Whiting, Will Criner

WHITING, CRINER, ELLIOTT

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/12/2007 at 23:08:01

Whiting And Elliott Families

Will Criner Whiting, born in 1857 was the first child born in West Fork Township of Monona County. His parents, Charles Edwin Whiting and his wife Nancy Criner had moved to Monona County in 1855 from Alabama and became extensive land owners and leading citizens of the Whiting Community. Will C Whiting owned and operated a lumber company in Whiting for many years. He was also interested in politics and served as State Senator.
Will’s wife was Mary (Mame) Elliott, the daughter of Timothy T. Elliott and his wife, Marie Eliza Atkins. This Timothy Elliott family were early settlers in Monona County where they acquired much property. Mr. Elliott, being a Universalist minister, performed many early marriage ceremonies and officiated at many funerals. Besides this daughter, Mary, they were the parents of Annie Marie who married Wm. Holmes: twins Jennie, Mrs. George Norton and Jessie, Mrs. Charles Robertson, Nellis, Mrs. Charles Perkins, a daughter, Kate: a son, James who married Slyce Fisher: and two children who died at an early age. Mr. Elliott has the honor of suggesting the name “Onawa” which means “Wide Awake” for the settlement which became the County seat.
Mr. and Mrs. Will Whiting had two children Charles Elliott who farmed in the Whiting area for many years and later was in the insurance business in Whiting. His first wife, Nellie Brown, died in child birth as did the baby. Later he married Harriet Roper of Onawa. There were no children. Woodson Whiting, the daughter of Will C. and Mame, died during the epidemic of 1918. She was married to Judge Dean Piesen of Eldora and they had one daughter, Dana, now Mrs. John Youad of Bemidii, Minnesota.
Source: History of Monona County, Iowa 1982
Taylor Publishing Co.