Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 907
ISAAC E. WHITNEY

Isaac E. WHITNEY, one of the representative farmers of Jackson Township, now residing on section 16, came to Harrison County, in the spring of 1855, and first located on section 28, of Jackson Township. He came to the country with his parents. His father bought eighty acres of wild land, built a "dug-out," and broke part of his land, and lived there for about two years. Our subject was thirteen years old at this time. The father sold this place, and removed to the north line of the township, and remained one year, and then moved back and bought forty acres near the old farm, and here build a log house, broke up the land and farmed for seven years. At this time, our subject went for himself. He went to Salt Lake City, and engaged at freighting for the Overland Stage Company, which business he followed three years. He worked one year in the mines at Virginia City, and two years at logging, in the mountains for Joseph A., a son of Brigham Young. In the spring of 1869, he returned to Harrison County, and settled on the place he now occupies. I then consisted of forty acres of wild land. he first lived in a log house 13x15 feet, which is still standing. After living in this fifteen years, he built a story and a half frame house 24x26 feet. His present farm consists of two hundred and fifty acres, fifty-five acres of which are under the plow, while the balance is in pasture and meadow land. He set out an orchard and a grove, built a barn 18x38 feet, a cattle barn 20x30 feet, a double crib 24x30 feet and made other useful improvements. He commenced on this place without much means, and was here during the grasshopper seasons, and endured the hardships of the never-to-be-forgotten, snow winter of 1856-57, when they had to draw wood on a hand-sled, and live chiefly on corn meal, which they had to draw on hand-sleds from Martin's mill, in the south part of the township.

Our subject was born Mary 7, 1841, in England, and is a son of Edmund and Frances (HOPE) WHITNEY, who had seven children: Isaac, George, deceased; Alfred, Oliver; Thomas and Edmund, deceased; and Sadina. the father and mother are both deceased; the former died in 1850, and the latter in 1877.

Mr. WHITNEY landed in New York, when but a year old. His parents first settled in New Jersey, and in 1851 removed to Pottawattamie County, Iowa. They remained one year, returned to New Jersey, spent two years, and then removed to Troy, N.Y., and remained until the spring of 1855, when they returned to Iowa. Our subject's school advantages were poor, obtaining the most of his information from books that he picked up at odd times. He was united in marriage, August 17, 1865 to Jane L. TRIPLETT, the daughter of George and Lovinia TRIPLETT, natives of England, who had six children: Jane L., Caroline, deceased; Susan; Lovina, deceased; Martha and Salina.

Our subject and his wife have no children. He and his wife are both members of the Brigham Young branch of the Latter Day Saints Church. Our subject was a Road Supervisor for five years, and was Township Trustee nine years, and is Justice of the Peace at this time.

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