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Harry E. Whitney

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Military Service
War: Spanish-American
Branch: U.S. Army
Company: Co B 49 Iowa Inf., 2nd U.S. Inf.
Rank: 1st Lieut.


Personal Details
Born: 15 December 1872
Died: 13 May 1899
Parents: William and Millie (Freeland) Whitney
Spouse: Elizabeth Heaton

Buried: Fairfield Township Cemetery
Fairfield Township, Grundy County, Iowa


Lieut. Harry Whitney, well-known in the north part of the county, recently received an appointment in the regular army. He was married a few days ago at Winchester, Tenn., to a lady from Fairfield, Iowa, a graduate from the Normal school. The wedding occurred at the home of Frank Sprague in Winchester, Tenn.

The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 12 January 1899, pg 9

Report comes to us that Lieut. Harry Whitney was united in marriage on December 22 at Huntsville, Ala., to Miss Elizabeth Heaton, of Fairfield, Iowa. Harry has sprung a surprise on his many friends, but nevertheless we all wish him much happiness in his new venture and hope it will prove the best one he ever made.

The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 12 January 1899, pg 12

Lieut. Whitney Dead

News was received at New Hartford Monday announcing the death of Lieut. Harry E. Whitney at Cienfuegos, Cuba, on Saturday, of typhoid fever. He belonged to the Second United States Infantry, having been appointed to the regular army last summer as second lieutenant. He went to Cuba with the Second Infantry, when they were assigned there only a short time ago. Only recently he was promoted to first lieutenant.

Lieut. Whitney was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Whitney who live in the north part of this county and lived there until he entered the army last summer. He was an excellent young man of good habits, conscientious and earnest, and well respected. He attended the State Normal School and taught school for several terms.

The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 18 May 1899, pg 1

Word came through the Monday's dailies that Harry E. Whitney, First Lieutenant, Second Regiment, died on May 13th, of typhoid fever, at Cienfuegos, Cuba. Mr. Whitney was born in Beaver township, in December, 1872, where he lived until old enough to enter school. He graduated from the State Normal school in 1897, having the honor of passing the best examination in tactics of any scholar graduated from that school. He was one of the three civilians receiving appointments to the regular army from Iowa, passing a creditable examination. He received a commission as Second Lieutenant and was recently promoted to a First Lieutenant, being transferred to the Second Regiment. When the writer saw him last, a year ago, he was keen to be at the front and spoke of a bright and useful service in his chosen profession. He leaves a young wife to whom he was recently married, a father and mother, four brothers and one sister, besides a host of friends to mourn his loss.

The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 18 May 1899, pg 8

A Tribute To The Dead
--Iowa State Register

"I was deeply pained this morning when I read in The Register of the death of one of Grundy county's finest young men," said Hon. A. V. Stout of Parkersburg, Wednesday. "The Associated Press dispatches told of the death by typhoid fever at Cienfuegos of Lieut. Harry C. Whitney, of the Second regular infantry. Lieut. Whitney was one of the finest young men who ever went out from Iowa. He worked hard to secure an education at the State Normal at Cedar Falls, and used frequently to walk to that place from his home in Grundy county. At the school he distinguished himself for hard and faithful work. In the military department he showed especial proficiency, holding one position after another in the cadet battalion until he was finally commissioned a captain. Before the war began he thought he ought to do something for the country. Through Senator Allison he was recommended to the war department. His record at school had been so exceptional, that he was believed qualified to hold a commission in the army. The call for troops came, however, before he received an appointment, but he enlisted as a private in Company B, of Waterloo, showing his spirit and desire to serve. He came to Des Moines, but at the time the regiment was ordered south he was detailed with a recruiting squad at Waterloo. He was shortly after notified of his appointment as second lieutenant, and was sent for examination to Fort Leavenworth with another Iowa boy, also a graduate of the State Normal. He was sent to Georgia, where he joined his regiment. Before going to Cuba he was married to a former class mate at the Normal, a Miss Elizabeth Heaton, of Fairfield. She accompanied him after their marriage, and was with him at the time of his death, I presume. Lieut. Whitney was one of the finest young men I ever knew, and all Grundy county will be pained to know of his death.

The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 25 May 1899, pg 4