Archive:Leading Citizens of Cowley County, Kansas
COWLEY COUNTY, KANSAS. Biographic Sketches of Leading Citizens of Cowley County, Kansas. BIOGRAPHICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,
1901.[SEPTEMBER 1870.] PAGE 435.
GEORGE WHITNEY owned the northwest quarter of section 32, township 34, range 4 east, in Creswell Township. He entered the borders of Cowley County, Kansas, September 1870. Farming was the occupation of his life.
George Whitney was born in Chautauqua County, New York, March 16, 1843, a son of Streeter and Harriet (Ransom) Whitney.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Streeter Whitney were natives of New York State. The former, whose occupation was farming, died in 1887; the latter died five years later. They were the parents of the following children.
1. Orwell Whitney: Born in 1840, died in the Union army in 1862; he was first a member of the 112th Reg., N. Y. Vol. Inf., and at the time of his death was in the 7th Massachusetts Battery.
2. Rachael Whitney; deceased.
3. Lurency (Cornish) resided in Sherman, New York.
4. Nelson Whitney lived in the same state, New York.
5. George Whitney.
George Whitney was next to the eldest child born to Streeter and Harriet Whitney, and attended the common schools of his district during his early youth. In 1861 he enlisted in the 9th Reg., N. Y. Vol. Cav., and after serving eight months was discharged on account of disability, being afflicted with weak lungs. Returning home, he was confined to his bed for nearly two years.
In the spring of 1865, he went to Buchanan County, Iowa, where he spent two years in farming. After his marriage he returned home, and there remained for a period of three years.
In 1869 he entered the borders of Kansas, and located at Emporia. This change was made on account of his weak lungs. From Emporia he moved to Cowley County, and took up, in Creswell Township, his farm—comprising the northwest quarter of section 32, township 34, range 4 east—which he still owned in 1901, with the exception of 17 acres. This farm bordered the Walnut River, and in 1901 still contained 20 acres of natural timber. Mr. Whitney erected his present buildings himself, the lumber for which was obtained at Wichita. After many years of hard labor, he made his farm one of the best in Creswell Township, raising considerable wheat, and some hogs and cattle. In hogs, he favored a strain made up of three-fourths Poland-China, and one-fourth Berkshire. During the real estate boom in Cowley County, he sold his farm at $150 per acre, and in 1890 took it back. He later rented most of it, retaining only the pasture land. In 1890 he purchased a lot and built a fine home in Arkansas City, where he re-sided thereafter.
Mr. Whitney married Delia Connel, of Illinois. They had two children: Lida and Edna, both living at home in 1901.
Mr. Whitney was a Republican, and served as road overseer.
Added data for Whitney file:
"Arkansas City Traveler", March 1, 1876.
M. R. Leonard and George Whitney returned from Arkansas last Monday. They will remain with us awhile.
"Arkansas City Traveler", July 11, 1877.
Mares for Mules. I have a good team of good brood and work mares I will trade for a team of good mules. George Whitney.
"Arkansas City Traveler", August 6, 1879.
George Whitney is coming back from Colorado.
"Arkansas City Traveler", September 10, 1879.
Mr. George Whitney, who has been in Colorado for some time, returned last Saturday evening, satisfied that in the long run Kansas is a better state.
Copyright © 2011, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.
