There at least two artifacts created by Edwin Whiting in existence. One of the chairs that he made belongs to the Erma Mendenhall Hjorth family of Mapleton, Utah. Erma was a granddaughter of Edwin and Hannah. The photo of this chair looks very much like the chair in the front of the photo of his 79th Birthday.
The second photo is of a child’s broom. The inscription on the handle of the broom reads: “Broom Whittled by Edwin Whiting, father. Given to Harriet L. Whiting when 6 yrs old (1889).” The broom is about 30 inches long. The handle is a straight stick, about 3/4 inch. The bristles are tied to the stick.
In 1999, Marie Whiting and Marcus L. Smith, both descendants of Edwin Whiting, spearheaded the publication of a history of Edwin’s life entitled, Edwin Whiting and His Family. For years, Marie had collected photos and documents relating to Edwin’s life.
Marie Jensen Whiting and her husband, Harold Johnson Whiting are both descendants of Edwin Whiting through different maternal and paternal lines. Marie collected documents and oral histories about Edwin for much of her life, recognizing that his contributions as a pioneer were significant, though unheralded. With assistance from Marcus L. Smith, who contributed significant additional research, she was able to publish a family history that chronicles much of Edwin’s life.
The 160-page history, Edwin Whiting and his Family was compiled by Marie J. Whiting and Marcus L. Smith in 1999. Upon publication, Marie spent many of her final years doing the legwork to make the book available to other Edwin Whiting descendants. Hardback copies are available as print-on-demand books from BYU Print Services.
To obtain a printed copy of the book:
BYU Print Services
801-422-2855
Ask For “Family Archives” and request a reprint: Edwin Y02179
Title Page: Edwin Whiting and His Family
With the help of improved technology and access to records that were not available when this history was originally published, it has become clear that some versions of Edwin’s life, passed on through oral and written histories, contain inaccuracies. As new documents are discovered and new records are added, each of Edwin’s family members will have access to more complete, more accurate information than has previously been available. After Marie’s death, family members set up this website to make documents she had collected available to others. With help from the Internet, it is now possible to collect many additional items relating to Edwin’s life. If you have access to materials you believe would be important to descendants of Edwin and his wives, please leave a comment below and we will contact you.
Copy of a letter to Edwin Whiting at Pisgah from Stephen P. Mecham
“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.
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.
“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
There are two legislative bodies of the Legislature, the Councilors and the Representatives. Edwin’s nomination was to be a Councilor.
1.His Nomination
“At a convention held in Manti, on the 16th, Edwin Whiting was nominated for Councilor and John L. Ivie for member of the House of Representatives for the next Legislative Assembly. Yours Respectfully, G.P.”
Source: Deseret News 1859-07-27, pg. 2, San Pete County Correspondence
Edwin Whiting was in the Ninth Legislative Assembly (Legislature in our day). In 1859 the Deseret News Online shows that he is a Councilor representing Juab and San Pete County and was present “on the calling the roll”. There were other notables of Church History also there. Daniel H. Wells, Orson Pratt, F. D. Richards, Lorenzo Snow, Amasa Lyman, Geo. A. Smith, John Taylor, and W.W. Phelps are a few of the names that would be recognized in the assembly.
Edwin Whiting’s Committees assignments were: Revenue; Elections; Roads; Bridges, Ferries and Kanyons; Agriculture, Trade and Manufactures.
Source Deseret News Online, Dec 14, 1859, pg 4.
For the Legislative Assembly of 1860, His committee assignments were: Revenue; Eections; Roads, Bridges, Ferries and Kanyons; Education. Many of the prominent names are again listed.
Edwin Whiting was charged with cohabitation in connection with his marriage to five wives. The following newspaper article appears on two consecutive pages, shown as follows.
The following newspaper article is from the Provo Daily Enquirer, 28 March 1888. pg. 5, refers to Edward Whiting. We suppose that this is a misprint, that “Edwin” was intended. “Edward Whiting, 80 years of age, sentence suspended”. The article is only a few days after the above First District Court article above. We know only one Edwin Whiting who fits this description.
Source: Deseret News 1888-03-28, pg 5, First District Court
Daily Enquirer 1888- 03-16, pg 3
