Family:Whitney, William E. (1812-1883)

Rev. William E.⁷ Whitney (Jeremiah E.⁶, Abijah⁵, Daniel⁴, Henry³, John², Henry¹), son of Jeremiah E.⁶ and Rachel (King) Whitney, was born 2 Jan 1812, Penfield, NY, and died 17 Sep 1883, Leslie, MI. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Ingham, MI.^[1]

He married, 13 Oct 1832, Niagara, NY, Mary E. Scott, daughter of William and Joanna (Crane) Scott. She was born 7 Sep 1815, NY, and died 24 Feb 1897, MI. She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Ingham, MI.^[2]

Private in Company I, 21st Regiment, Michigan Infantry.

He was a Free Will Baptist minister:

"Whitney, Rev. William E., a native of Penfield, N. Y., died at Leslie, Mich., Sept. 17, 1883, aged 71 years. He was converted in 1832, moved to Canada in 1834, commenced to preach in 1844, and was ordained in 1846. He went to Michigan in 1849 and labored with various churches there. He served as a soldier in the early part of the Civil War and re-enlisted in 1864. He lost a limb, but on his return resumed the work of the ministry and was a faithful soldier of the Lord."^[3]

William E. Whitney was in Ontario by 1836 when his son William W. was born. He was listed in 1842 census of Yarmouth Township, Elgin County, with a family of 6, living on 50 acre farm in the area of Lot 4 Range 1, south of the Edgware Road. He was a Baptist minister as well as a farmer during his time in Elgin. The family lived in Ontario until 1849, when they moved to Jackson County, Michigan, being in Rives Township for the 1850 census. By the 1860 census time he had moved to Leslie Township, Ingham County, Michigan, where he was a Free Will Baptist minister.

William E. Whitney enlisted for Civil War duty in the 12th Michigan Infantry, Company G, of 19 Dec 1861, and served until20 Jul 1862 as a Private. He re-enlisted on 29 Jul 1864 in the 21st Michigan Infantry, Company I, and served as a Sergeant. At the siege of Savannah, Georgia, on 13 Dec 1864, he was shot through the knee and as a result lost his leg. He was discharged on 16 Jun 1865 from hospital at Detroit. He drew a pension for his disability. After his death, his widow Mary received a widow's pension starting in Dec 1883 until her death, the last payment being $12 in December 1896.

Mary Scott Whitney ... gave her heart to God when quite young, was baptized and united with the Free Will Baptist church, but after marriage and removal to Canada she with her husband united with the regular Baptist church at St. Thomas, where they remained for a number of years. Her husband afterward became a minister and was ordained by the Free Will Baptists at that time. In 1849 they came to Jackson, Mich., and afterward removed to Leslie and united with the Baptist church at that place, and in all these years she has been a faithful Christian and helpmate to her husband in the ministry, a devoted wife and a loving mother. In 1882 her husband was called from his labors to his reward and she was left alone, but her trust was in God. She was a friend to everyone. Her Christian counsel was much sought after. Se was a great bible reader and during her sickness when her mind was wandering she would quote passages of scripture and all through her sickness, although a great sufferer, she did not complain but said, "Thy will be done, O Lord." She was the mother of 10 childrenk, eight still living, two sons and six daughters, who mourn their loss. She died Wednesday, Feb. 24, 1897, her age was 81 years, five months and 17 days. The funeral was held at the Baptist church on Saturday at 2 o'clock p. m., conducted by the pastor. The text was chosen by deceased, John 11:25.

Children of William E.⁷ and Mary E. (Scott) Whitney:

i.	Lucy Ann⁸ Whitney, b. 5 Sep 1833, Niagara Falls, NY; d. 16 Mar 1913, Mason, MI; bur. Felt Plains Cemetery, Leslie, MI;^[4] m.(1) 19 Oct 1854, Leslie, MI, William B. Laycock; m.(2)4 Oct 1863, MI, Jonathan Bunker; m.(3) 24 Jan 1884, Ingham Co., MI, Orson O. Janes; m.(4) 7 Nov 1898, Stockbridge, MI, John Knight.
ii.	William W. Whitney, b. 25 Mar 1836, CAN; m. Elizabeth C. Berry.
iii.	Martha Whitney, b. 26 Jun 1838, CAN; d. 23 Oct 1907, Elsie, MI;^[5] m.(1) 4 Sep 1855, Leslie, MI, Isaac V. Woolley, d. 1896; m.(2) 4 Jun 1903, St. Johns, MI, Charles Sexton.
iv.	Ferdinand Scott Whitney, b. 2 Mar 1840, CAN; m. Effie B. Dow.
v.	Mary Whitney, b. 30 Apr 1842; d. 17 Oct 1843.
vi.	Hannah Ella Whitney, b. 23 Dec 1846, St. Thomas, ON; d. 17 Oct 1922, Toledo, OH; bur. Lakeview Cemetery, Howell, MI;^[6] m. 13 Nov 1866, Gratiot, MI, Franklin E. Kneeland.
vii.	James Whitney, b. 5 Sep 1844; d. 16 Mar 1850.
viii.	Joanna C. Whitney, b. 22 Jul 1850, Rives, MI; d. 16 Dec 1928, Owosso, MI; bur. Wildwood Cemtery, Chesaning, MI;^[7] m. James O. Rundell.
ix.	Deantha Adell Whitney, b. 21 Dec 1853, MI; d. 28 Oct 1947, Rockville Centre, NY; bur. Greenfield Cemetery, Uniondale, NY;^[8] m. ca. 1874, Franklin Erwin Wisner.
x.	Sarah Georgiana Whitney, b. 28 Aug 1856, MA; d. 1933, Leslie, MI; bur. Woodlawn Cemetery, Leslie, MI;^[9] m. 22 Feb 1875, Ingham Co., MI, Frank Hunter.

Census

1842, Yarmouth, London Co., Upper Canada:

1-- Wm. E. Whitney -11 Farmer 000000002(14)00000000000100010000000000000002000000000001100000 0 0 25 6 0

1850, Rives, Jackson Co., MI:

1094 1118 William E. Whitney 38 M - Farmer N.Y. Mary " 34 F - " Lucy " 16 F - " Attended school William " 14 M - Canada Attended school Martha " 12 F - " Attended school Ferdinand " 10 M - " Attended school Hannah " 3 F - "

1860, Leslie, Ingham Co., MI:

1125 1136 W. E. Whitney 48 M - U. B. Minister $400 $140 N.Y. M. Whitney 44 F - N.Y. H. A. " 13 F - Can. E. Attended school J. " 10 F - Mich. Attended school D. " 6 F - " Attended school G. A. " 3 F - "

1870, Leslie, Ingham Co., MI:

438 432 Whitney, William 60 M W Farmer $800 $300 New York Male citizen over 21 -----, Mary 57 F W Keeping house " -----, Adell 16 F W At home Michigan Attended school -----, Georgiana 14 F W At home " Attended school