Archive:Isaac A. Whitney (1816-a1886)
Archives > Archive:Biographies > Isaac A. Whitney (1816-a1886)
Portrait & Biographical Album of Clinton County, Iowa. Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County (Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1886), pp. 602-603.
ISAAC A. WHITNEY. The subject of this biography is a resident of Clinton County, living on section 5, Brookfield Township, and is a highly esteemed and respected citizen. He was born in Greenwich, Washington Co., N.Y., April 12, 1816, and when sixteen years of age was apprenticed to the trade of carding and cloth-dressing. Serving four years, he took up the business and worked at it, with the exception of three years until 1852. He then came to Iowa, and locating at Maquoketa, which was a very small village at the time, labored at the carpenter's trade for a year. Then opening a hotel, he managed it a year, and at the expiration of that time he took up 160 acres of land, on sections 5 and 6, Brookfield Township.
The nearest markets, at the time of Mr. Whitney's removal to Lyons, were at the river, there being no railroad in the State of Iowa. He assisted in the Sabula Railroad enterprise with other citizens. This was to run west, via Maquoketa, but in spite of their efforts to make it a success it was never built. The residents of that section were thankful, however, to have it so near to them as De Witt.
He married Jane Waters in 1840, their nuptials being celebrated September 10. She was born in Cattaraugus County, N.Y., July 22, 1818, and is the daughter of Ziba and Mary Waters. Three children were born of their marriage: W.W. was born July 3, 1843; he enlisted in 1862 in the 26th Iowa Vol. Inf., and died in the service, at Helena, Ark., the same year. Amon A. was born March 6, 1847; he enlisted in 1863 and served until the close of the war. He was well known as a brave and courageous man and soldier, and was discharged with the honors of war at Atlanta, in 1865. He now lives in Dakota. Eliza J. died in infancy.
The second marriage of Mr. Whitney was with Harriet L. Crowl, and occurred July 4, 1858. She was born Step. 30, 1820, in Allegany County, N.Y., and is the daughter of John and Lydia Crowl. They have one child, a daughter, Carrie G. Mr. W. is a member of the Baptist Church at Maquoketa, and is one of its most able and helpful adherents. In politics he is a Republican.
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