Family:Whitney, Solomon (1781-1856)

Solomon⁷ Whitney (Nathaniel⁶, Samuel⁵, Nathaniel⁴, Nathaniel³, John², John¹). born Marlboro, Vermont, 7 Mar 1781; married 9 Dec 1805, Lucy Lyman, born 6 Jun 1786; died at Springfield, Massachusetts, 1 Mar 1829, dau. of Rev. Dr. Gershon C. Lyman, married 2d, June 17, 1829. Mrs. Sybil (Armes) Goodenow, died 12 Jul 1873.

Solomon Whitney was born in Marlboro, Vermont, March 7, 1781; received the general education of those early times, working on the farm most of the time, yet developing quite a mechanical skill in painting, glazing, and working in wood. 9 Dec 1805, he married Miss Lucy Lyman, daughter of the Rev. Gershon C. Lyman, pastor of the Congregational church at Marlboro, of which he was early an influential and consistent member. Here he lived, worked, reared, and educated his family until about the year 1831, when he moved to Whitingham, Vermont, and purchased a farm one mile west of the middle of the town, near Sadawga Pond. Later he purchased a carding mill and cloth dressing establishment, where he make a success in carding the wool and dressing the homespun goods for the people of that vicinity. Here he met with an accident that made him a cripple for life. In going into the wheel-pit for some purpose while the big wheel was in motion, he slipped and one foot was caught in the great wooden cogs which cut and mangled foot and leg clear to the body. He was taken out and cared for by the best physician to be had, but for long and weary days his life was despaired of. But wonderful as it seems, his strong physical constitution, combined with as strong a will, brought him out with comparatively a good leg, a trifle short, and stiff in the ankle. A few years later he sold his cloth dressing and wool carding establishment and built a chair factory on his own farm, getting a ready sale for all the goods he could make. And here he spent the last years of his life, a thoroughly good man and consistent Christian, loved and respected by all. He was a thorough musician for those days, both vocal and instrumental, for years the leader of the choir in his church, and a member of a musical band. In politics a Whig, a Freesoiler, an Anti-slavery man, and had he lived would have been a Republican, for he was always open to conviction and ever heralded all measures of reform with enthusiasm. He died 18 Feb 1856; resided Marlboro and Whitingham, Vermont.

Children of Solomon⁷ and Lucy (Lyman) Whitney:

i.	Emily8 Whitney, born 6 Oct 1806; married 1 Jun 1830, Henry Closson, born Feb. 1 1799, in Springfield, Vermont, died April 24, 1880. Hon. Henry Closson was born in Springfield, Vermont, 1 Feb 1799, and was the youngest son of a family of 9 children. His father, Ichabod Closson, was a farmer, his land lying on what is now known as "Parker's Hill." He died 9 May 1808, of quick consumption, brought on by exposure in clearing land. At his father's death Henry Closson was taken in charge by his maternal uncle, Noah Safford, likewise of Springfield. Under him, much against his own will, he learned the carpenter's trade. In the summer of 1817 Mr. Safford went to Rochester, New York, to fulfill a contract he had obtained, taking his prentice with him. At the end of the summer, however, he finally yielded to the prayers of his nephew, and bestowed on him his freedom and $10 besides. With this amount Henry Closson set out on foot from Rochester for Springfield. The last day's journey brought him from Manchester, Vermont, to Springfield, with his capital stock reduced to $1.50. He studied during the rest of the fall in Isaac Holton's law office; the same now occupied by J. W. Pierce. In the winter he taught school, as he did for several years after. The ordinary pay for a 12 weeks' term was $36; once he received $40. In 1818 he attended Chester academy for three terms. In his twentieth year he commenced the study of law in the office of Judge Asa Keys, then of Putney, Vermont, and continued with him until admitted to the bar at Newfane, Vermont, March term, 1824. The same year he began practice at Mr. Clemens, Michigan. There he remained till 1826, when he moved to Lodi, New York, where he practiced for the next two years. He then removed to Whitingham, Vermont, where he remained five years. During this time he married, 1 Jun 1830, Miss Emily Whitney, of Marlboro, Vermont. In 1835 he returned to Springfield, and there remained through life in the practice of his profession. He was town clerk from 1836 to 1844, and state's attorney for the county in 1830-32. In July, 1856, at the death of Judge Dutton, he was appointed by Gov. Fletcher probate judge for the district of Windsor. At the next election he was elected to the office, and annually thereafter for twelve years, till 1868. He was a member of the legislature in 1839 and 40, and a member of the constitutional convention of 1870, and a delegate to different nominating conventions of his party. For many years previous to his death he had been clerk of the Congregational society of Springfield. He died April 26, 1880, aged 81 years 2 months 26 days. Ch.: Henry Whitney, born 6 Jun 1832; married Olivia Burk; died June, 21, 1866; married 2d, Julia Wardsworth Terry; resided Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia; Colonel U. South America; Emily Safford, born 26 Sep 1833; married Albert Melvin Fellows, resided Parsons, Kansas; Sarah Jane, born 26 Nov 1844; married Henry Martyn Arms, resided Springfield, Vermont; Gershon Lyman, born 20 Apr 1838; married 21 May 1862, Lina Wells Loveland; cashier First National Bank, Springfield, Vermont.
ii.	Diana Whitney, born 20 Feb 1808, died s. p. 20 Dec 1812.
iii.	Lucy Lyman Whitney, born 18 Nov 1809; married May, 1831, Milo R. Crosby, of Wilmington, and she died there 21 May 1848.
iv.	Electa Whitney, born 31 May 1812; married 21 Jun 1831, Enoch Jacobs, born June 30, 1809. She died 27 Nov 1887. There are four children living, viz.: Electa, born 19 Feb 1833, single; Enoch George, born Nov. 24, 1839, widower; Charles Edward, born 20 Aug 1845, carpenter, wife and six children; Emily, born 6 Jul 1851; married to Prof. Falkinburg, in 1872, teacher; 3 boys and 1 girl; resided Mount Airy, Ohio. Mr. Jacobs, was born in Marlboro, and went to Brooklyn, New York, in 1827; moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1843. He engaged in the manufacture of iron mostly for southern trade and when the war broke out lost heavily. He went into the army as correspondent for the Cincinnati Commercial and gave the first published account of the battle of Mill Spring, was also in the battle at Fort Donalson, soon after lost the use of his right arm; was elected justice of the peace in Cincinnati, served three years, went to San Domingo with the Govt. commission in 71 and was appointed U. S. consul to Montevideo in 72.
v.	Lyman Hubbard Whitney, born 2 Jul 1814; married Emeline Goodnow.
vi.	Henry Whitney, bu 12 Jul 1817; died Springfield, Massachusetts, 15 Mar 1828.
vii.	Frank H. Whitney, born 25 Jun 1822; died 22 Apr 1831.
viii.	Jane Matilda Whitney, born 15 Dec 1823; died 14 Sep 1847.
ix.	Julia Ann Whitney, born 17 Jan 1827; died 9 Feb 1827.

Children of Solomon⁷ and Sybil (Armes)(Goodenow) Whitney:

x.	Ann Ross8 Whitney, born 18 Mar 1830; married Stephen French; resided Orange, Massachusetts.
xi.	Solomon Whitney, born 10 Mar 1832; married Sarah Chase and Lucy J. (Crosby) Cozard.

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), pp. 257-259.

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