Archive:History of Westminster, Tolman, Whitney

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Tolman, Newton F., editor, A History of Westminster, Massachusetts, 1893-1958, compiled by The Westminster Historical Society (Richard R. Smith Co., Inc., Peterborough, New Hampshire: 1961); Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 61-17914; New England Historic Genealogical Society Call No. F/74/W72/W72.

WHITNEY

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[p. 330-332] WHITNEY

There were two distinct families of this name who settled in Westminster. The first settler was Samuel (1). He came about 1741; settled in the north part of town; and owned property from North Common across the Whitman River Valley and over Bean Porridge Hill. More than a dozen of our present citizens claim him as an ancestor, but only one family bears the Whitney name.

Vivian B. Whitney of the 5th generation, b. November 4, 1884, in Winchendon; s. of Henry S. and Clymena P. (Farrar) Whitney; m. June 4, 1913, Fanny H. Stevens, b. February 12, 1890, in Newport, Nova Scotia, dau. of George and Alice B. (Redden) Stevens. He was employed by the Post Office in Gardner for many years and they lived there until 1925 when they bought their present place on Leominster Street. He retired in 1946. He has served on the Board of Assessors.

Children of Vivian B. and Fanny H. (Stevens) Whitney:
1.	Marjorie E. b. April 23, 1914, in Gardner; graduate of University of Massachusetts; m. Richard Thompson; lives in Amherst; 3 children.
2.	Elsie M. b. February 28, 1917, in Gardner; graduate of New England Baptist Hospital; m. Philip L. Taylor; lives in West Springfield; 3 children.
3.	Gordon B. b. January 18, 1921 in Gardner, d. December 15, 1956; graduate of Northeastern University; veteran of WW II; m. Sally Blythe; lived in Tenafly, New Jersey; 3 children.
4.	Ethel B. b. June 22, 1924; graduate of University of Massachusetts; m. Ralph Sergo; lives in Bradley Beach, New Jersey; 3 children.

The other Whitney was Nathan (82), who came to town early in 1751. He and his descendants preferred the south side of town and settled near Wachusett Mountain, the original dwelling being the well-known "Whitney Homestead." Nathan is the ancestor of the following families:

Stillman Whitney (120) b. April 11, 1833, d. February 16, 1915; m. (3) October 13, 1891, Almira Clark (d. October 27, 1937).

Cecil Whitney (126) b. January 5, 1848, d. December 31, 1937 and his w. Eldora Gates (27) (d. Nov. 7, 1897), lived in Fitchburg and Westminster on the ancestral farm. He was a public-spirited man and held many town offices.

Child of Cecil and Eldora (Gates) Whitney:

1. Stanley N. Whitney (142) b. April 28, 1881; unmarried.

Luella H. Whitney (127) b. April 23, 1853, d. March 18, 1936; m. Chester Canham; lived on the Whitney homestead.

Leon A. Whitney (137) b. April 29, 1864, d. May 24, 1947; s. of Augustine (116) and Mary A. (Titus) Whitney; m. Geneva Fradley (d. June 11, 1949) of Brooklyn, New York. They lived chiefly in New York, where he was engaged in the electrical contracting business. For many years they spent their summers at the family home on main street.

Children of Leon A. and Geneva (Fradley) Whitney:
1.	Leon F. b. March 29, 1894, in Brooklyn, New York; graduate of Massachusetts Agricultural College. He is the author of several books and magazine articles on animal husbandry. He received the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Alabama Polytechnic Institute in 1940; m. Katherine Sackett of Brooklyn; lives in Orange, Connecticut; 2 children.
2.	Joseph F. b. July 25, 1895; graduate of Massachusetts Agricultural College; m. Winifred Rush of Lexington, Kentucky; lives in Wilton, Connecticut; 2 children.
3.	William A. b. September 9, 1897; d. in infancy.
4.	Richard A. b. August 1, 1900; m. Mary F. Turner of Georgetown, Kentucky; 2 children. Graduate of Massachusetts Agricultural College.

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