Category: About Edwin

Edwin Whiting and the Deseret Agricultural & Manufacturing Society

Three articles follow with many names of this new organization. Their purpose was to create business and articles by themselves to sustain their lives and sell to themselves as a community and not to depend on outsiders coming in and then buying from them. The images shown are only a small part of the business that they are about. See the url next to the image for details. You will notice that this is during the period that Edwin is in the Legislature, in the 1860’s..

Correspondence from San Pete County:

This article details the organization of the Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing Society. Edwin Whiting was the organization’s first president.

http://udn.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/deseretnews2&CISOPTR=610&CISOSHOW=611

Source: Deseret News 1860-03-14 Correspondence, pg. 5 (Note: The source and other articles on the same page give a year as 1860.)

Report of the D.A. & M. Society

http://udn.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=%2Fdeseretnews2&CISOPTR=2822&REC=0&CISOBOX=Report+of+the+D.+A.+%26+M.+Society

Source: Deseret News 1860-04-25, pg7, Report of the D. A. & M. Society

Edwin Whiting Springville Biography

Edwin Whiting was born in Massachusetts, September 9^th, 1809. Though not a pioneer of Springville, he passed through here in 1849 with the colony that settled at Manti. He came to Springville in the year 1861 and his coming marked an era in the culture of finer fruits and ornamental shade trees. He gave impetus to the trans-planting of the evergreen from its native haunts in the mountains, to “making glad waste places”. He died at Mapleton. December 7^th 1890.

From a biography in Marie J. Whiting Collection

Whiting Extractions from the Journal of Samuel Kendall Gifford

Source for the whole article is : http://www.fold3.com/page/283366385_samuel_kendall_gifford/

There are entries on pg. 9, 10, 14, 16, 17, 20 and 33 specific to the Whiting story that have been identified in this account. The time spent at Mt. Pisgah, the chair shop, Manti history are helpful in telling the Whiting story. I have selected the Whiting stories and have underlined the name Whiting for easy retrieval. There are several accounts of the activity of Edwin Whiting, one of William Whiting and one of Mary Cox Whiting in this journal.

Pg.9

I then returned to Mt. Pisgah to make a fitout for the Mountains.

This was the winter of 1847-8. I again went into the chair shop with the Whitings, with whom I had labored in Illinois. After I had been here some time, Old Mother Head, who was then the wife of Father Elisha Whiting, took sick and died in one week from the time she took sick.

A short time after Father Whiting died also with one weeks sickness. The old gentleman was fixing to go to Quincy, Ill., where we had a regular market for our chairs, hoping to sooner get a fitout for the mountains. But death deprived him from going any farther with the Saints in their western journey.

I stayed in Mt. Pisgah and worked in the chair shop until the fall of 1848 when I married Lora Ann, daughter of Freeborn and Ann (Anna) Knight DeMill. Anna was the daughter of Joseph and Polly Knight. We were married by President Edwin Whiting on Sunday the 1st day of October, 1848.

Pg.10

In the spring of 1849 our President, Brother Edwin Whiting, started for the Valley of the Mountains. I said to him, “Edwin, (I had been used to calling him by his name) I am making four hundred chairs this year and go to the Valley next year.” His answer was, “You can’t do it.” I said, “I will do it.” The emigration for the California gold mines was passing through pretty briskly. Hay had raised from $2.00 to $20.00 per ton and corn from ten cents to $3.00 per bushel. Mechanics like myself had to buy both hay and corn to feed. President Whiting, just before starting on his journey, advised the Saints to not sell for high prices to their brethren who were obliged to buy corn, hay, etc. There were two men that listened to his council. If it had not been for those two men of whom I bought my corn, I could not have come to the Valley the next year as I had declared I would. The names of those men were Freeborn DeMill and Josiah Perry. God bless them.

Pg. 14
The Indian troubles, known as the Walker War, then commenced. A strong guard had to be placed around our town. I was then Orderly Seargent of Captain Edwin Whiting’s Company, the first military company that was organized in Sanpete.

Pg. 16

June 21, 1856 Edwin Whiting was elected Major of Sanpete Militia in place of Nelson Higgins who was called on a mission to Carson Valley. Brother Whiting is on a mission to Ohio but is expected home soon. Elijah Averett was elected Second Lieutenant of Company B the 24th of August 1856. Major Edwin Whiting got home from his mission to Ohio. Sunday, Brother Whiting preached a noble Gospel discourse.

Pg. 17

August 30, 1856 I attended Court Martial. Sunday 31st, Inst. Brother Elisha Edwards got home from his mission to Ohio. Preached in the forenoon and Father Morley and Edwin Whiting preached in the afternoon. Their instructions were excellent. Thursday, Sept. 4, 1856 I attended Fast Meeting.

Pg. 20

Drove to Ft. Ephraim and Bishop Kafod joined us the next morning with about 30 wagons with tithing for the city. Tuesday 3rd, bad crossing of Sanpitch on account of broken ice but got across without any damage. Drove to the Duck Springs and camped for the night. Wednesday 4th, started early in the morning and drove to the Uinta Springs and stopped to water our teams, after which thirty-three men were selected to drive on and break the road across the divide. Bishop Snow took the lead, I was one of the number. The remainder stopped for the night. We drove about two miles when the snow began to crust over so we were obliged to stop. It was then sundown. We fed our cattle. Some of us went about a half mile for wood. The snow was about two feet deep and we broke through about half of the time. After returning to our wagons and warming ourselves a little, for it was very cold, Bishop Snow, Father Israel Shoemaker, William Whiting, (Note: The oldest child of Edwin and Elizabeth) D. D. Washburn and myself started afoot to break the road. We all took hold of hands, forming a line across the road and jumping upon the crust so that the wagons were able to follow up with some four to seven yoke of oxen to the wagon. When we were about half way across the divide we met Elder Hyde going to Sanpete. His carriage was so light the crust bore it up. Neither did the horses break through so we went over safe. We were joined by the others who assisted us in breaking the crust by jumping upon as before until we got over the divide, some five or six miles.

Pg. 33

Typical of Mormon colonies, the education of the young was not to be neglected. The first school classes were held in the cabins of the Saints, but soon a small log schoolhouse was erected and Jesse W. Fox was installed as the Pioneer teacher. He was soon followed by Mrs. Mary Whiting. Samuel Kendall Gifford was a learned man for his day and read extremely well. He became a teacher on an elementary level soon after his arrival in Manti. He taught the Gospel whenever possible and was a teacher in the first Sunday School organized in Manti.

Source: Diary of Samuel Henry Gifford http://www.fold3.com/page/283366385_samuel_kendall_gifford/

Journal of Jonathan O’Duke about Edwin Whiting

Johnathan O’Duke kept a handwritten autobiography and diary about his early life in England, his conversion to the Mormon Church in 1839, and his overland journey to Utah. This page in his diary notes his acquaintance with Edwin Whiting.

…and arrived in Pisgah… I went a little ahead of the teams and came upon my family by surprise and I was received by them as one who had risen from the dead here. I had an opportunity of meeting with many of my old Nauvoo friends and forming an intimate acquaintance with Edwin Whiting who was President of the Branch an excellent man to whom I was great attached here I felt myself at home amonst the Saints and was made Bishop counselor but to my countenance among them was of short duration about 3 weeks when I started to fort desmoine for the purpose of getting work but not succeeding to my mind I returned to Pisgah being absent 11 days I remained at home several weeks in the beginning of Oct. I started in company with Br. Whiting and Striker to Bentonsfort where I immediately got a …(end of page ) Source: Transcription of a page from a Journal of Johnathan O Duke from the BYU Special Collections Library. VMiss 227 v1.

To view the entire journal, click the link below. Reference to Edwin Whiting is on page 19 of the diary.

http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/Diaries/id/7640/rec/1

Transcribed by James W. Whiting, Springville, Utah, 7 March 2011. Spelling and punctuation retained original.

Grandfather’s Wives – By the Family

ELIZABETH PARTRIDGE TILLOTSON

Elizabeth Partridge Tillotson, grandfather’s first wife, was the mother of eleven children. She was honored by the other wives and thought of as coming first after grandfathher in the Whiting home. She was a very quiet, refined, klind-hearted and industrious. As a child, I see her very old as one who had passed through many sorrows and trials, who had struggled hard and had overcome the obstacles that stood in her way. She seemed to be descending the hill and looking toward the sunset of life. She taught school before her marriage and had charge of the Sabbath School for small children for many years after coming to Utah. She had a very brilliant mind, yet was simple and reserved in her appearance and manner. As I remember the old home, the picture uppermost in my mind is the old arm chair she sat in with its black velvet cushion and raw hide bottom, one of the chairs made from the native wood by grandfather, in which she reclined by the old Charter Oak cook stove. Her children and grandchildren have her, many admirable qualities.

(signed) Wayne Johnson

ALMIRA M. MEACHAM

Almira M.. Mecham. was born May 13, I824 in New York. She was grandfather’s second wife and was the mother of seven children. She did not live in the big house, but Grandfather built her a home near by where she lived and raised her children.

Edward, her eldest son, was dependable and aided in the support of the family. She was a good nurse and gave service to neighbors when needed. Many babies saw the light of day for the first time in her faithful care. She was kind and gentle, even tempered and gracious to everyone. She respected Elizabeth, the first wife, as the head of the house hold along with Grandfather and was congenial with the other wives who taught correct principles to her children who loved, honored and respected her. Leaving friends and relatives, as a young girl, she came to Utah as a pioneer and when she suffered poverty and many other hardship common to the early days. May these faithful souls be rewarded in the great beyond.

(signed) Gertrude P. Killpack

MARY ELIZABETH COX

Some great man has said that every man is justified in saying I have the best wife and the best mother in the world. I heartily agree with him. When memory takes me back to my childhood days, I wonder what I could have accomplished without my mother, with her loving care, wise counsel and advice. She had three titles: Mother to a favored few — Grandma to a large number — and Aunt Mary to a host of loving friends. She spoke no evil. She was patient and uncomplaining in sorrow and adversity. She loved young people and children, joining in their games and amusements until the day of her death. She was never idle; could nit, read and rock the cradle at the same time. Mother loved to play the quiet home games of her day. About the only time I ever heard her swear was when I was able in a game of checkers to maneuver around and take three or four of her men. Then she would exclaim. “O the devil” perhaps meaning me. Mother was a devout Latter Day Saint and came as near living perfect life as mortals ever attain.

By John C. Whiting

HANNAH HAINES BROWN

Hannah Haines Brown was born in Clumbiana, Ohio, June 21, 1834, daughter of Abia Brown and Abbie Caldwalder. Hardships and trials of early pioneering softened her life, giving her a lovely disposition. She was ever charitable, tolerant, thoughtful of others, sacrificing and joygiving. As a child of fourteen, at the time of Grandmothers death, I cannot recall ever hearing her speak an angry word. Quoting from a letter written in 1843 by her father to his mother, Ann Haines Brown, which I have in my possession, and nearly one hundred years old, he says: My dear little girls are a great help to their mother and me. Jane is taller than Ann, but Ann is quite womanly and trusty, but Hannah is the flower of the flock in every way. She excells her sisters in industry, and if she keeps on will excell in personal appearance. All through her Grandmothers life, she had these chacteristics which make her a sweet and lovable woman. She made this statement that all the other wives of Grandfather were to her as sisters and she loved and respected them in their homes as such.

By Hannah Bird Mendenhall

MARY ANN WASHBURN

Mary Ann Washburn was born in November, 1828 in the town of Sing Sing, New York. She joined the Mormons and came to Utah when a young girl, leaving her sweetheart behind which was a heart ache and sorrow through all her life. She named her youngest son for her first love, Monroe Frink. Arriving in Utah, she married Joseph Noble, but after their second child came, she was separated from him and married Edwin Whiting, my Grandfather. She had two sons, Daniel Abraham, my father, and Monroe Frink. She did very fine hand sewing, especially on temple clothes for herself and others. Her hemming and stitching were unexcelled. She was known to be one of the best house keepers. She was overcome with sorrow when her youngest son, Monroe went away to Arizona among hostile Indians, but was overjoyed at his early return. She had many serious trials and hardships in her life. She died at the age of fifty-four years, October 10, 1882.

By Mary R. Smith

Source: From the Marie J. Whiting Collection. All spelling and punctuation original.

Father Edwin Whiting by Verona Whiting, wife of Charles

Part of a sketch of the Edwin Whiting family written and read at the Reunion by Verona, wife of Charles Whiting, son of Edwin & Mary E. Cox Whiting. Aunt Verona was with grandmother on the trip from Ariz when Aunt May died.

Our ancestor Edwin Whiting, the first of the Whitings to join the Church, was a grand, old man. The old Whiting Home was in Springville, it was a two story building. I imagine it was one of the nicest in those early days. This was a great place for young people to meet and I guess our father must have been very tolerant, because I never heard of any complaint from him. I have heard his sons tell of some of his sayings when they were among themselves. One of them was when they were riding along and one of the boys driving slashed the whip around and accidently struck father on the ear. He exclaimed, “Judas!! Cut and slash, Cut and slash, Cut a man’s ear off!”

They were sorry but they always saw the funny side of things. This is only one of the sayings among hundreds that they would tell among themselves and laugh and have a good time. Albert and the boys had been out late one night and Father Whiting was having a hard time to get them up, when someone asked if the boys were up yet and he said, “Well, I got Albert up on his haunches, but I suppose he has laid down by now.”

He lived in Manti, San Pete Co. for 12 years when they first came to Utah, where most of their children were born. He was a horticulturist or nursery man, a lover of beautiful flowers and cultivated many fruits: growing them from the seed and pits. These were grafted when they were old enough. I have seen three kinds of apples growing on one tree.

The winters were so cold in Manti that things would winter kill, so he was advised to move to Springville where the climate was more moderate.

Red Juniper Tree, planted in Springville by Edwin Whiting on Main Street at approx. 445 South, on the east side of the street. It grew in front of the Family home and is still standing, Aug. 2012.

Miscellaneous Edwin Whiting Notes

He was always in a hurry. He was a man of few words.

Grandfather traded for an ox and later decided he had not paid enough so sent Uncle Al (Albert Milton, a son) with 10 bushel more of wheat.

When he tried to get his sons out of bed when they were sleeping in the shed. He climbed a ladder and used a raker (a rake).

Source: Elda Whiting Brown from Arizona, 1985

Edwin and the Buffalo

As the company of Pioneers were traveling toward the West there were many buffalo in great herds. They were dangerous.

One day a group of wagons was starting the make camp when they saw a herd of buffalo coming straight to them. Edwin stood on a one of the wagons tongues with a large buck whip and with others swung those and yelled so the Buffalo parted and went on each side of the camp. No one was hurt.

Source: Elda Whiting Brown, Arizona, 1985

An Incident With the Bull Whip and Edwin

An incident in the life of Edwin Whiting as told by his son, John Whiting of Charleston, Utah.

Ren (Lorenzo, a son) and the boys were up the canyon with father. Ren took the Bull whip and flipped it around fathers ear and cut it. Father wasn’t one to swear but his Yankee spirit couldn’t be squelched and he remonstrated, “Hell and Judas, cut a fellow’s ear off.” Then they they tittered as the rode on down the canyon, he added, “You’ll titter and he and haw, and don’t give a damn.”

Source: A hand written scrap of paper in the handwriting of Marie J. Whiting in her collection of the Life of her Grandfather.

A Physical Description of Edwin Whiting

Edwin’s build – No picture shows him as a large men. As to height he has both tall and short sons but none heavy. Someone has stated he held himself straight and walked with his hands behind himself. None of his sons are very bald. He was never bald in any pictures.

Source: A handwritten note by Marie J. Whiting in her Collection

Memories of Ethel Whiting Matson- Granddaughter

June Whiting Blanchard of Springville, Utah, records her memories of a visit with Aunt Ethel Whiting Matson of Lorenzo, Idaho, daughter of Albert Milton annd Harriet Susanna Whiting, about her Grandfather Edwin Whiting.

“I visited Aunt Ethel Matson April 1965. I checked dates with her from her Family Bible record. I also visited Aunt Lorna Tibbits and checked records with her. Between the two of them I was able to get several dates that I did not have, and also make just a few corrections,

“ Aunt ETHEL MATSON told me these little incidents that are very dear to her and therefore are treasured by me also.

“Aunt Ethel still has 12 roses that were brought across the plains by my great grandfather, Edwin Whiting. She obtained these roses from Aunt Abby Whiting Bird. This she told me on April 1,1965.

“Aunt Ethel is this month of April,1965, 81 years old. She told me that she can remember her grandfather Edwin Whiting, one day when she was very small he said to her, “Ethel, I have a cornstalk as high as both of us.” Her took her, and stood her with a foot on each shoulder and he was right, sure enough the cornstalk was as high as them both.” ”

Edwin Whiting Homestead 1883

There are three separate records that refer to Edwin Whiting’s Mapleton Homestead:

1.Edwin Whiting was granted a Homestead Patent number 2023, according to the United States Land Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 15, 1883.

Source Deseret News, 1883-0321., pg 8

url: http://udn.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/deseretnews3&CISOPTR=740325&CISOSHOW=740369

Note: The map and aerial photograph in the early pages of the Mapleton Historic Sites show the location of this homestead parcel.

2. Early Houses in Mapleton, Utah, published by the Camp Union DUP (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers), page 94, published April 1994, “On February 10, 1883. the United States of America deeded the South half of the north west quarter of Section 10 in Township 8 South, Range 3 East of the Salt Lake Meridian to Edwin Whiting.”

3. The United States Government Bureau of Land Management online records show this same date and property description, 10 February 1883 given to Edward Whiting along with two other parcels. Since many of Edwin’s descendents have occupied this property over these many years, we suppose that the BLM records are a misprint of the name.

Edwin’s Cabbage

Matters and Things at Manti

Manti, Setptember 15, 1852

Editor:

I have often heard it stated, that the valley of San Pete would not produce mellons. This story has probably originated from the fact that the brethren have heretofore not succeeded in bring melons into maturity. This has been laid to the door of Jack Frost, but this is not the sole cause, for it is well known that while there from one to five hundred Indians in our midst during the greater part of the summer, and while they are allowed to travel over our fields, gardens, &c., unmolested and unrestrained, we can do but little in the way of raising melons. This season, many of the bretheren have their city lots fenced, and are living on them; those that are thus situated, are blessed with fine melons, squashes, pumpkins, tomatoes, &c.—articles that have not been raised with any degree of successes, previous to this year. I had a squash from the garden of bro. Holden a few days since, that was equally good as any I ever saw in G.S. valley.

Bro. Edwin Whiting showed me a number of heads of cabbage a few days since, that equal any that ever grew in Bunkomg, N.C. He raised his cabbage from the seed last season, (‘51) cut the heads from the stalks and buried the stocks in the fall so as to protect them from the winter frosts.– In the spring he took them and set them in rows, from 20 inches to two feet apart; after they had started the many shoots that usually come out on an old stock, he selected the healthiest and most thrifty bud or shaft, and broke the others off. The buds so left, have sprung into large, hard, white heads of cabbage; in fact, this cabbage is better headed than any I have ever seen in the valleys.—Bro. Whiting has tried this experiment two seasons, with good success, and recommends this process of raising cabbage very highly

We have had a high frost on the bottoms, but none to injure any sort of vegetation in this city as yet. We had a very severe hail storm in this place, this morning; but as the harvesting is almost over, it could have done but very little damage. After the hail, it rained a fine shower, which will hasten the growth of turnips, &c.

I am yours, AND. L. SIL’ER

Source: Deseret News Deseret News 1852-11-06 pg 2

http://www.lib.utah.edu/digital/unews/dn.html

Note: Original spelling and punctuation retained.