Family:Whitney, Giles Henry (1818-1888)
Hon. Giles Henry7 Whitney (John6, Ephraim5, Jonas4, Moses3, Richard2, John1), born Boston, Massachusetts, 18 Jan 1818; married Nov., 1850, Lydia Ann Davis; born Northboro, 16 Feb 1825; died 28 Dec 1891.
Giles Henry Whitney, the son of Abel and Abigail H.(Townsend) Whitney, of Lancaster, Massachusetts, was born in Boston, 18 Jan 1818. His father kept for many years a popular and successful private school for boys in that city. His mother died when her son Giles was only five years old, and in his record in the classbook he deplores the loss of her guiding influence. He entered the Latin school when he was nine years of age, remaining there till he was thirteen, and there finished his preparation for college under Mr. Frederic P. Leverett. "That one year's instruction was worth all I have received in college." His health in his younger days was such he tells us, that school was no place for him, for he was incapacitated for hard study, and he carried this indisposition to severe intellectual labor to college with him." Wherever the prescribed studies were difficult I neglected them and contented myself with the idea that I could do without them." He frankly acknowledges his mistake and his regret at not having pursued a more studious course; not because he failed like many others to obtain college honors, but on account of the mental discipline and training he had missed. He had much to learn like the rest of us, before he could shape his course to his entire satisfaction, but his subsequent career has shown us that our confidence in his general ability and our respect for his manly independence and integrity of purpose was not misplaced. He studied law in the office of George F. Farley, of Groton, and Washburn & Hartshorn of Worcester, and also in the law school at Cambridge. He was admitted to the bar in September, 1842, and commenced practice in Westminster, Massachusetts, where he remained till April, 1846, when he removed to Templeton. In June, 1855, he went to Winchendon, where he has lived ever since. Mr. Whitney was a member of the Massachusetts senate in 1851 and of the house in 1864, 1866 and 1881. His sight began to fail him two years before his last election to the house, and since then he has been unable to read or write. He was married to Lydia A. Davis, daughter of Capt. Joseph Davis, of Baldwinsville (Templeton). By this marriage he has had six children, two of whom are still living, [Memorials of the class of 1837 of Harvard college.] He died 12 Jan 1888; resided Westminster and Winchendon, Massachusetts.
Children of Giles Henry7 Whitney:
i. Abby L.8 Whitney, born Templeton, 28 Jan 1852; died 18 Aug 1853. ii. Elizabeth W. Whitney, born Templeton, 7 Apr 1854; unm.; resided W. iii. Alfred H. Whitney, born Winchenton, 1 Oct 1855; unm.; res.W. iv. Andrew J. Whitney, born 25 Sep 1857; died 15 May 1863. v. Ella A. Whitney, born T., 10 Jan 1853; died T., 18 Aug 1853. vi. Mary D. Whitney, born Apr. 1860; died 31 Mar 1877.
References
1. All data imported from Frederick Clifton Pierce, The Descendants of John Whitney, Who Came from London, England, to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1635, (Chicago: 1895), p. 504.
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