Family:Widney, John (1837-1925)
John3 Widney (Wilson2, John1, JamesA), son of Wilson2 and Arabella (MacClay) Widney, was born 14 Mar 1837, Washington, OH, and died 1925, Santa Clara, CA. He was buried in Mission City Memorial Park, Santa Clara, CA.[1]
He married, 3 May 1864, Santa Clara Co., CA, Sarah Ann Wyman. She was born about Jan 1840, VT, and died between 1900 and 1910.
By 18 Aug 1866 he was a registered voter in Santa Clara, CA, and also on 24 Nov 1891.
Born in Ohio, he came to California at age 20. He told the Pioneer Society that when he arrived the Valley "was just one large mustard field as far as you could see." He operated several businesses including a grocery store, a plumbing business and Santa Clara's first telegraph office, the Postal Telegraph. He served as a trustee and president of Santa Clara Town Board before the City was incorporated.
John Widney operated a store at Franklin and Main (near the Cameron House Hotel) from 1857 to 1887. A theater also bore the Widney name. He was the first town treasurer of Santa Clara in 1852. In his later years he was a real estate dealer.(from MathTeacherGuy)[2]
Children of John3 and Sarah Ann (Wyman) Widney:
i. Frank Seymour4 Whitney, b. 1866, Santa Clara, CA; d. 1921, Santa Clara, CA; m. 15 Jul 1910, Los Angeles, CA, Bertha E. (Sturgis) Rice. She had m.(1) Fred G. Rice. ii. Arabella Maclay Widney, b. 31 Oct 1869, Santa Clara, CA; d. 29 Aug 1945, Santa Clara, CA; m. Fred Machefort. iii. John Widney, b. 1871, Santa Clara, CA; d. 1872, Santa Clara, CA. iv. Mary Elizabeth4 Whitney, b. 1875, Santa Clara, CA; m. 6 May 1903, New York, NY, Francis Roy Hayward.
Census
183 166 Midney, John 32 M W Merchant $18000 $10000 Ohio Male citizen over 21 -----, Sarah A. 27 F W Keeping House Vermont -----, Frank 5 M W California -----, Arabella 3 F W California Rhinehart, Olav 22 M W Clerk in Store Virginia Male citizen over 21 Fisher, George 23 M W Clerk in Store New York Male citizen over 21
"Midney" is an apparent error for "Widney".
John WIDNEY 43 Self M M W OH Merchant PA PA Sarah WIDNEY 40 Wife F M W VT Keeping House VT VT Frank WIDNEY 14 Son M S W CA At School OH VT Belle WIDNEY 11 Dau F S W CA At School OH VT Mary WIDNEY 4 Dau F S W CA OH VT
- 1900, Santa Clara, Santa Clara Co., CA
- 1910, Santa Clara, Santa Clara Co., CA
- 1920, Santa Clara, Santa Clara Co., CA
References
- Census records.
1.^ Find A Grave memorial #18959275, John Whitney.
2.^ Find A Grave memorial #18959275, John Whitney.
Copyright © 2013, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.
