Family:Whitney, John (5 May 1795-1869)

John⁷ Whitney (John⁶, Joshua⁵, Nathaniel⁴, Nathaniel³, John², John¹), son of John⁶ and Rachel (Hiscock) Whitney; born Massachusetts, 5 May 1795; married Nancy Van Tuyl; born 1801; died Feb., 1883.

John Whitney was born in Massachusetts and went to western New York in 1815; he was an extensive contractor. In 1826 he was implicated in the abduction of the celebrated William Morgan, at the time of the anti-Masonic agitation in central New York. Morgan was a Mason who had written a book exposing Masonry and soon after mysteriously disappeared. Whitney admitted he was with Morgan in a carriage on the night he was abducted and also afterwards at Niagara. The Craftsman of June, 1829, says: "Of the character of John Whitney through his career in life thus far, it is almost irrelevant to speak, for the voice of the community, the unwilling testimony even of those who for purposes best known to themselves have seen fit to persecute him, is lifted up in his praise. He was the useful citizen, the kind neighbor, the generous friend, the industrious mechanic, the faithful husband and the fond father." Nancy Van Tuyl was the daughter of John Van Tuyl; born Jan. 12, 1767; died 9 Oct 1836; and Isabel Mcvickar; born 1 Apr 1762. He died 2 May 1869; resided Rochester, New York, and Chicago, Illinois.

Children of John⁷ and Nancy (Van Tuyl) Whitney:

i.	John B.8 Whitney, born 13 Jun 1823; married ; resided Kendall, Illinois.
ii.	Henry Whitney, born 26 Jul 1829; m.; resided Kendall, Illinois.
iii.	Uriah Whitney, born 4 Aug 1838; accidentally shot at Calumet by Vincent Bell, while hunting, 1 Apr 1856.
iv.	Adaline Whitney, born 26 Dec 1820; married Frank Parmelee. She died Jan. 10, 1864. For more than 40 years the transfer and baggage express business of Chicago has been controlled by one man., Franklin Parmelee. He started the first regular omnibus in that city 9 May 1853. The original outfit was six omnibuses and thirty horses, and required the work of a dozen men. At present he employs 80 omnibuses, 70 baggage-wagons, 250 horses, and over 200 men. His eldest son is in charge of the city office. He married a second wife, and resides at the Palmer House, Chicago, Illinois Ch.: John Whitney, Frank Jr., Charles K., all unmarried; resided Chicago; and Adaline W., married Charles Wheeler; resided Auditorium hotel, Chicago, Illinois.
v.	Harriett Jane Whitney, born 14 Apr 1822; married 9 Jun 1841, Charles A. Harrington; resided Albion, Orleans, County, New York. He was born Aug. 19, 1815; died 11 Oct 1878. Charles A. Harrington was an ardent anti-slavery Whig and Republican, a warm supporter of Seward in the months preceding the war, and one of the strongest supporters of government throughout war times; was largely engaged in contracts on canals and railroads in this country and Canada from 1850 to 1870; went to New York in 1875 and took contracts on Southern boulevard, and was engaged in these and other contracts and in furnishing supplies for such contracts until his death in 1878; was one of the organizers and strongest supporters of Episcopal church in Albion, of which he was always vestryman or warden, and one of most active and energetic promoters of all public enterprises for benefit of town or country. She died 22 Dec 1878. Ch.: Clara, married Henry Harrington; resided Denver, Colorado; Belle W.; married G. H. Lockley, Jr.; resided Buffalo, New York; Rollin Whitney, died infancy; Emma, Adeline and Harriett W.; resided Albion, Orleans County, New York.
vi.	Charles Whitney, born 4 May 1835; drowned in the Erie canal, New York, Apr. 30, 1839.

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. 264-265.

---

Copyright © 2006, the Whitney Research Group