Family:Whitney, Jonah (1811-1876)

Jonah⁷ Whitney (Jonah⁶, Thomas⁵, Thomas⁴, Eleazer³, Thomas², John¹), son of Jonah⁶ and Anna (Rider) Whitney, was born 29 Mar 1811, Westborough, MA,^[1] and died 8 May 1876, Alsey, IL.^[2]

He "of Grafton", married (int. 30 Dec 1832, Grafton, MA^[3]), 24 Jan 1833, Westborough, MA, Mary Ann Wadsworth "of Westborough", daughter of John and Persis (Kimball) Wadsworth. She was born 28 Oct 1808, Westborough, MA, and died 3 May 1892, Alsey, IL.^[4]

"Mr. Whitney was born at the homestead where he now lives, June 8, 1836 and is the son of Jonah Whitney, a native of Massachusetts, who emigrated to Illinois as early as 1835, and settled in this county, when a large portion of the land was still the property of the Government. He entered eighty acres from "Uncle Sam" and subsequently purchased several hundred acres, the greater part of which he brought to a good state of cultivation, and built up a good homestead upon which he spent the remainder of his days."

"Mrs. Mary A. (Wadsworth) Whitney, the mother of our subject was the daughter of John Wadsworth, a descendant of William Wadsworth. It was this loyal patriot, who immortalized himself by hiding the charter of the Colonists in the old oak tree when Andros was endeavoring to gain possession of it and thus deprived the people of their liberties. For years afterward this oak tree stood a monument to the deed, and was ever reverenced as the "Charter Oak" To the parents of our subject there were born three children, those besides Orlando being Amelia and Albert, who died when about eighteen and twenty years of age respectively."

Children of Jonah⁷ and Mary Ann (Wadsworth) Whitney:

i.	Orlando⁸ Whitney, b. 8 Jun 1836, Scott Co., IL; m. Sophia Curtis.
ii.	Amelia Whitney, b. ca. 1839, IL, d. ca. 1857 (age 18).
iii.	Albert Whitney, b. 14 Jan 1842; d. 19 Dec 1861, Alsey, IL.^[5]

Census

1840, Winchester, Scott Co., IL: Jonah Whitney, 1 male 20-30, 1 male 15-20, 1 male under 5, 1 female 30-40, 1 female under 5, 1 in agriculture.
1850, Scott Co., IL:

837 865 Jonah Whitney 38 M - Farmer $2000 Mass. Mary A. " 40 F - " Orlando " 14 M - Ills. Amelia " 11 F - " Attended school Albert " 8 M - " Attended school

1860, Township 13 Range 12, Scott Co., IL:

1411 1376 Jonah Whitney 49 M - Farmer 8920 2050 Mass. Mary A. Do 50 F - Mass. Orlando Do 24 M - Farm laborer Ills. Albert Do 18 M - Farm laborer Ills. Attended school John A. England 14 M - Ky. Attended school Thomas Mace 27 M - Farm laborer Ireland Mary Sims 16 F - Servant Va. Attended school

1870, Township 13 Range 11, Scott Co., IL, p. 22:

170 171 Whiteney, James 59 M W Farmer $32200 $14105 Mass. Male citizen over 21 -----, Mary A. 61 F W Keeps House Mass. Wadsworth, Isaac 24 M W Farm Laborer $150 Illinois Male citizen over 21 Faning, John 40 M W Farm Laborer Ireland Parents foreign born

"James" is an error for "Jonah".