Family:Whitney, Luther (1815-1905)

Luther⁸ Whitney (Luther⁷, Samuel⁶, Joseph⁵, Timothy⁴, John³, John², John¹), son of Luther⁷ and Betsey (Dart) Whitney, was born 26 Jul 1815, Gilsum, NH,^[1] and died 25 May 1905, Chicago, IL. Interment was in Green Ridge Cemetery, Kenosha, WI on May 28, 1905.

He married, 28 Nov 1843, Green Bay, WI, Rebecca Jane Irwin, daughter of Robert and Hannah (Rees) Irwin. She was born 16 Sep 1825, Green Bay, WI, and died 5 Aug 1898, Muskegon, MI. According to her wishes, interment was in Green Ridge Cemetery, Kenosha, WI next to their infant daughter, Grace.

Mr. Whitney was born at Gilsum, NH, and lived there until he was 12 years old when he moved to Saint Lawrence County, NY, where he remained until he went west to Kenosha, WI, when a young man. He resided there at the time of his marriage. Mrs. Whitney was born at Green Bay, and lived there until she was married and went to live at Kenosha. They went to Muskegon, Michigan, in 1864 and have lived there ever since. Few of Muskegon's citizens are better known and none are more highly respected and honored. For three full terms, or twelve years, from 1875 to 1887. Mr. Whitney was postmaster at Muskegon, having been appointed by Presidents Grant, Hayes and Arthur, in succession. Mr. Whitney is now (1895) 80 years of age, but enjoys good health, and is very prompt and regular in the discharge of his duties. The years seem to rest lightly upon Mrs. Whitney also, and few not acquainted with the facts would have guessed she had now passed her golden wedding; resided Muskegon, MI.

Children of Luther⁸ and Rebecca J. (Irwin) Whitney:

i.	Grace H.9 Whitney, b. 19 Aug 1851; d. 12 Jul 1856 with interment in Kenosha, WI.
ii.	George Beaumont Whitney, b. 4 Jul 1857; resided Chicago, IL; unmarried. He was born in Kenosha, WI, was educated at the public schools, and later took a course in civil engineering at the Michigan University from 1878 to 1882. Was assistant engineer on government work on the upper Missouri river, on Great Kanawha river, in West Virginia, and with the Mississippi River, Commission in 1883 and 1884. Was superintendent of construction on the Home Insurance and Rookery buildings, Chicago; the Society for Savings building, Cleveland, OH, and the Masonic Temple, Chicago, one of the finest office buildings in the world. Is now president of the Whitney & Starrett Company, building contractors, Chicago, IL. He died on 17 May 1903 in Chicago, IL. and interment was in Kenosha, WI.
iii.	Thomas Deyks Whitney, b. 1 Jul 1859; m. Julia Lucy Hills.

Census

• 1850, Green Bay, Brown Co., WI:

257 287 Luther Whitney 35 M - Clerk New Hampshire --- Rebecca " 26 F - Wisconsin ---

• 1860, Kenosha Ward 3, Kenosha Co., WI:

507 456 Luther Whitney 44 M - Clerk $4000 $1500 N.H. R. J. Whitney 36 F - Wis. Geo. P. Whitney 2 M - " T. D. Whitney 11/12 M - " Barbara Bain 20 F - Servant Holland Thomas Dykes 30 M - England Susan Dykes 28 F - "

• 1870, Muskegon Ward 3, Muskegon Co., MI:

235 231 Whiting, Luther 54 M W Book Keeper Mill $1500 N. Hampshire Male citizen over 21 Rebecca J. 43 F W Keep House Wisconsin George B. 13 M W Wisconsin Attended school T. Dux 11 M W Wisconsin Attended school McCracker, J. B. 25 M W Book Keeper Mill $400 -- Ohio

• 1880, Muskegon Ward 3, Muskegon Co., MI:

Luther WHITNEY 63 Self M M W NH Post Master NH NH Rebecca J. WHITNEY 53 Wife F M W WI Keeping House PA PA George B. WHITNEY 23 Son M S W WI Student Ann Arbor NH WI T. Deyke WHITNEY 20 Son M S W WI Clerk In Post Office NH WI Hannah IRWIN 78 MotL F W W PA At Home ENG MA Mary MARSHALL 25 Oth F S W MI Servant IRE MI

• 1900, 108 Clay Street, Muskegon Ward 4, Muskegon Co., MI:

283 302 Whitney, Luther Head W M Jul 1815 85 wid New Hampshire New Hampshire New Hampshire Owns free house Blish, Mary A. Niec W F Jul 1856 43 wid 0ch 0liv Wisconsin New Hampshire Wisconsin Housekeeper Manschesky, Berthel Srvt W F Aug 1874 25 sgl Germany Germany Germany Servant

References

• All data imported from Frederick Clifton Pierce, The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635, (Chicago: 1895), pp. 430-431.

1.^  New Hampshire, Vital Records, Birth Index.

---

Copyright © 2006, 2008, 2014, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.