Family:Whitney, Frederick J. (1825-1886)

Rev. Frederick J.⁸ Whitney (Job⁷, Job⁶ Whitney, Solomon⁵, Benjamin⁴, Thomas³, Thomas², John¹), son of Job⁷ and Sylvia (Delano) Whitney, was born 15 Nov 1825, Alexandria, NY, and died 12 May 1886, Fairville, NY. He was buried in Weedsport Rural Cemetery, Weedsport, NY.^[1]

He married firstly, Dec 1845, Charlotte M. Smith, possibly daughter of Daniel and Abigail (-----) Smith. She died 26 Oct 1849, Watertown, NY.

He married secondly, 1851, Adelia A. Smith. She died after a few months.

He married thirdly, 24 Sep 1854, Amelia E. Cummings of Watertown. She was born Nov 1829, Jefferson Co., NY, and died 1904. She was buried in Weedsport Rural Cemetery, Weedsport, NY.^[2]

"REV. FREDERICK J. WHITNEY.

"The Rev. Frederick J. Whitney was born in Alexandria, N.Y., Nov. 15, 1825, and died in Fairville, N.Y., May 12, 1886.

"During his childhood his parents moved to Watertown, N.Y., where he resided until he entered the itinerant ministry, where at about twenty-five years of age he was gloriously converted at the altar of State St. Methodist Episcopal church, during the pastorate of Rev. E. Arnold, and licensed to exhort by Rev. F. H. Stanton in the early part of 1853. He received license to preach the following year, during the pastorate of the writer of this sketch, and at the close of the next year he was recommended to the Black River Annual Conference, and for nearly thirty-three years, until the day of his death, proved himself to be a man of one work, wholly consecrated to the ministry of the Word.

"His appointments were successively: New Bremen, Henderson, Brasher Falls, Louisville, Heuvelton, Jordan, Weedsport, Canastota, West Eaton, Chittenango, Manlius, Horseheads, Lysander, Dresden, East Palmyra, and Fairville.

"In 1882 on account of poor health, the Conference granted him a superannuated relation and he spent the year at Clifton Springs. This was the only break in his ministry of over thirty-two years.

"He received a good English education at the Watertown Institute, and during his entire ministry was a diligent student, enriching his mind with knowledge to render him more efficient in his holy work.

"The Bible was his daily companion. On the margin of his well worn Bible, written in his own hand, are these words: 'Began with the conference year 1879-80 to read this Holy Bible through by course, reading two chapters in the Old Testament and one in the New each day on my knees, with a prayer before and after reading.' This had been his custom for many years besides studying a great deal at other times.

"He was married Dec. 1845 to Miss Charlotte M. Smith, who died in 1849, leaving two children, a son and a daughter, the latter of whom is still living. Two years after he married Miss Adelia A. Smith and in a few months he was called to mourn her death. On September 24, 1854, he was joined in matrimony to Miss Amelia A. Cummings of Watertown, with whom he walked in blissful union thirty-two years, until at the behest of the Master he was called from labor to reward, leaving her in tears to wait the summons to a blessed re-union in their eternal home.

"Brother Whitney was a devoted husband, a kind, loving father and an affectionate and true friend. To know him was to lov and revere him. He was a faithful and conscientious pastor; ready to reprove, exhort, encourage, comfort and instruct. He was an able preacher, rightly dividing the Word and giving to all a portion in due season. His sermons were methodical, scriptural, pointed and full of divine unction. They accomplished they [sic] great end of preaching by bringing souls to Christ. In all his charges he was successful. He was a man of one work. 'Give me souls or else I die,' was the cry of his earnest heart and blessed revivals followed his faithful ministry.

"In all his charges he left a sweet Christian influence behind; his memory is like 'ointment poured forth.' It was the privilege of the writer to follow him at Chittenango and West Eaton. He had a strong hold on these communities, lived in the hearts of his brethren and his spiritual children were earnest workers in the vineyard. He was a firm believer in Christian purity, enjoyed its fullness and made it prominent in his ministry. He had often prayed that if it pleased the Master he might die at his pots; and God granted his request. He died suddenly of neuralgia of the heart, May 12, after a few hours' illness. His sufferings were intense, but his mind was clear. 'I am ready to go,' was his dying utterance. Trusting in the atonement all was serene and triumphant. He fell with the harness on, with the dew of battle on his brow and the shout of victory on his lips. His last sermon was from the text 'He that overcometh shall inherit all things' -- an appropriate theme from which to close a long and faithful ministry. Victory and reward.

"The funeral service was held in the Methodist Episcopal church at Fairville, conducted by Dr. B. I. Ives, assisted by Brothers House, Young and Nichols, and the remains taken to Weedsport for interment. He was followed to the grave by brethren beloved and his spiritual children whome he had won to Christ during his pastorate there. The beautiful burial service of our church was read, and all that was mortal of our dear Brother Whitney was committed to earth to sleep the years away until the archangel's trumpet shall awake it to immortal life.         JAMES ERWIN."^[3]

Children of Frederick J. and Charlotte M. (Smith) Whitney:

i.	Ellen E.9 Whitney, b. 1847, Jefferson Co., NY; "Nellie E." d. 1886; bur. Weedsport Rural Cemetery, Weedsport, NY.[4]
ii.	Frederick Smith Whitney, b. ca. 1849, Jefferson Co., NY; d. aft. 1860.

Frederick J.⁸ and Adelia A. (Smith) Whitney had no children.

Children of Frederick J.⁸ and Amelia E. (Cummings) Whitney:

iii.	Eva A.9 Whitney, b. ca. 1857, Lewis Co., NY.
iv.	Flora A. Whitney, b. ca. 1859, Jefferson Co., NY; d. bef. 1920, Columbiana Co., OH; m. Oct 1888, Dr. William Ermest Morris.
v.	Charles E. Whitney, b. ca. 1861, St. Lawrence Co., NY.
vi.	Viola A. Whitney, b. 1863; d. 10 Mar 1868; bur. Weedsport Rural Cemetery, Weedsport, NY.[5]
vii.	Mary L. Whitney, b. 1865; d. 1868; bur. Weedsport Rural Cemetery, Weedsport, NY.[6]
viii.	Grace V. Whitney, b. Jun 1871, Madison Co., NY.

Census

• 1850, Watertown, Jefferson Co., NY:

475 536 Fred Whitney 27 M - Carpenter $2000 N.Y. Ellen E. 3 F - " Smith F. 1 M - " Daniel Smith 57 M - None N.H. Abigail 53 F - Ms. Ann E. 16 F - N.Y. Curtis H. 13 M - " Attended school

• 1855 State, Watertown, Jefferson Co., NY:

16 Frame $300 136 Frederick J. Whitney 31 M - - Jeff. Co. 1 - 12 M. Clergyman 1 - - - - - - Amelia Whitney 26 F - Wife Jeff. Co. 1 - 26 - - - - - - - - Ellen Whitney 8 F - Dau Jeff. Co. - - 8 - - - - - - - - Frederick Whitney 6 M - Son Jeff. Co. - - 6 - - - - - - - -

• 1860, Lawrence, St. Lawrence Co., NY:

661 681 F. J. Whitney 36 M - Methodist Clergyman $100 N.Y. E. A. Do 30 F - N.Y. Ellen Do 13 F - N.Y. Attended school Frederic Do 10 M - N.Y. Attended school Eva Do 3 F - N.Y. Flora Do 1 F - N.Y.

• 1865: not found.
• 1870, Canastota Village, Madison Co., NY:

221 235 Whitney, Frederick J. 47 M W Clergyman $800 $500 New York Male citizen over 21 -----, Eveline E. 36 F W Keeping house " -----, Ellen 23 F W At home " -----, Eva 13 F W do " Attended school -----, Flora 10 F W do " Attended school -----, Charlie 8 M W " Attended school

• 1875 State, Sullivan, Madison Co., NY:

314 Framed $2000 323 Fredrick J. Whitney 51 M - ---- Jefferson m Clergyman - 1 - - - - Amelia E. Whitney 45 F - Wife Jefferson m Keeps House Ellen E. Whitney 28 F - Dau Jefferson s - Eva A. Whitney 18 F - Dau Lewis s - Flora A. Whitney 16 F - Dau Jefferson s - Charles E. Whitney 14 M - Son St. Lawrence s - Gracie V. Whitney 5 F - Dau Madison s -

• 1880, Lysander, Onondaga Co., NY:

F. J. WHITNEY 57 Self M M W NY Minister VT CT Amelia E. WHITNEY 50 Wife F M W NY Keeping House NY NY Flora WHITNEY 21 Dau F S W NY School Teacher NY NY Charles E. WHITNEY 18 Son M S W NY None NY NY Grace V. WHITNEY 9 Dau F S W NY NY NY

• 1900, Manchester, Ontario Co., NY:

Whitney, Amelia E. Head W F Nov 1829 70 wid New York -----, Grace J. Dau W F Jun 1871 28 sgl New York

References

• Census records.

1.^  FindAGrave Memorial #100056998, Frederick J. Whitney.

2.^  FindAGrave Memorial #100057041, Amelia E. Whitney.

3.^  Minutes and Official Journal. Fifteenth Annual Session of the Central New York Converence of the Methodist Church [Ithaca, NY: Journal Association Book and Job Print, 1882, pp. 92-94], from Google Books.

4.^  FindAGrave Memorial #100057219, Nellie E. Whitney.

5.^  FindAGrave Memorial #100057082, Viola A. Whitney.

6.^  FindAGrave Memorial #100057169, Mary L. Whitney.

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Copyright © 2016, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.