The Family of Edwin and Almira M Meacham Whiting- L to R: Edward Lucian Whiting, Sylvia Almira Whiting, Edwin Whiting, Cornelia Dolly Whiting, Elisha Franklin Whiting. Photo – George Edward Anderson Collection # 7266.
The original plate is housed in BYU Special Collections.
“September 14, 1848
Dear brother in the bonds of the everlasting covenant I take this opportunity to wright a few lines to you and yours to let you know how I am in body and mind in a small degree I am as well as can be expected considering what I have had to pass through for a little over a year ago(.) I went at b(B)urlington and found my wife there and 3 of the children Sylvia Henry and Roswell all well and in comfortable circumstances but perhaps brother Palmer has told you the news that my brother Joseph is dead. He was killed with a ..?.. log loading it on a wagon Maryann came to Burlington with her family and has gone back. I am now in Pli(y)mmouth after some of my things and expect to return on the morrow if nothing prevents me.
I do not know when I shall go to the mane (main) body of the church. I long to be with the main body where I can have the teachings from those men that God has placed at the head to lead his people in these last days which gives us all joy and satisfaction to hear them more than any other men on earth. I have not time now to write what I want to write (,) my eyes will not admit they are very week indeed (,) so
I must draw to a close by ascribing myself now sincere friend and brother in the Lord so farewell dear brother and friends at Pisgah (.) If I never see you again in this life God knows I love you give my love to all of the brothers and sisters at Pisgah and round about (.) Tell them I want to see them very much (.) I want the prayers of all the saints on earth whatever name or denomination they may be of(,) for they that love God and work rightesness (righteousness) are excepted (accepted) of him whether of and organized band or free.”
(signed) Stephen P. Meacham to
Edwin Whiting, President of the branch of Latter-day Saints at Pisgah
Edwin had an interest in fruit trees even while living in Ohio as a young married man and had planted orchards there and in Missouri. A newspaper article speaks of his success growing melons in Sanpete, after moving West, apparently where others had failed. He brought a variety of trees and flowers with him on his return from his mission. After trying to grow them in Manti, Utah, he moved to Springville in 1861 with the hope of better success in a warmer climate with a longer growing season. He planted trees and flowers on his property in Springville. An extensive nursery extended more than two blocks east from his home on Main Street. There is still standing his “Heritage Tree” in Springville on Main street, that at one time was in front of his home. His last home in Mapleton also still has a large Linden tree growing in front. At one time there were several other trees from his nursery on the City Property and others were planted around the county. His interest in bees was an outgrowth of his interest in horticulture. You will find various references to his interest in “growing things” throughout this website.
Edwin’s Homestead in Hobble Creek Canyon and also in Mapleton were also to see what the land would produce.
Edwin Whiting’s Springville Property iand Nursery is located in the following map. It is redrawn from a sketch of Marie J. Whiting.
The property line is approximate. Edwin’s Nursey would be somewhere in this boundary.
Grandson, Wayne Johnson has sketched other views of his memories of this location.
Edwin Whiting, Lorenzo Whiting,son, Hannah Haines Brown Whiting, Abby Ann Whiting Bird
Family Photographs – Mary Elizabeth Cox and children of Mary Cox and Edwin Whiting.
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Obituary for Mary Elizabeth Cox Whiting, St. Johns, Arizona
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Headstone located in the Springville, Utah, City Cemetery. She shares this stone with Mary Ann Washburn Whiting, 5th Wife and Edwin Whiting on the reverse side. Location: Blk 51 Lot 1 Pos 7
Edwin and Elizabeth Partridge Tillotson Whiting Family
Front Row: Sarah Elizabeth Whiting Snow, Edwin Whiting, Elizabeth Partridge Tillotson Whiting, Helen Amila Whiting Buchanan.
Back Row: Louisa Meletiah Whiting Johnson, Oscar Newell Whiting, Caroline Fidelia Whiting Bromley, Edwin Lucius Whiting. Inset: William Whiting. Note: William Died about two weeks before photo was taken.
Photo: George Edward Anderson Collection, #16149
Above: Image of William Whiting, son of Edwin and Elizabeth. William died of pneumonia just days before the family portrait above was taken.
Occupations
There are many references in Edwin’s biographies of his making chairs as a livelyhood and that it was a family occupation. Other articles in this website including Mary Cox Biography, Samuel Gifford Journal, refer to this. Also the book, Before and After Mt. Pisgah by Clare B. Christensen, has several references to the Whiting chairs. It was a family business. The photo below is one of his chairs that belongs to the Mendenhall Family of Mapleton, Utah.
1. Nomination
“At a convention held at Manti on the 16th, Edwin Whiting was nominated for Councilor and John L. Ivie for member of the House of Representatives of the next Legislative Assembly.
Source: Deseret News Online, July 27, 1859, pg 2.
2. Legislative Members and Committee Assignments
Image:
Source: Deseret News 1859-12-14, pg 4, Meeting of the Legislature
url: http://udn.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/deseretnews2&CISOPTR=6846&CISOSHOW=6869