Family:Whitney, George Alonzo (1837-1914)

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George Alonzo8 Whitney (John7, John6, Zachariah5, John4, Joseph3, John2, John1), son of John7 and Sophia (Faulkner) Whitney, was born 30 May 1837, Rindge, NH, and died May 1914, Omaha, NE. He was buried in Wadena Cemetery, Wadena, MN.[1]

He married firstly, 5 Dec 1861, Rindge, NH, or Lunenburg, MA, Martha A. "Mattie" Colburn, daughter of Norris and Martha L. (Carter) Colburn.[2] She was born 20 Apr 1838, Fitzwilliam, NH, and died 29 Mar 1867, Rindge, NH, aged 29 years. She was buried in Hillside Cemetery, Rindge, NH.[3]

He married secondly, 1 Sep 1869, New Ipswich, NH, Susie Rebecca Converse,[4] daughter of Christopher Columbus and Susan B. (Daniels) Converse. She was born 6 Jun 1846, Boston, MA, and died 1876. She was buried in Hillside Cemetery, Rindge, NH.[5]

He married thirdly, 23 Dec 1881, Adelia Louise Lackey. She was born 17 Feb 1855, Oxford, WI, and died 16 Oct 1946, St. Paul, MN. She was buried in Wadena Cemetery, Wadena, MN.[6]

HE resided Rindge, NH, and Wadena, MN.

In company with his brother, Charles A., he is extensively engaged in the manufacture of pails. He served in the war in the 6th New Hampshire Infantry, and was wounded by a gun shot in his hip at the battle of Bull Run, Virginia, 29 Aug 1862; he was discharged 31 Oct following; was representative in the legislature 1868-69 and served several years as supervisor of schools.

Private, Co. K, 6th New Hampshire Infantry, 28 Nov 1861 through 6 Oct 1862.

Obituary:

WHITNEY:
Col. George A. Whitney is dead. This is the sum and the substance of a telegram received by Judge Asher Murray Friday morning and as the news of his death spread through the city business and household duties were momentarily brought to a standstill as the full import of the message was carried home to its hearers. Eager to reach Wadena in time to assist his comrades of Farragut Post in the proper observance of Memorial Day, Mr. Whitney dropped dead without any warning as he was boarding the train at Omaha, Neb., on the last lap of his journey home from California. He fell from the car steps dead without a struggle.
Thus was one of Wadena's grandest old characters summoned to his Maker at the ripe old age of seventy seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney had spent the winter on the west coast, principally California where they had gone in hopes that the change would benefit Mr. Whitney's health. The return journey was being made in easy stages and stops were made at various points throughout the territory traversed for visits with friends or relatives. The last stop was at Omaha, Neb., where they had gone to visit their niece, Mrs. E. W. Holmes. While at the city Mr. Whitney had written post cards and letters to the G. A. R. veterans and other friends assuring them that he would be home in time to assist at the Memorial Day exercise. He had had several sinking spells during the past few weeks but his condition on the day of his death was about as usual.
Mrs. Whitney accompanied by Mrs. Holmes and son arrived with the remains Saturday afternoon and they were met by the members of the local Masonic lodge who escorted the remains of their departed brother to the Whitney residence, where it lay in state until Tuesday afternoon pending the arrival of Mrs. Mabel Jones, daughter of the deceased.
The funeral services were held at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon, Rev. E. S. Murphy officiating and Rev. J. C. Craig assisting. The services were conducted on the lawn outside the home in order to accommodate the hundreds who gathered there to pay their last respects to their beloved fellow citizen. The beautiful floral offerings were banked around and heaped upon the casket and bore mute evidence of the love and esteem in which Mr. Whitney was held by the populace of Wadena and surrounding towns and villages. An honored member of the G. A. R., K. of P., Workman and Mason orders those organizations turned out en masse to attend the funeral. The funeral was conducted under the auspices of the Masonic lodge assisted by the Knights of Pythias, members of the Masonic met their brothers from Verndale and Staples on the afternoon train and marched up third street where they were joined by members of the G. A. R. and K. of P. in their march to the residence. Following the funeral services the procession again formed fro the march to the cemetery where the ritualistic service of the Mason lodge was held.
The immediate relatives who were present were Mrs. Mabel W. Jones, New Ipswich, N. H. (daughter), Mr. Henry Whitney, Cotesfield, Neb., (nephew), Mrs. E. W. Holmes and son, Omaha, Neb., (niece), Mrs. Lillian Smart, Ellendale, N. D. (sister of Mrs. Whitney), and Mr. Will H. Lackey, Westhope, N. D. (brother of Mrs. Whitney).
George A. Whitney played a prominent part in the moulding of the the early history of this section of the state and more particularly that of Wadena county and came to be known and recognized as one of its foremost and honored citizens. His was always an influence for the good and this characteristic was early recognized by his fellow townsmen. He served the public in one capacity or another throughout his whole lifetime, and prosperity of the state of Minnesota today bears mute evidence of the work of such public spirited men as Col. Whitney. Capable of amassing a fortune of considerable proportions he tossed aside that opportunity to serve his fellow man, contenting himself with less, that he might do his duty as he saw it.
Farragut Post of the G A R has suffered an irreparable loss in the death of this grand old veteran. With an enviable war record behind him the fire of patriotism that burned within him never lessened as the years rolled on and in recognition of his worthiness as an old soldier he was made a member of and Vice President of the Board of Trustees of the Soldier's Home at Minnehaha Falls, and was a member of the governors military staff for ten years with the rank of lieutenant colonel for eight years. He also served as Assistant Inspector General of the National Guard. He enlisted in the 6th New Hampshire Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, in 1861, and was severely wounded at the second battle of Bull Run.
George A. Whitney was born at Rindge, Cheshire county New Hampshire, May 30, 1837. He received his early education at Appleton Academy, New Hampshire and held many positions of trust and honor. While a resident of his native state he was superintendent of schools, state justice, member of the house of representatives in 1868 and 1869. Member of the senate in 1875. Since settling in Minnesota he has been county superintendent of schools, a member of the military staffs of Governors McGill, Merriam, Nelson and Clough. He also served as a member of the state board of equalization, chairman of the board of the county commissioners, member of Republican state central committee and Republican congressional committee, represented the 53rd district as senator in 1897. At the time of his death he was vice president of the First National bank of Wadena, which position he had held for many years past. He also served as president of the board of education for many years and as principal of Wadena graded school. There are some of the great positions of honor and trust which Mr. Whitney has held during his useful career and the memory of his life on earth will endure. Blessed with a charitable and kind disposition he has eased the burden of life for many a downtrodden and despondent individual and he has gone to reap that rewards which all men hope and crave.
Published in Pioneer Journal May 21, 1914

Obituary:

PIONEER WADENA RESIDENT DIES IN ST. PAUL
Mrs. Whitney Was Active In Village Affairs In 1880's
Death came to a pioneer Wadena resident on October 16 when Mrs. Louisa Whitney passed away at the Haven rest home in St. Paul at the age of 91. Funeral services were held at the Wadena Methodist church on Saturday, October 19.
Adelia Louisa Lackey-Whitney was born at Oxford, Wis., Feb. 17, 1855. In her early womanhood she came to Minnesota to join a brother then living at Bluffton and began teaching school there. She later came to the village of Wadena and became one of the early teachers in the Wadena school, which was then located where the court house now stands.
On December 23, 1881 she was married to George A. Whitney and moved into a home where the present Whitney residence now stands continuing to teach school and maintain her home for the next few years. Both Mrs. Whitney and her husband were closely identified with the early history of Wadena and very active in promoting community interests.
In 1900 when the twentieth Century study club was organized Mrs. Whitney became a charter member an maintained an active interest in same until her health failed. She was one of the members active in promoting the first Public Library and helped raise funds for maintaining the same until such time as the village voted a tax for its support. The early records of the Woman's Relief Corps bear testimony to her interest in that organization, always active in promoting Memorial Day services and helping pack barrels of fruit for Old Soldier's home.
She was also one of the early members of the Eastern Star and helped organize the first Red Cross Chapter, during World War one and became its president carrying on the work actively for many years. Her interests carried over into the Methodist church where she was a member and liberal contributor to the Building fund, and for a number of years she taught an adult Bible class in the church.
Wesley Hospital was another one of the beneficiaries of her public interest and support, she having completely furnished one of the rooms on the second floor.
Mrs. Whitney will long be remembered by the older generation as an outstanding woman of the community, loved and revered by all who knew her. Her passing adds one more name to the long list of pioneers who planned and built well that Wadena might become the present thriving village.
She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Camelia Lowe of Hot Springs, S. D., and Mrs. Lilia Smart of Spokane, Wash, and one step-daughter, Mrs. Mabel Whitney Jones, also several nieces and nephews.
Published Pioneer Journal of October 24, 1946


Children of George Alonzo8 and Mattie A. (Colburn) Whitney, if any, unknown.

Children of George Alonzo8 and Susie Rebecca (Converse) Whitney:

i. Mabel Maude9 Whitney, b. 14 Jun 1873, Rindge, NH;[7] d. Jun 1964, DeLand, FL; m. Dr. Frederic William Jones (1848-1921).[8]

George Alonzo8 and Ada Louise (-----) Whitney had no children.

Census

235 248 Whitney, George 33 M W Manf. of Pails $1000 $500 N.H. Male citizen over 21 -----, Susie R. 23 F W Keeping House N.H. Davidson, Nancy 77 F W No Occupation N.H. 249 Herd, John 50 M W Physician Maine Male citizen over 21

-- 20 Rawson, William W M 33 mar Hotel Keeper England -- -- ... Whitney, George A. W M 41 wid Teacher New Hampshire N.H. Mass. ...

Christopher C. CONVERSE 64 Self M M W NH Farmer NH NH Susan B. CONVERSE 63 Wife F M W MA Keeping House MA MA Mabel M. WHITNEY 6 GDau F S W NH At School MA NH

62 64 Whitney, George A. Private K 6 NH Inf 28 Nov 1861 6 Oct 1862 11m Wadena, MN Wounded upper right thigh

  • 1895 State, Wadena, Wadena Co., MN.
  • 1900, Wadena, Wadena Co., MN (as "Whitey").
  • 1905 State, Wadena, Wadena Co., MN.
  • 1910, Wadena, Wadena Co., MN.

References

1.^  Find A Grave memorial #42120550, Col. George Alonzo Whitney.

2.^  "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910," from original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004; volume 146, page 175.

3.^  Find A Grave memorial #57267370, Martha Ann "Mattie" Colburn Whitney.

4.^  "George Alonzo Whitney (b. 1837, Rindge, NH, s. of John Whitney & Sophia Faulkner) & Susie Rebecca Converse, m. 1 Sep 1869, New Ipswich, Hillsborough Co., NH," according to New Hampshire, Vital Records, Marriage Index.

5.^  Find A Grave memorial #57267338, Susan R Converse Whitney.

6.^  Find A Grave memorial #42120404, Adelia Louisa Lackey Whitney.

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

8.^  Find A Grave memorial #88965354, Mabel Maude Whitney Jones.

Copyright © 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2015, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.

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