~ by Mrs. Bryce (Winifred FERGUSON) WHISTLER

The WHISLER'S came to America from Germany. When in his teens, Grandfather Abraham WHISLER'S first job was driving the mules along the towpath beside the Erie Canal as they pulled the barges. In his adult years, he became a doctor.

Abraham and his family came to Iowa via Pennsylvania and Ohio just after the birth of his ninth child, eighth son, in 1849. Tingley folk knew him as Dr. H. WHISLER.

When he and his next older brother, Levi, rode into Mt. Ayr one day wearing identical light-colored top-coats, they were surprised to see people hurrying to get off the street and shopkeepers locking their doors and pulling down shades. later they learned that Jesse JAMES and his brother, wearing similar topcoats, had recently been seen in the area.

Dr. H. WHISLER, his wife, Annie FRAZEY WHISLER, and their 13 children, moved to Tingley about 1900. Two of the WHISLER girls, Edna and Ida, married two brothers, Sam and Harve ELDER, whose father ran the drugstore in Tingley about that same year.

Five of the WHISLER children, Perce, Edna, Hattie, Everett, and Darl, presented their parents with twin great-grandchildren.

The WHISLER progeny are now scattered from coast to coast, but none are left in Tingley. However, there are some cousins in the area.

NOTE: Dr. Hiram WHISLER was born September 19, 1849, the son of Abraham WHISLER (1811-1892) and Nancy Anna (HEIM) WHISLER (1816-1848), and he died February 21, 1935. Annie Velina (FRAZEY) was born May 30, 1857, Jefferson County, Iowa, and died May 23, 1929. They were interred at Greenlawn Cemetery, Afton, Union County, Iowa.

Enoch FRAZEY and Mary Elizabeth (COLLINS) FRAZEY, who was a native of Kentucky, left Bedford County, Pennsylvania, settling in Salina, Iowa, in 1848. Enoch and Mary came to Sand Creek Township of Union County. Their daughter Annie and son-in-law Dr. Hiram WHISLER resided with the FRAZEYS after their marriage until 1888.

Dr. Hiram and Annie WHISLER'S children were:

Norvall Green WHISLER was born January 8, 1873, and died in 1922.

Gertrude "Gertie" Sylvia WHISLER was born July 3, 1975, and died in 1932. She married Frank LEHMAN (1871-1936). They were interred at Greenlawn Cemetery, Afton, Iowa.

Harry Norman WHISLER was born September 15, 1877, and died in 1956.

Edna Myrtle WHISLER was born January 7, 1879, and died in 1965. She married Sam ELDER.

Percy Frazey "Perce" WHISLER was born October 31, 1880, and died in 1969.

Ida Valesta WHISLER was born was born August 18, 1884, and died in 1978. She married Harve ELDER.

Nellie May "Nell" WHISLER was born May 18, 1886, and died in 1945. She married Lloyd ANDERSON.

Harriett Mary "Hattie" WHISLER was born March 17, 1888, and died in 1971. She married Lisle HARPER.

Ross Alva WHISLER was born October 14, 1890, and died in 1957.

Della Susan WHISLER was born October 25, 1892, and died in 1942 with interment at Greenlawn Cemetery, Afton. She married Cal OVERMIER.

Everett Earl WHISLER was born November 13, 1894, and died in 1955.

Bryce Gerald WHISLER was born December 23, 1897, and died June 28, 1972. He served as a Private with the U.S. Army (Illinois) during World War I. Winifred (FERGUSON) WHISLER was born in 1904, and died in 1988. They were interred at Tingley Cemetery.

Darl Daniel WHISLER was born March 21, 1900, and died in December of 1980.

  SOURCE: Tingley, Iowa Centennial: 1883 - 1983. Pp. 122-23. PSI, Inc. Belmond IA. 1983.
Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library, September of 2011

Notes and transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2011