Family:Whitney, Hugh Monticello (1851-1920)
Hugh Monticello9 Whitney (Melvin8, Erastus7, Ezra6, Ezra5, John4, Isaiah3, Thomas2, John1, ThomasA), son of Melvin8 and Ann Eliza (Hooker) Whitney, was born 23 Nov 1851 in Canaseraga, Allegany Co, NY. He died 12 Aug 1920 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a farmer and an inventor.
He married, Mathilda Caroline Heberlein, 7 Jan 1879 in Kill Creek, Osborne Co, KS. She was the daughter of Valentinus Fridericus Heberlein 'Fred V.' and Luise Wilhelmina Frederike Ernstina 'Louisa' Rothe. She was born 29 Mar 1860 possibly in Columbia Co, WI, and died 12 Apr 1934 in St. Louis, MO.
INVENTOR SLEEPS FOR SIX MONTHS
Hugh M. Whitney succumbs to mysterious disease after sleeping since January 25th.
Physicians are baffled
Said he would not die happy until he had completel [sic] invention for milling flour. Patents come after it is too late.
Hugh M. Whitney of 624 Clark aveenue, Webster Groves, died at Barnes Hospital Thursday, after having been asleep since January 25th. Up to the time he went into the drowse, according to his wife, he had been enjoying perfect health, and had seldom been sick during his life. Dr. Marshall Baker was called and putting forth every effort was able to keep Mr. Whitney alive through a series of experimental treatments. Later Doctor Nolkemper and several physicians including Dr. Schmid of South Broadway and Dr. Frey of St. Louis, who are specialists in nervous and cerebral diseases were called in. About five weeks ago they removed the patient to Barnes Hospital where he continued to sink.
Dr. Baker stated that Whitney appeared to be conscious of his surroundings until February 15, then he was able to mumble answers to questions. After that no words left his lips. He was fed liquids at short intervals during his sickness, and for a short time was able to swallow.
According to Dr. Baker the disease which has been called lethargic encepalitis which term is meant to express sleeping sickness due to inflamation of membranes is a rarity and baffling to specialists all over the world. Dr. Baker says the disease is not of the class usually termed sleeping sickness which was first known in Africa and with which paralysis sets in.
Specialists are all baffled with the disease, have found no cause that [copy of newspaper article in possession of writer does not include the remainder of the obituary, but it appears that the article is much longer. A note dates the article to 'Aug 17 1920 paper'.]
HUGH MONTICELLO WHITNEY
Whitney was a member of a family of millers, his father and brother being at one time in the flour business in Minneapolis, from where he came to St. Louis 30 years ago. He spent his whole life in inventing milling machinery, and with Mr. Pillsbury, who organized the Pillsubyr [sic] Milling Company in Minneapolis, perfected the first flour maker there. Twenty years ago, he invented a milling machine on which the patent already expired. As soon as the invention was perfected, he began working on improvements, and often told his wife that he could not die happy until he had made a machine which would mill flour less expensively than those now in use.
Certain parts of the mechanism were finished before his sickness and while in his dormant condition, letters of patent came from Washington together with telegrams of congratulations which he never became conscious to read.
Mrs. Whitney is the only one who knows anything of Mr. Whitney's investion [sic]. She stated to a representative of the Sentinel that with her little knowledge of machinery, she feared her husband's life work would be left unfinished, as she did not understand it thoroughly
Children of Hugh Monticello9 and Ann Eliza (Hooker) Whitney:
i. Mable Clare Whitney was born 11 Mar 1880 in Sumner Township, Osborne Co, KS and died of scarlet fever 4 Jul 1890. ii. Grace May Whitney was born 12 Aug 1882. She married Thomas Hayward and had two daughters. iii. Raymond Melvin Whitney was born 19 Mar 1884 in Burlington, Coffey Co, KS. He married Anita Hildenbrand and had two children. iv. Frederick Clifford Whitney was born 7 Apr 1887 in Liberty, Clay Co, MO. He married Kathryn Williams and had three children. v. Earl Whitney was born 17 Feb 1892 in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co, MN and died 10 Mar 1892. vi. Lloyd Coleman Whitney was born 3 May 1893 in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co, MN. He married Ann Schottlander and had one daughter. vii. Lela Earle Whitney was born 26 Oct 1898 in St. Louis, MO. She married Harold Koop and had two children.
References
Photographs
Frederick Clifford 'Tip' Whitney (baby), Mathilda Caroline (Heberlein) Whitney, Hugh Monticello Whitney, Mabel Clare Whitney, Grace May Whitney, Raymond Melvin Whitney. Taken in Kansas, circa 1887.
Raymond Melvin Whitney, Thomas E. Hayward, Grace May (Whitney) Hayward, Mathilda Caroline (Heberlein) Whitney, Frederick Clifford 'Tip' Whitney, Lela Earle Whitney, Hugh Monticello Whitney, Lloyd Coleman 'Fa Fa' Whitney (my great grandfather). Taken in Tuxedo Park, Missouri, circa 1903.
Copyright © 2006, Tim Doyle and The Whitney Research Group
