Family:Whitney, Nathan (1791-1891)

Col. Nathan⁷ Whitney (Nathan⁶, Jonathan⁵, Jonathan⁴, Jonathan³, Benjamin², John¹), son of Nathan⁶ and Olive (Whitney) Whitney. was born 22 Jan 1791, Conway, MA, and died 11 Jun 1891, Franklin Grove, IL.

He married, 1811, Seneca Castle, NY, Sarah Gray. She was born 16 Jan 1791, and died 23 Apr 1864.

Colonel Nathan opened a farm near Allison, NY, and another at Elba, NY. He visited Lee county, Illinois, in 1835, and later in 1836 and 1837, his family following in 1838. He was one of the commissioners to organize the county of Lee, and since then held the office of county commissioner. His nursery was the first north of the Illinois river. From De Witt Clinton, Governor of New York, he has three military commissions, those of captain, lieutenant-colonel and colonel. At the time of his death he was the oldest Mason in the Northwest. During the Morgan excitement he was among the "faithless faithful found." Colonel Nathan Whitney was tendered a reception in Jan 1891, by his Masonic bothers at his home in Franklin Grove, it being the one hundredth anniversary of his birth, and prominent Masons from Chicago, Dixon, Ashton, Creston, Amboy, De Kalb and Sterling were present. A. B. Fich, in behalf of Nathan Whitney Chapter, No. 129, Royal Arch Masons, named in honor of Father Whitney, presented him with a solid silver platter suitably inscribed. Letters and telegrams of congratulation poured in upon Father Whitney all day. Over two hundred guests and four generations sat down to a bounteous repast. He served in the war of 1812 and was mentioned for brave service in the battle at Fort Erie. He was one of the oldest Masons in the state at the time of his death, having received his first degree in 1817. He died resided Albion, NY, and Franklin Grove, IL.

Children of Nathan⁷ and Sarah (Gray) Whitney:

i.	DeWitt Clinton8 Whitney, b. 1812; d. young.
ii.	Olive Whitney, b. 14 Jul 1814; d. 14 Feb 1890; m. Dec 1831, Careyville, Jesse L. Knowlton. He died s.p. 25 Jun 1883.
iii.	Pully G. Whitney, b. 20 Apr 1816; m. Sep 1834, Careyville, NY, William Smith, merchant; resided Dixon, IL. Children: a. Harriett Smith, b. Nov 1839; died 1853.
iv.	Fidelia Whitney, b. 10 Apr 1818; d. Apr 1861; m. Nov 1837, Unionville, OH, Dr. Jerome B. Gregory. Children: a. Jerome B. Gregory, b. May 1850; d. Dec 1883; m. Dec 1883, ----- -----; his widow resided 608 7th St., Peoria, IL.
v.	Cornelia Whitney, b. 10 Apr 1818; m. 15 May 1844, Abram Brown; resided Dixon. He was born 17 Nov 1816. Children: a. Virginia H. Brown, b. 21 Aug 1846, Dixon, IL. b. Olga Brown, b. 2 Apr 1849, Dixon, IL. c. Mary Brown, b. 30 Sep 1850, Dixon, IL; m. 1 Oct 1881, ----- -----. d. Charles Abram Brown, b. 17 Oct 1852; d. 20 Sep 1855. e. Henry Ammi Brown, b. 10 Aug 1855, Dixon, IL; m. 17 Jun 1884, ----- -----. f. George Marshall Brown, b. 10 Nov 1857, Van Buren, AR
vi.	Harriett Whitney, b. Mar 1820; m. 20 Jan 1840, James Mckinney; resided Dixon.
vii.	Eliza Ann Whitney, b. Nov 1821; m. Sep 1842, D. B. Mckinney; resided Dixon.
viii.	Alexas R. Whitney, b. 22 Feb 1824; m. Mary J. Oakley.
ix.	Hellen Whitney, b. 1826; d. young.
x.	Nathan Whitney, b. 1824; d. young.

Census

• 1820, Barre, Genesee Co., NY: Nathen Whitney, 1 male 26-44, 1 male 18-25, 1 female 26-44, 1 female 16-25, and 5 females 0-9; 2 engaged in agriculture.
• 1830, Elba, Genesee Co., NY: Nathan Whitney, 1 male 40-49, 1 male 20-29, 1 male 10-14, 1 male 5-9, 1 female 30-39, 1 female 15-19, 4 females 10-14, and 1 female 5-9.
• 1840, Franklin, Lee Co., IL: Nathan Whitney, 1 male 50-59, 1 male 40-49, 1 male 30-39, 2 males 15-19, 1 female 40-49, 2 females 20-29, and 1 female 15-19; 3 engaged in agriculture.
• 1850, China, Lee Co., IL:

37 37 Nathan Whitney 59 M - Farmer Mass. Sarah " 59 F - Pa. Alexis R. " 26 M - Nursery Man $6000 N.Y. David R. Miner 23 M - Farmer $300 N.Y. Lavina Hight 20 F - Pa.

• 1860, China, Lee Co., IL:

2243 2080 Nathan Whitney 69 M - Mass. Sarah " 69 F - Pa. Peter Kelly 22 M - Farm Laborer Ireland Lena Ackner 20 F - Servant Pa. Norman Gregory 9 M - Ill. Attended school

• 1870, China, Lee Co., IL:

213 216 Whitney, Nathan 79 M W Mas. Male citizen over 21 Oakley, Peter 21 M W Laborer " Male citizen over 21 Back, James 24 M W " Male citizen over 21

• 1880, China, Lee Co., IL:

Nathan WHITNEY 20 Self M M W IL Nurseryman NY NY Hattie WHITNEY 20 Wife F M W IL Keeping House NY NY

References

• All data imported from Frederick Clifton Pierce, The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635, (Chicago: 1895), pp. 414-415.

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Copyright © 2006, 2008, 2010, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.