Archive:Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, Volume 3
Cutter, William Richard, Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, biographical--genealogical (New York: American Historical Society, 1916), volume 3.
From Archive.org.
p. 53
Carl Rudolph Hjalmar Schillander, son of Carl Gustaf Samuel and Selma Laura (Hallgrin) Schillander, was born in Orebo, Sweden, in 1859. He received his education in the schools of his native province and in early manhood owned an estate in Sweden. Being an intelligent and enterprising man, and realizing that in the newer country across the sea there was larger opportunity for his children, he came to America in 1890, locating in Boston, Massachusetts, where for several years he was engaged as an accountant. He took good care that his children should profit by the educational opportunities of the land of his adoption, and at the same time managed to save some of his earnings. Some years later, having by industry and thrift accumulated suflficient capital, he bought a farm at Chester, New Hampshire, and there he has successfully engaged in farming to the present time. He married Sophia Sinn, who was born in Sweden, in 1860, and they became the parents of four children: 1. Maria Carolina, born February 14, 1886; married Myron Harry Whitney, grandson of Myron Whitney, of the Boston Opera Company, the grandfather being famous for a long time as the principal bass soloist of the Boston Ideal Opera Company and of the American Opera Company, having studied in Italy, Switzerland, and France, and singing as the only soloist at the opening of the Centennial Exhibition of 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Myron Harry Whitney have one child, Carl Roberts Whitney, born in Boston, in 1912. 2. Dr. Carl Axel, of whom further. 3. Anna Elizabeth, born in 1890, and died in 1908, who held the world record for swimming one mile and three mile distances, defeating the previous record of Annette Kellerman. She is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Boston. 4. Esther, born in 1895, died in 1897.
pp. 173-174
Herbert Cyrus Puffer married, April 8, 1867, Elizabeth Wilder, daughter of Christopher and Sally (Whitney) Wilder, and they became the parents of four children: 1. Nellie Frances, born February 16, 1869; married Fordis Clifford Parker, a descendant of James Parker, who was the immigrant ancestor of the family in America. 2. Carrie Turner, born December 2. 1874. 3. Sallie Wilder, born May 28, 1878, died November i, 1880. 4. Herbert Reuben, born December 14, 1880, was educated in the public schools of Springfield, and at an early age began learning the business which had been established by his father. So well did he meet his responsibilities that he was made manager, which position he holds at the present time (1921). He is also assistant treasurer of the H. C. Puffer Company. He is a member of the Winthrop Club; and an attendant and member of the Highland Baptist Church. He is also a member of Springfield Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. He married, June 8, 1907, Harriet Churchill, daughter of Charles Churchill; they have one son, Charles Churchill.
On February 3, 1922, Mr. Puffer celebrated his eightieth birthday.
pp. 189-192
WHITNEY, Willard Roscoe
The name Whitney has been associated with New England history from its earliest days, and has been borne by a long succession of worthy citizens who have made valuable contributions to the economic, religious, and social life of the nation. The immigrant ancestor of the branch of the family to which Willard Roscoe Whitney belongs was John Whitney who was born in Westminster, England, in 1592, and came to New England in 1635, the line of descent being as follows:
(I) John Whitney, fifth child of Thomas Whitney, born in Westminster, England, baptized July 20, 1592, came to New England in 1635, sailing from London in March of that year, accompanied by his wife, Eleanor, and four sons: John, of further mention; Richard, Thomas, and Jonathan,
(II) John Whitney, son of John and Eleanor Whitney, married Letty Ford, and had children, among whom was Benjamin.
(III) Benjamin Whitney, son of John and Letty (Ford) Whitney, was born May 22, 1725, in York, Maine, and settled on Little river, Lisbon, Maine, belonging to the same colony. He was part owner of the first grist mill there, was a miller, and was sent to Brunswick, Maine, to protect the garrison there at the time of the massacre when the Indians attacked that place. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and died November 8, 1797. He married Mercy Hinckley, of Brunswick, Maine, and they became the parents of eleven children: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Nathan, Benjamin Joseph; Samuel Lombard, of further mention; Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Joseph, and Isabel.
(IV) Samuel Lombard Whitney, son of Benjamin and Mercy (Hinckley) Whitney, was born in Lisbon, Maine, in 1774, and died in Lisbon, Maine, October 9, 1846, aged seventy-two years and eight months. He was a farmer by occupation, and married, in 1801, Lydia S. Curtis, who died in Lisbon, Maine, December 6, 1848, aged seventy-two years and eleven months. Their children were: Eliza, born September 15, 1802; Jacob, born October 14, 1804; John, of further mention; Isabella, born July 4, 1812; Mercy; Lydia, born July 17, 1817; and Samuel, born November 29, 1820.
(V) John Whitney, son of Samuel L. and Lydia S. (Curtis) Whitney, was born in Lisbon, Maine, June i, 1808, died October 2, 1887, at Methuen, Massachusetts. He received his education in the common schools and then became a ship joiner, working at Yarmouth and at Falmouth, Maine. In addition to his trade as ship joiner, he did farming, and while living in Lisbon conducted a hotel there. He also lived at North Yarmouth, Maine, and held various town offices, serving for a time on the board of selectmen. Politically he supported the Democratic party, and his church membership was with the Congregational church. He married Almira Turner, of Lisbon, born in Leeds, Maine, February i, 1818, died November 22, 1902, daughter of Josiah and Almira (Smith) Turner.
The Turner family were early settlers in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, but later went to Leeds, Maine. Josiah Turner was born January 1, 1789, died April 25, 1858. His wife, Almira Smith, was born September 2, 1792, and died November 4, 1850. Their children were: Melvina J., born March 6, 1815, died September 18, 1880; Alexander, born May 4, 1816, died October 17, 1866; Almira, born February I, 1818, married John Whitney, as stated above; Josiah (2), born September 9, 1819, died October 2, 1823; Sylvandus, born May 28, 1821, died September 25, 1823; Josiah (3), born September 16, 1825, died August i, 1888; Sylvina, born August 12, 1827, died May 3, 1904; Asa S., born July 14, 1830, died January 9, 1900; and Delphina, born May 4, 1836, died February 26, 1881.
John and Almira (Turner) Whitney were the parents of four children: John Carlton; Edward Hayes; Charles Loring; and Willard Roscoe, of whom further.
(VI) Willard Roscoe Whitney, son of John and Almira (Turner) Whitney, was born in North Yarmouth, Maine, July 12, 1855. He received his early education in North Yarmouth, and then attended the high school in Lisbon for a year. In 1874, when nineteen years of age, he went to Boston and, with his brothers, ran an express business between Boston and Maiden, Massachusetts, for five years. At the end of that time he went to Maiden where he conducted a periodical business of his own for about seven years. He then received an appointment as railway postal clerk, under President Cleveland, his route being between Boston and New York via Springfield. This position he held for twenty-two years when he resigned and retired. In 1910, however, he ended his period of retirement by engaging in the real estate and land development business, with offices in Springfield, Boston, and Worcester. He formed several trusts, the first of which was the American House Development Trust; followed by the Homestead Realty Trust; Boston and Springfield Syndicate; Suburban Realty Trust; Connecticut Valley Land Company; Warren and Whitney Realty Company; Warren and Whitney Estates; and the Whitney Realty Company. The operations of these organizations cover a wide area, and they have been important factors in the growth and development of the sections in which they operated. Mr. Whitney has opened up and developed much valuable property in Springfield, Westfield, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Chicopee, Worcester, Boylston, and Shrewsbury, all in Massachusetts; also in Newport and Claremont, in New Hampshire. He owns a tract of four hundred acres of woodland in Goshen, New Hampshire, and a large estate in Claremont, New Hampshire, where he resides.
Though engaged in large business operations, Mr. Whitney has found time for public affairs and served on the committee to the constitutional convention recently held at Concord, New Hampshire, for the purpose of revising the statutes. Fraternally he has long been active. Forty-three years ago, in 1879, he became a member of Middlesex Lodge of Maiden, Massachusetts, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Whitney is a member of Hampden Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Springfield, Massachusetts; and of Springfield Commandery, Knights Templar; also a member of Boston Consistory, thirty-second degree. Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; and of Melha Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Masonic Club, and of the Newport, New Hampshire, Golf Club; of the Grange at Goshen, of which he has been master, and an attendant of the Congregational church.
On August 31, 1880, he married (first) Mary E. Russell, born in West Newbury, Massachusetts, March 21, 1860, died April 15, 1906, daughter of Walter H. and Lucy J. (Johnson) Russell. Mrs. Whitney was a direct descendant of Hannah Dustin, the line of descent being through her daughter, Lydia Dustin, the first born after Hannah Dustin's captivity among the Indians. She married Morrill, and among her children was Ruth Morrill, who married Saunders, and they had a daughter, Sarah Saunders, who married Johnson, and they had children, among whom was Lucy Johnson, who married Walter H. Russell, and they were the parents of Mary E. Russell, who married Willard Roscoe Whitney.
Children of Willard R. and Mary E. (Russell) Whitney: 1. Russell, born in Salem, New Hampshire, November 15, 1896. He received his early education in the schools of Methuen, Massachusetts, of Claremont, New Hampshire, and in the Springfield High School, where he was an honor pupil. He then entered Dartmouth College, from which he graduated in 1919. He served in the World War as an instructor in the radio service, at Hanover, He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, an honorary fraternity, also the Theta Chi, and of Mount Vernon Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Newport, New Hampshire. He is a member of Lennapee Mountain Grange of Goshen; has taken an active part in town affairs and held a number of public offices. 2. Ralph Kimball, born in Methuen, Massachusetts, June 16, 1898, attended the local schools, and then Springfield High School for three years. He graduated from the Central High School, after which he entered Dartmouth College, graduating in 1920. During the World War he was in the Student Army Training Corps, at Dartmouth. He is also at present (1922) a student at the North Eastern College. He is a member of Mount Vernon Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, at Newport, New Hampshire. Both sons are associated with their father in the real estate business.
Mr. Whitney married (second). May 20, 1909, Stella M. Baker, born in Goshen, New Hampshire, August 9, 1866, daughter of Harvey D. and Susan B. (Willey) Baker.
Mr. and Mrs. Whitney are both members of the order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Whitney is a member of Daughters of the American Revolution at Claremont, New Hampshire, also the Daughters of Rebekah of Claremont, and the Woman's Club of that town, as well as the Grange.
Copyright © 2013, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.
