Family:Whitney, John Howard (1873-1940)
John Howard Whitney (John Leroy, Jacob M.), son of John Leroy and Caroline E. (Dann) Whitney, was born 12 Feb 1873, Union Grove, Delaware Co., NY, and died 28 Aug 1940, Albany, Albany Co., NY. He was buried Ouleout Valley Cemetery, Franklin, Delaware Co., NY.
He married 23 June 1898, Bertha Lydia Wheat, daughter of Porter A. and Lydia (Southworth) Wheat. She was born 31 Aug 1871, Treadwell, Delaware Co., NY, and died 17 Dec 1944, Montrose, Susquehanna Co., PA. Bertha Wheat was a direct descendant of five Mayflower Pilgrims: William Bradford, Mr. and Mrs. William Mullins, Priscilla Mullins, and John Alden.
Mr. Whitney graduated 1893 from Stamford Seminary, Stamford, NY, with first honor. He taught school for several years in Delaware County, and from 1905 to 1909 served as chief accountant for the Vermont Farm Machine Company, Bellows Falls, VT. After study at New York University he was licensed as Certified Public Accountant. From 1913 to 1920 he was Expert Accountant in the New York State Comptroller's office, where he organized the income tax bureau in 1919. Thereafter, he was a partner in Whitney & Ball accounting firm before starting his own business, Whitney Audit Co., 30 Lodge St., Albany, NY. In 1928 he and his wife purchased a beautiful home in Franklin, NY, where they spent summers and holidays. Aside from his business, Mr. Whitney enjoyed music and collecting early furniture, restoring many pieces himself. In his younger years he had been a cornetist in the Downsville [NY] Band, when that organization enjoyed more than a local reputation.
His obituary states, "Mr. Whitney had the high esteem of all who knew him. His recognized ability in his chosen profession brought many business contacts where his associates found him strictly honorable. Those who knew him found him genial, kindly in temperament, and cultured."
Children of John Howard and Bertha (Wheat) Whitney:
i. Howard Erwin Whitney, b. 8 Feb 1900; d. 13 May 1974; m. 2 Oct 1926, Lydia Elizabeth Rogers, daughter of Floyd and Rachel (Cosner) Rogers
References
1. Notes of John Howard Whitney.
2. Death certificate, New York State Department of Health, Div. of Vital Statistics [incorrect birthdate 8 Feb; should be 12 Feb].
3. "Delaware County Dairyman," Franklin, Delaware Co., NY, Sept. 6, 1940, front page obituary.
4. Federal Censuses 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930; NY State Censuses 1892 [J. Howard Whitney], 1915, 1925.
Copyright © 2011, 2012, Sally Whitney Goodfellow, and the Whitney Research Group.
