Family:Whitney, Parkhurst (1784-1862)

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Gen. Parkhurst6 Whitney (Jonathan5, Jonathan4, Jonathan3, Benjamin2, John1), son of Jonathan5 and Esther (Parkhurst) Whitney, was born 25 Sep 1784, Conway, MA, and died 26 Apr 1862, Niagara Falls, NY.

He married, 10 Oct 1805, Celinda Cowing. She was born 17 Mar 1783, Rochester, MA, and died 12 Jun 1860, Niagara Falls, NY.

Gen. Parkhurst Whitney lived around with his brothers and sisters till he was nineteen years of age, when he went to his own land, his father having left him some. In 1810 he went from Phelps to Niagara Falls and lived on a farm on the Niagara river, about five miles above the present village of Niagara Falls. In 1812 he moved to the village of the Falls and rented Porter's saw mill. In 1814 he rented the Eagle tavern, a log one on the site of the International hotel, and began tavern keeping on a small scale. Twice during the war of 1812-15, he was driven away by the British. At one time the alarm was given that the British and Indians were coming from Lewiston and they left the breakfast on the table and fled. The British set fire to the village. The Eagle tavern was of logs, 24 feet square, and had one room. In 1819 he bought the property and built a frame addition to it, and celebrated the finishing of it by a dinner 4 Jul 1820. At that time most of the pleasure seekers went to the Canada side. In 1831 Gen. Whitney bought the Cataract House, which had been built in 1825, and kept it as a sort of lodging house for the surplus business of the Eagle. In 1835 he built a stone addition to the Cataract. In 1836 he disposed of the Eagle property to Benjamin Rathburn, of Buffalo. In Sep 1836, he rented the Cataract to Milton Hawley, who was unsuccessful, and in August, 1838, he took the house again with his son, S. M. N. Whitney, and his son-in-law, D. R. Jerauld and kept the hotel under the firm of P. Whitney and Sons. The addition to the Cataract, in 1835, was a four-story stone buidling, 40x56 feet. In 1842-43 he made another addition of stone, 40x54 feet. In 1845 he added another stone addition, five stories high, 42x133 feet, containing the dining room. In 1845 he built a stone kitchen addition two stories high, 25x30 feet. In the spring of 1846 he disposed of all the property to S. M. N. Whitney, D. R. Jerauld, and J. F. Trott, who carried on the hotel under the name of Whitney, Jerauld & County. In 1841-43 he purchased some river lots and connected the buildings with the hotel.

An Interesting Occasion. -- An event which few men see was celebrated at the Cataract House, Niagara Falls, on Wednesday evening last. It was the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of Gen. Parkhurst Whitney and wife. For fifty years had this couple stemmed life's vicissitudes, and on this occasion the numerous friends and kindred of this remarkable couple gathered in social communion to bestow congratulations and renew the recollections of early days. The ceremonies of the "golden wedding" were touching and imposing and were conducted by Rev. E. W. Reynolds, of this city. Gen. Whitney emigrated to this country with his wife forty-five years ago, and they have well earned their health and happiness which is with them in their old age. That it may remain with them for many years to come is the wish of all. -- Buffalo (New York) Commercial, 17 Oct 1855.

He resided Niagara Falls, NY.

Children of Parkhurst6 and Celinda (Cowing) Whitney:

i. Asenath Beecher7 Whitney, b. 22 Jan 1809, Geneva, NY; m. 1837, Niagara Falls, NY, Pierre de Kowalewski. Asenath Beecher Whitney was the eldest child of Gen. Parkhurst Whitney, of Niagara Falls, New York. She was born in Geneva, New York, 22 Jan 1809. When she was a year old her parents moved to Niagara Falls. Her father was employed as a surveyor for the Holland Land Purchase Company. Parkhurst Whitney was a very intelligent man and gave his children every advantage possible in those days. Asenath Whitney was in many ways a remarkably brilliant woman. She was a very fine scholar and linguist, speaking French, Italian and German fluently, and she also was a great reader and possessed of brilliant conversational powers and was an exceptionally good musician. In 1837 there came to Niagara Falls a Polish gentleman who was a teacher of languages. This gentleman, Pierre de Kowalewski, was an exile, having been an officer in the 10th Lithuanian Lancers, and after the downfall of Poland, his estates being confiscated by the Russian government, he came to America in company with several other noblemen -- all officers and men of fine presence and courtly manners. He was a fine linguist, speaking ten languages, and thus became a professor of languages. At Niagara Falls he met Asenath Whitney in 1836 and in 1837 they were married at Niagara Falls. He died at Havana, Cuba, in May, 1854. Children:
a. Olympia M. de Kowalewski, b. 20 Mar 1839; d. May 1865; a most brilliant musician.
b. Helena de Kowalewski, b. 9 Mar 1842, died Sept., 1864, a fine German scholar and organist
c. Frederic Whitney de Kowalewski, b. 22 Dec 1843, died 1 Mar 1861, an unusual student, a lad of the brightest promise.
d. Linda Alice de Kowalewski, b. 27 Mar 1849; m. 30 Sep 1868, Niagara Falls, NY, Robert Fulton; has also kept up the family record. She had studied the Polish language and in 1890 translated "The Jew," which was published by Dodd, Mead & County, of New York. It is an historical novel by one of Poland's greatest authors, Joseph Krasyewski. In 1891 she translated "Corine," from the French of Louis Enault, which was published by Little, Brown & Company, of Boston. She has also written poems and short stories for the magazines and is an artist, being a member of the Buffalo Society of Artists, and exhibiting each year original sketches from nature. Robert Fulton was born in Lewiston, New York, 17 Jul 1847, and is of Scotch-Irish descent, as his ancestors came over to the north of Ireland from Scotland in Cromwell's time. He is a great-grandson of Lieutenant-Colonel James Forrest Fulton, of the Gordon Highlanders of the English army, who was first cousin to Robert Fulton of steamboat fame. Mr. Fulton was for some years associated with his brother, the late James T. Fulton, proprietor of the International Hotel, Niagara Falls, New York, and their combined efforts have done much for the prosperity of Niagara Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Fulton reside at 326 Franklin street, Buffalo, New York.
ii. Myron Holly Whitney, b. 10 Sep 1810; d. 12 Aug 1815.
iii. Angeline Parkhurst Whitney, b. 18 Aug 1812; m. 16 Nov 1836, Dexter Ray Jerauld. Resided Niagara, NY.
iv. Sally Eliza Whitney, b. 10 Mar 1814; d. 31 Jul 1815.
v. Solon Miron Napolean Whitney, b. 7 Oct 1815; m. Frances E. Drake.
vi. Celinda Eliza Whitney, b. 12 Jul 1817; d. 4 Jan 1892; m. 9 Sep 1844, Niagara Falls, James Fullerton Trott, b. 25 Mar 1815; resided Niagara Falls, 1139 Main street. James Fullerton Trott was b. 25 Mar 1815, Purchase street, Boston, MA. He was educated at the Boylston grammar public school, where he received a Franklin medal. He was also three years in the English high school. His mother was a Winslow, a lineal descendant of John Winslow, who maried Mary Chilton. His mother was the seventh in direct descent. Her father, Gen. John Winslow, was a member of the Order of Cincinnatus, the sixth signer and first treasurer of the society, of which he was an honored member. James Fullerton Trott married Celinda Eliza Whitney, at the Cataract house, 9 Sep 1844. In 1846 he became one of the proprietors, the firm being under the name of Whitney, Jerauld & Company. He was proprietor for forty years, and carried on all the financial business. He not only kept up the reputation which Gen. Whitney had established, but added to it, so the hotel became famous. In 1886 he retired from the firm, after forty years of honorable work. He was supervisor for six years, being elected by the Democratic party. He has been a trustee of the schools for forty-five continuous years, and also had charge of the district library. He has proved himself to be one of the most public-spirited and upright men in Niagara Falls, NY. The "Three Sisters Islands" at Niagara Falls were named after Mrs. Trott and her two sisters, in 1830. They were the first white women ever on them. Children:
a. John Winslow Trott, b. 21 Feb 1847; m. 9 Nov 1870, Caroline Alice Babcock; resided Niagara Falls. Children:
1. Alice Babcock, b. 7 Nov 1871.
2. John Winslow Babcock, b. 9 Nov 1881.
b. James Parkhurst Trott, b. 4 Apr 1849.
c. Elizabeth Celinda Trott, b. 8 Feb 1851.
d. Solon Whitney Trott, b. 10 Apr 1854; d. 17 Jan 1856.
e. Mary Chilton Trott, b. 28 Sep 1859; d. 20 Jan 1855.

Notes

Celinda Cowing was a descendant of two "Mayflower" pilgrims, Thomas Rogers and Henry Samson, in the following lines:

  1. Thomas Rogers, m. Alice Cosford
  2. John Rogers, m. Anna Churchman
  3. Abigail Rogers, m. John Richmond
  4. Ebenezer Richmond, m. Anna Sprout [see below]
  5. Anna Richmond, m. Caleb Cowing
  6. James Cowing, m. Sarah Randall
  7. Celinda Cowing, m. Parkhurst Whitney

and

  1. Henry Samson, m. Anne Plummer
  2. Elizabeth Samson, m. Robert Sprout
  3. Anna Sprout, m. Ebenezer Richmond [see above]

Census

  • 1810, Cambria, Niagara Co., NY: P. Whitney, 2 males 26-44, 1 male 16-25, 1 male 0-9, 1 female 26-44, 1 female 16-25, and 2 females 0-9.
  • 1820, Niagara, Niagara Co., NY: Parkhurst Whitney, 1 male over 45, 5 males 26-44, 4 males 16-25, 2 males 0-9, 2 females 16-25, 3 females 10-15, and 3 females 0-9; 1 engaged in agriculture.
  • 1830, Niagara, Niagara Co., NY: Parkhurst Whitney, 1 male 40-49, 1 male 30-39, 4 males 20-29, 1 male 10-14, 1 female 40-49, 1 female 20-29, 3 females 15-19, and 1 female 10-14.
  • 1840, Niagara, Niagara Co., NY: Parkhurst Whitney. 1 male 60-69, 1 male 50-59, 1 male 40-49, 2 males 30-39, 6 males 20-29, 2 males 15-19, 1 male 5-9, 1 female 50-59, 2 females 30-39, 11 females 20-29, 3 females 15-19, an 3 females 10-14; 1 engaged in agriculture, 1 in manufacture or trades.
  • 1850, Niagara, Niagara Co., NY:

273 283 Parkurst Whitney 65 M - Farmer $66000 Mass. Celinda 63 F - Mass. A. B. Caliska 41 F - N.Y. Olymphia 12 M - N.Y. Attended school Hellen 8 F - N.Y. Attended school Fredrick 8 M - N.Y. Attended school Celinde 3 F - N.Y. Wm. Tallin 20 M - N.Y. Peter Ott 36 M - Labourer Ireland Patrick Conley 28 M - Labourer Ireland Illiterate Patrick Doland 20 M - Labourer Germany Illiterate John Whaley 35 M - Labourer Ireland Illiterate Betsy Hawly 23 F - Ireland Illiterate Cathrin Branin 19 F - Ireland Illiterate Mehitty Pierson 13 F - Ireland George Pierson 15 M - Labourer Ireland John Cowley 28 M - Labourer Ireland

1008 962 Parkhurst Whitney 75 M - Farmer $60000 $6000 Mass. Sylinda " 77 F - " " Olympia Koliska 22 F - Lady N.Y. Helen " 18 F - " " Attended school Frederick " 16 M - Farm Laborer " Attended school Sylinda " 13 F - " Attended school Amelia Angsten 27 F - Servant Baden Mary McCoy 27 F - " Ireland Illiterate Dennis Shannon 35 M - Farm Laborer " James Fallon 30 M - Farm Laborer Ireland William Briker 28 M - " " " Illiterate Peter Colley 28 M - Hack Driver " Anthony Gatey 30 M - Farm Laborer Baden Patrick McCarty 16 M - " " N.Y. Illiterate John Howard 16 M - " " "

References

Copyright © 2006, 2009, 2010, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group

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