Archive:History of Orange County, California
Armor, Samuel, History of Orange County, California: with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its earliest growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 1
From Google Books.
p. 546
MISS JUSTINE WHITNEY. - Prominent among the officials of Orange County whose personality as well as their efficient public service have entitled them to the highest esteem and confidence and rendered them justly popular is the experienced and accommodating county recorder. Miss Justine Whitney, who has filled that office of peculiar responsibility for several years past and bids fair to be in requisition for years to come. She is a daughter of Nathaniel Bradish Whitney, who married Miss Rhuby H. Houghton, both New Yorkers of English descent, and was born in Lewis County, in that state, near the home of Franklin B. Hough, one of the greatest American historical students and scientists, who was the author of the pioneer county history published in the United States. She attended the local country school and later matriculated at the Dekin Business College, in Syracuse, from which she was graduated in 1898, well equipped for the ordinary commercial affairs of life. She was also prepared to instruct others, and for some years taught school in New York, after which, like other Easterners who have made a success, she came West and followed newspaper work in California. She was employed in the office of the Daily Californian at Bakersfield, and next came to the Daily Evening Blade at Santa Ana.
On March 1, 1903, Miss Whitney was made deputy recorder of Orange County, and served with untiring fidelity in that office until April, 1914. She was then elected to be county recorder, and assumed the duties of that office in January, 1915. Four years later, when the public had ample time to judge of both her ability and her faithful performance of duty, and also of her acquired, invaluable experience, she was re-elected and is now serving a second term. Although a Republican in matters of national political moment, Miss Whitney endeavors to define her attitude toward local issues in a strictly nonpartisan manner, and to support the best men and the best measures, and in every way to upbuild, as well as build up, the city and county in which she lives and is primarily interested.
Miss Whitney belongs to the Sycamore Lodge of the Rebekahs, where she passed through the chairs, and in 1896 was appointed district deputy president of District No. 50, comprising the Rebekah lodges of Orange County, and served for a year. She is a communicant of the Episcopal Church, but is broad-mindedly interested in religious and social endeavor generally, and takes pleasure in helping, in a modest way, to make the world a better place in which to live.
Copyright © 2013, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.
