Archive:The Descendants of John Whitney, page 639
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The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635, by Frederick Clifton Pierce (Chicago: 1895)
Transcribed by the Whitney Research Group, 1999.
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| WHITNEY GENEALOGY. | 639 |
and attended the best schools of New York, afterward devoting a year to study in Europe. She was an enthusiastic student, and devoted herself to sciences and lan- guages with great fidelity. On her return home her father offered her a brilliant social introduction in either Cleveland or New York, but she chose instead a course of several years of scientific study at Cambridge under the personal instruction of Prof. Louis AGASSIZ. During her residence in Europe the young girl was in constant correspondence with her father. Her letters to him cover a large range of topics. He regarded them as worthy of publication, but it was without her knowledge that the volume was issued. Soon after the completion of her scientific course at Cam- bridge, while yet scarcely out of her teens, she married William C. WHITNEY, then a young lawyer. That was about twenty years ago. Her life since, until her death, was devoted to her husband and her children, but she found time to make and to hold a leading place in society in New York and Washington, and to establish a local reputation as a linguist, as an authority in arch‘ology and as a judge and critic of literature. Her career as one of the leaders of society in New York began in 1879. At that time Mrs. Frederick STEARNES announced that her large residence at the corner of Fifth avenue and Fifty-seventh street was for sale, and Col. Oliver H. PAYNE, Mrs. WHITNEY's brother, bought it for his sister. The WHITNEYs then began to entertain, and were soon after recognized as social leaders. When Mr. WHITNEY became secretary of the navy in Mr. Cleveland's cabinet, Mrs. WHITNEY made their home in Washington second only to the White House in social importance. They occupied the old FRELINGHUYSEN house on I street, transforming it into one of the most luxurious homes in Washington. Ex-Senator PAYNE, Mrs. WHITNEY's father is still living. When Mrs. WHITNEY's first child was born he gave the young mother $1,000- 000. Col. Oliver H. Payne, her brother, is also a millionaire. Res. 57th St. and 5th Ave., New York, N. Y. 9590. i. PAULINE, b. in 1875. 9591. ii. DOROTHY PAYNE, b. -----. 9592. iii. -----; d. Feb. 3, 1883. 9593. iv. HENRY PAYNE. "Like father, like son," has been exemplified in the course of Harry Payne WHITNEY, son of Hon. William C. WHITNEY. During his three years at Yale Harry WHITNEY has made a brilliant record, socially and politically. Although he is the son of a millionaire, and one of the most prominent states- men in America, young WHITNEY is as popular and unassuming a man as there is on the campus. He has a liberal allowance, but makes no show of spending it, and in this has always shown the true "Yale spirit." His rooms in Lyceum, one of the "old brick row" buildings, are comfortable and well located, that is all. He prepared for college at Groton, Mass., and will gradu- ate from Yale next year. He was on the sophomore german and junior promenade committees and lead the junior german last winter with his sister, Miss Pauline WHITNEY, who had re- cently made her debut in New York society. WHITNEY was also floor manager of the junior "prom." This shows his ability as a society leader, but that doesn't make a popular Yale man alone, or the New Haven college would not be the manly place it is said to be. WHITNEY is not a hard student, but he has the reputation of being the brightest man in his class, and wears the coveted Phi Beta Kappa key, which is bestowed on the highest stand men, after the scholarship is computed on the first three years' work. He is also an editor of the Yale Daily News, a position which requires six months of hustling competition to obtain. WHITNEY is a member of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity. These social honors which have been named in connection with Yale men are not of importance in themselves, except that they are all awarded by popular vote, and show how a man is est- mated by 250 of his fellows. Harry WHITNEY is one of the best polo players in the country, and has played on the Newport team for several summers. He has just returned to college after a two-months' absence owing to his mother's death last winter. [1893] 9594. v. WILLIAM C.
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