Family:Whitney, Joel (1796-1882)

Col. Joel Whitney

Col. Joel⁷ Whitney (Joel⁶, Jonathan⁵, Jonathan⁴, Jonathan³, Benjamin², John¹), son of Joel⁶ and Sybil (Whitmore) Whitney, was born 1 Mar 1796, Seneca Castle, New York, and died 12 Jan 1882, Seneca Castle, New York, aged 85 years 10 months and 11 days.

He married, 3 Apr 1817, Esther Belding. She was born 27 Nov 1796, and died 24 Apr 1867.

Joel Whitney, born Seneca Castle, New York was a farmer and resided all his life on his farm, about four miles west of Geneva, New York. He was a colonel in the New York state militia service about 1835, and was always known and addressed thereafter as Colonel Whitney. He never held any other public position. He resided Seneca Castle, New York.

Children of Joel⁷ and Esther (Belding) Whitney:

i.	Oscar8 Whitney, b. 26 Sep 1817; m. Elizabeth R. Crosby.
ii.	(child) Whitney, b. 24 Nov 1818; d. 25 Nov 1818.
iii.	Lemuel Parkhurst Whitney, b. 3 Jan 1820; m. Elmira Colwell.
iv.	Sibyl Lyman Whitney, b. 15 Sep 1821; m. 3 Sep 1841, Oliver S. Colwell; resided Hudson, MI.
v.	Wells Whitney, b. 24 Sep 1823; m.(1) Demis Holmes; m.(2) Laura Potter; m.(3) Emeline Shattuck.
vi.	Anna Eliza Whitney, b. 24 Oct 1825; d. 10 Mar 1890; m. 2 Oct 1844, Albert Benjamin; resided Reading, MI. Children: a. Hattie E. Benjamin, b. b. -----; resided Reading.
vii.	Esther Augusta Whitney, b. 24 Apr 1828, m. 6 Mar 1850, Charles Darrow; resided 118 Pulteney St., Geneva, NY. He was b. 5 Nov 1814; d. 1 Feb 1860. Children: a. Charles H. Darrow, b. 24 Oct 1857; m. 16 Jun 1880, Hattie C. Bennett, wife of C. H. D., b. in Brooklyn, NY, 24 Feb 1859. Occupation of Charles H. Darrow, nurseryman and fruit grower. Address, Geneva. Children: 1. H. Whitney Darrow, b. 16 May 1881. 2. Mary A. Darrow, b. 19 Sep 1894.
viii.	Joel Belding Whitney, b. 2 Jun 1830; d. 7 Jan 1883; unmarried; buried Whitney Cemetery, Seneca Castle, NY.
ix.	Charles Carroll Whitney, b. 2 Oct 1832; m.(1) Marion Clarke; m.(2) Julia L. Brown.
x.	Amelia Clarissa Whitney, b. 6 Nov 1834; d. 13 Dec 1855; m. 2 Nov 1853, J. Wesley Runyan; s.p.
xi.	William Henry Whitney, b. 28 Apr 1837; m. Lavina H. Fiero
xii.	Mary Frances Whitney, b. 31 Dec 1840; resided Geneva, NY. Address, P.O. Box 377.

Notes

Family:Whitney, Sybil Lyman (1821-1896)

Married Oliver S. Colwell 3 Sep 1841 Seneca Castle, Ontario, NY

Obituary from The Hudson Post, Hudson, Michigan, dated 31 Jul 1896:

Death of Mrs. Oliver S. Colwell

One by one are the pioneers of the Bean Creek Valley passing away. Few indeed are those who remain, and it is an occasion of sadness when the tolling bell records the departure of one of those who helped transform the wilderness into civilization. Another pioneer is gone: a lady who for a great many years has been a resident of Hudson township and city, and who has always enjoyed the respect and friendship of a large circle of acquaintances.

After an illness of several months, Mrs. Oliver S. Colwell breathed her last yesterday. She was 74 years old. A husband, one son and one daughter remain to mourn their loss.

The funeral will be from the house Sunday afternoon at Three o'clock.

Obituary from The Post, Hudson, Michigan dated 21 Jun 1910:

Obituary of Oliver S. Colwell

Died June 15, 1910, at his residence on Lafayette St., Oliver S. Colwell. The deceased was born in Seneca Castle, NY, on the 13th day of June, 1820. His boyhood was passed in this vicinity, but in early manhood he came to Michigan, returning to New York to wed Miss Sybil Whitney in 1841. The day following the marriage they started for Michigan to take up the life of the pioneer. Mr. Colwell bought land from his brother John, who had secured it from the government. This land he cleared and made into the productive farm which was his home for the greater part of his life. His later years were passed in Hudson, in the home where he died. Mr. & Mrs. Colwell had four children, of whom only one survives him, Mrs. Elizabeth Root.

He was on of the many early settlers who transformed southern Michigan from a swampy wilderness into the fertile, welltilled country of today. He was courageous, hosest and industrious, patient in time of suffering, and considerate of the welfare of others, passing out of his life quietly and peacefully as he had lived it. His sterling qualities endeared him to all who knew him.

His wife died in 1896, and gradually he saw one by one the old friends pass away until he was left almost alone with the younger generation.

The funeral services were held at his home Saturday, June 18th, at 4:00 pm, Rev. M. J. Sweet officiating. Very appropriate indeed, was the poem read, the title of which were the last words of Mark Twain.

Children of Oliver & Sybil (Whitney) Colwell were:

Martha Amelia Colwell, b. 26 Sep 1844, Hudson, Lenawee Co., MI

William Gates Colwell, b. Dec 1846, Hudson, Lenawee Co., MI

Oscar Whitney Colwell, b. 24 Feb 1847, Hudson, Lenawee Co., MI

Elizabeth M. Colwell, b. 03 May 1857, Hudson, Lenawee Co., MI

Census

• 1820, Seneca, Ontario Co., NY: Joel Whitney Jr, 1 male over 45, 1 male 26-44, 1 male 18-25, 2 males 0-9, 1 female over 45, and 2 females 16-25.; 2 engaged in agriculture. Apparently Joel, Sr., aged 54, was living with his son Joel, Jr., aged 24.
• 1830, Seneca, Ontario Co., NY: Joel Whitney, 1 male 30-39, 1 male 20-29, 2 males 10-14, 1 male 5-9, 1 male 0-4, 1 female 60-69, 1 female 40-49, 1 female 30-39, 1 female 5-9, and 2 females 0-4.
• 1840, Seneca, Ontario Co., NY: Joel Whiting, 1 male 40-49, 1 male 20-29, 1 male 15-19, 2 males 10-14, 1 male 5-9, 1 female 70-79, 1 female 40-49, 2 females 15-19, 1 female 10-14, and 1 female 0-4; 3 engaged in agriculture.
• 1850, Seneca, Ontario Co., NY:

6 6 Joel Whitney 54 M - Farmer $9600 N.Y. Esther do 65 F - Mass. Joel B. do 20 M - do N.Y. Attended school Amelia do 15 F - " Attended school William N. do 13 M - " Attended school Mary F. do 9 F - " Attended school Alexander Taylor 23 M - do Ireland Sybel Whitney 82 F - Ct. Abigal Wetmore 71 F - Mass. E. Carol Whitney 17 " - N.Y. Attended school

• 1850, Hyde Park, Dutchess Co., NY:

29 29 Edwin Traves 84 M - Farmer $3900 N.Y. Elizabeth " 70 F - " Alonzo Babcock 22 M - Laborer " Attended school William H. Whitney 13 M - " Attended school Ann Traves 27 F - "

• 1855 State, Seneca, Ontario Co., NY:

[27] Frame $2000 27 Joel Whitney 59 M - - Ontario 1 - 59 Farmer 1 - - - - 1 - Esther do 58 F - Wife Mass. 1 - 49 - - - - - - - - William do 18 M - Chld Ontario - - 18 Farm - - - - - - - Mary T. do 14 F - Chld Ontario - - 14 - - - - - - - - Miles Oreil 20 M - Labr Ireland - - - Laborer - - 1 - - - -

• 1860, Seneca, Ontario Co., NY:

1102 1106 Joel Whitney 64 M - Farmer $15000 $2500 New York Esther " 63 F - Massachusetts William H. " 23 M - $200 New York Mary F. " 19 F - "

• 1860, son Joel not found.
• 1870, Seneca, Ontario Co., NY:

101 101 Whitney, Joel 74 M W Farmer $14000 $2500 New York Male citizen over 21 -----, Mary F. 29 F W Keeping house " 102 Darrow, E. Augusta 41 F W Keeping house " -----, Chas. H. 12 M W At School " Attended school 103 Whitney, Wm. H. 33 M W Farmer " Male citizen over 21 -----, Lavinia 29 F W Keeping house " -----, Edwin M. 3 M W " Burt, Ebenezer 55 M W Farm Laborer " Male citizen over 21 Alcock, Martha 16 F W Domestic Servt. " Parents foreign born

• 1870, son Joel not found.
• 1880, Seneca, Ontario Co., NY:

Joel WHITNEY 84 Self M W W NY Farmer-Retired MA CT Mary F. WHITNEY 39 Dau F S W NY Keeping House NY NY

• 1880, son Joel not found.

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. 415-416.

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