Family:Whitney, Oakley (1885-1970)
Oakley10 Whitney (Lilla E.9, Artemas Henry8, George Washington7, John Smith6, Thomas5, Thomas4, Eleazer3, Thomas2, John1), son of Lilla E.9 Whitney and John T. White, was born 5 Sep 1885, Dana MA, and died 30 Jul 1970, Athol MA.
He married 5 Mar 1908, Athol MA, Vera Mildred Hilton, daughter of Charles F and Elizabeth (Fletcher) Hilton. She was born 20 Jun 1891, Athol MA, and died 16 Mar 1971, Stuart FL.
Oakley was left to be a farm hand for his grandfather Artemas and then his great uncle Frank (John Franklin) Whitney when his mother moved to Athol in about 1895. He later ran away to work on streetcars in Boston. At various times he was a chauffeur, raised chickens, owned Indian Mound Greenhouses on Briggs Street in Orange and later a drive-in movie theater there. He lived in Dana, Petersham, Athol and Orange. They wintered in Jenson Beach FL from at least 1958.
His wife was often called Bessie. She was raised at a boardinghouse in Athol after her mother died of cancer when she was 3.
Children of Oakley10 and Vera Mildred (Hilton) Whitney:
i. Oakley Fayne11 Whitney, b. 8 Dec 1910, Athol MA, d. 18 Jan 1907, Athol MA. ii. Elizabeth Louise Whitney, b. 6 Nov 1912, Athol MA, d. 10 Apr 2001, Summerdale AL. iii. Robert Lester Whitney Sr., b. 11 Feb 1919, Athol MA, d. 25 Sep 1996, Costa Mesa CA.
References
- Vital records of Dana, kept at Quabbins.
- Vital records of Athol.
- WW I & II draft cards.
- 1910 and 1930 Census.
- Social Security, Massachusetts and Florida Death Indexes.
Copyright © 2010, Marilla J. Whitney and the Whitney Research Group.
