when he removed to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he farmer until his death, which occurred in August, 1892. His wife survived him until December, 1896.
As printed in Past and present of Winneshiek county, Iowa; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement (1913). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1913. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.