Whitney, Milton D. 1868 – 1939

WHITNEY, ROCKWOOD, BENEDICT, DARLING, MALTBY, GILBERT

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/14/2015 at 08:26:35

MILTON D. WHITNEY.

Milton D. Whitney is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 18, Hesper township, and is numbered among the progressive agriculturists and prominent business men of his locality. The place is a portion of the homestead upon which he was born May 28, 1868, his parents being Brayton and Martha (Rockwood) Whitney, natives of Jefferson county, New York, who married there and came west about 1857. They located in the vicinity of Watertown, Wisconsin, and from that section the father enlisted in 1861 in Company B, Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, being later transferred to the Sixteenth Ohio Light Artillery. He served for three years in the Union army and after his discharge returned to Watertown, where he remained until 1867. He then removed to Iowa, buying a farm on section 18, Hesper township, this county, whereon he resided until his death. He and his wife became the parents of seven children: L. B., a banker in Decorah; Perry H., a merchant in Burr Oak; Clara S., the wife of Sherwood Benedict, of Newcastle, Nebraska; Milton D., of this review; Claude, who died at the age of twenty-five, leaving a widow and two children; Cora, the wife of William Darling, of Hesper township; and Alice, who died at the age of four years.

Milton D. Whitney was reared at home and acquired his early education in the district schools of Hesper township, supplementing this by a course at the State Normal School in Winona, Minnesota. Upon laying aside his books he turned his attention to teaching and for nine years thereafter engaged in that occupation, spending three years in Minnesota, one in North Dakota and the remainder of the time in Winneshiek county. He afterward spent one summer in Wyoming as a member of a surveying party and upon resigning that position turned his attention to farming, an occupation in which he has since engaged, being ranked today among the prosperous and progressive agriculturists of his township. He owns one hundred and six acres of the home place and its neat and attractive appearance is entirely due to him, for it had no improvements when he took up his residence upon it. He has erected the buildings and installed the machinery and has made the farm a valuable and productive property, reflecting everywhere his careful supervision and practical labors. He engages in general farming and stock-raising and is an extensive breeder of shorthorn cattle.

On the 8th of April, 1894, Mr. Whitney was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Ruth Maltby, who was born in Canoe township, December 7, 1873. a daughter of Corydon O. and Mary (Gilbert) Maltby, the former of whom resides in Winneshiek county and of whose life more extended mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney have three children, Howard R., Madge E. and Luella.

Mr. Whitney is a director of the State Line Bank at Prosper, Minnesota, and is connected fraternally with Clement Lodge, No. 567, A. F. & A. M., at Burr Oak. He also belongs to the Yeomen and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a progressive in his political beliefs and has held various minor offices. His religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is interested in the new and scientific aspects of farming and did worthy work along this line as instructor for the Iowa State Agricultural College. He spent one winter at that occupation, during which time he traveled through all parts of the state, remaining one week in each locality, doing much during this time to promote the spread of a more general knowledge of modern agricultural methods. In the township where he resides and where almost his entire life has been spent he has become widely and favorably known, his many sterling qualities of character having gained for him an extensive circle of friends.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913

Burr Oak Cemetery
 

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