Family:Whitney, David Victory (1838-1882)

Dr. David Victory⁸ Whitney (David⁷, Jonathan⁶, David⁵, Jonathan⁴, Jonathan³, Benjamin², John¹), son of David⁷ and Elizabeth Smith (Granger) Whitney; born Canisteo, New York, 5 May 1838; married Ellen Ralston.

Dr. David V. Whitney was born in Canisteo, New York, 5 May 1838. He read medicine with Dr. C. E. Parker, of Beardstown, Illinois, and took the degree of M.D. in St. Louis early in 1862. Immediately on receiving his degree he was appointed assistant surgeon in the Missouri state militia - a body of troops in the service of the United States government in the state of Missouri - and about three months afterward was promoted to surgeon of the regiment commanded by Colorado, George H. Hall, of Saint Joseph, now of Deadwood, South Dakota. This regiment participated in the second battle of Springfield, Missouri, and Dr. Whitney was director of the Central General hospital of Missouri, located at that place. In 1863 he accompanied his regiment to Sedalia, Missouri, and while there resigned his commission in the army and was appointed assistant surgeon in the U.S. navy. After serving about three years, mostly in the gulf ports, he left the service of the government. A natural disposition to roam, increased by his government service took him west, and in 1886 he went to Helena, Montana, with a mule train, starting from Atchison, Kansas. After various adventures there he started alone down the Missouri river, making short stops in the scattered settlements and among the different tribes of Indians then living in those regions, and reached Kansas City in the summer of 1868. After practicing medicine for the next two years in Marmaton and Sedgewick, Kansas, he again went west and lived a life of adventure in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, as miner, prospector, deputy U.S. marshal, and whatever else fell in with his roving inclinations. He finally settled down to the practice of his profession in Wyoming; was appointed physician to the company operating the coal mines of the U.P.R.R., and was elected member of the Wyoming legislature. He married here and in 1878 moved to St. Edward, Nebraska, where he established himself in the practice of medicine, and died there Sept 17, 1882. He was a man of brilliant natural endowments and excellent acquirements, but of eccentric habits; resided St. Edward, Nebraska.

Children of David Victory⁸ and Ellen (Ralston) Whitney:

i.	Elizabeth Bessie Whitney, born -----; resided Columbus, Nebraska.

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), p. 589.

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