Person Page - 336

     Merrill Roderick Whitney was born on 19 Oct 1903 at Wyanet, Bureau County, Illinois.¹ He was the son of Monroe Gesner Whitney and Blanche Olds. Merrill Roderick Whitney died on 6 Aug 1958 at Spokane, Washington, at age 54.^1,2 He was buried at Spokane, Washington.¹
     "My brother was athletic rather than studious, so did not go to college, but (after some months driving a feed truck) went into banking. During World War II, he went in to Spokane and did accounting and office management -- realty, and then a firm that rented out fleets of trucks. He had to retire in 1957 because of ill health and died in 1958. His health history pretty much followed the pattern of the men in the Olds family -- the women, too, I guess."³

     Monroe Gesner Whitney was born on 7 Nov 1865 at Limerick, Bureau County, Illinois.² He married Blanche Olds, daughter of John Hixon Olds and Anna Belle Krimmel, on 3 Dec 1899 at Wyanet, Bureau County, Illinois.^1,3 Monroe Gesner Whitney died on 13 Mar 1955 at Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho, at age 89.¹ He was buried at Forest Cemetery, Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho.⁴
     "They lived at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, from August (?), 1907 until their deaths, and are buried at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho."¹
Monroe Gesner Whitney appeared on the census of 26 Apr 1910 at 910 Government Way, Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho, as follows:
     914/205 Whitney, Monroe G., head, 39, marr. once, 10 years, b. Ill., father b. Ohio, mother b. N. Y., lawyer in own office
      , Blanche, wife, 29, marr. once, 10 yrs, 2 children, 2 living, b. Ill., father b. Ill., mother b. PA
      , Maxine, dau., 9, b. Ill., parents b. Ill.
      , Merrill, son, 3, b. Ill., parents b. Ill.⁵
     "My father was one of the most remarkable people I ever knew, getting many of his independent and scholarly habits from my Grandmother Whitney (whom I did not like and was unable to appreciate until long after she was gone and when I was grown up. There must be something unusual about a lady who would start the study of Spanish at the age of 60.) Dad was self-taught -- after grammar school. He learned telegraphy, two shorthand systems, law, and accounting entirely "on his own." That is undoubtedly where I learned that one does not need a course in order to learn something. Dad was practising up for court reporting when I was in grade school and I was his 'dictator' from the books of court testimony he had. He was always quite deliberate about things and, knowing how long it would to take him to decide to take an afternoon off for a jaunt to Spokane for dinner and a movie, I have never been able to figure out how, at age 42, he ever decided to break all ties in Illinois, gather up his family of a wife and two children, two parents, and a sister, pack all their belongings of the two households into a boxcar and transport all of us to Idaho. (I guess it was his sister -- my aunt Irene, who was my chief experience with a screwball, and a must delightful one -- who really promoted the project. She had been a recluse when they lived in Wyanet, but became a different person the minute she set foot in Idaho.)
"Dad first tried the real estate business, but didn't realize that you don't sell real estate by sitting in an office waiting for people to come in to buy lots. In 1908, he took the Idaho State Bar exam and surprised the examiners by passing it with quite high marks. It is not often that the older examinees pass it -- or wasn't at that time. He did not do well in the law either. He was not good at making casual acquaintances, and also in those days, people stood too much in awe of a man with a beard, or else regarded him as a back number. So in 1910 he went into partnership with an accountant and they established a business college, which did quite well until the high school put in a commercial department. Dad then started his own school -- very proud that he had the family name on a business. He had started to consider being probate judge in 1910, before starting the business college partnership, but was defeated in the primaries. In 1916, he tried it again because he did not know whether World War I would decrease the attendance at his school. He was elected this time and had found his real career -- that of judge. He remained in that office for 36 years, won the elections during all the democratic landslides of the 'thirties, and during later years was usually nominated by both parties. Everyone loved, honored, and trusted him -- and relied upon him for sage advice in the matters of their daily lives and problems. He lived to almost 90, having inherited his longevity from his father's family."⁶

     Robert Bruce Whitney was born on 2 Jul 1933 at Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho.¹ He was the son of Merrill Roderick Whitney.² Robert Bruce Whitney appears in the Social Security Death Index as having died 18 Mar 2011 with the last place of residence listed as Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California. Robert Bruce's SSN was issued in Washington. Also, his birth date is given as 2 July 1933.³
     Bob was living in Monterey, California, in May 1990.⁴

     Roxanna Whitney was born on 10 May 1786.¹ She was the daughter of Jonas Whitney and Tamar Houghton.^1,2 Roxanna Whitney married Ira Mather Olds, son of Thaddeus Olds and Helena Mather, on 25 Sep 1808.^1,3 Roxanna Whitney died on 26 Jan 1813 at age 26.¹

     Sally Whitney was born on 10 Aug 1774.¹ She was the daughter of Jonas Whitney and Tamar Houghton.^1,2 Sally Whitney married Joseph Olds, son of Benjamin Olds and Via Smith, in 1790 at Marlboro, Vermont.¹ Sally Whitney died on 19 Nov 1840 at Circleville, Ohio, at age 66.^1,3 She was buried at Lithopolis Cemetery, Lithopolis, Fairfield County, Ohio.⁴

     William Merrill Whitney was born on 5 Dec 1929 at Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho.¹ He was the son of Merrill Roderick Whitney.² William Merrill Whitney married (2) Joyce Sarah Jenne on 30 Dec 1978.^3,4
      "Scholarship to Spokane Pupil
"PITTSBURGH, May 26. - (AP) --- George Westinghouse scholarships, valued at $1,850 each, were awarded today to ten top-ranking high school seniors who demonstrated mental ability, leadership and engineering aptitude in a nation-wide contest. The scholarships will be applied toward an engineering course at Carnegie Institute of Technology. Winners include William Merrill Whitney, Spokane."² Bill was also accepted at Caltech and chose to go there. He even had the support of the professor who was the advisor to the Westinghouse regional manager.² William Merrill Whitney graduated on 8 Jun 1951 from California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California. He earned the degree of Bachelor of Science in Science, graduated with honor and was awarded the Honor Key by the Associated Students, CIT, for participation in Student Activities.⁵
     " He was graduated from Cal Tech in 1952[sic], and then went to MIT on a fellowship where he obtained his PhD degree, staying on there to teach for several years. He originally intended to be a nuclear physicist, but switched in the early days of his education because he felt the field was going to become overcrowded. So he went back to the older type of physics, working in the field of low temperatures, chiefly with helium. They (or Evelyn) decided they did not want to raise their children in the East, so in 1963 Bill accepted a position with Jet Propulsion Labs at Pasadena, where he was given a nice laboratory and almost complete freedom in choosing his experiments. In 1967, he was asked to get into the administrative end of it and, after thinking it over for a few months, allowed himself to be appointed Assistance Flight Guidance Control Manager (or something like that) and started working on the gadgets JPL sends up to take pictures of the moon -- and I don't know what else. Although he had always said he wasn't interested in the administrative end of things, he was delighted in his promotion at first. However, when he was up here during the week of New Year's this year, he seemed to feel he would like to get back into the experimental end of things, as that is where he feels the exciting things are happening. But he also said it would be hard to get back into his former field. Things happen so fast these days he is now "obsolete" in it. That sort of speed is terrifying! I would think it likely that you might meet him at some physicists' convention, as he frequently goes -- finally got the results of his MIT experiments presented, although he tends to lose interest in the experiment once he knows the results. In 1966 he presented some papers in Moscow, Russia."⁶

     Aaron Whittemore Jr. married Lucintha "Cynthia" Olds, daughter of Levi Old and Lucintha (?).^1,2 Aaron Whittemore Jr. was born c 1798 at Massachusetts.³ Marriage banns for him and Lucintha "Cynthia" Olds were published on 26 Oct 1822 at Middlefield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.^1,4

     Alexander Whittemore was the son of Aaron Whittemore Jr. and Lucintha "Cynthia" Olds.¹

     Ellen Whittington married Thomas Dickerman on 30 Oct 1631 at Little Missenden, Buckinghamshire, England.

     Eloise Wichman was born in Jul 1896.^2,3 She married Robert Olds, son of Henry Worthington Olds and May C. Meigs, on 22 Oct 1921 at Honolulu, Hawaii.⁴ Eloise Wichman died on 28 Oct 1926 at age 30.⁵ She was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia.⁶
     Frederick Dickson Nott III, b. May 11, 1893, at New York City. Mar. Apr. 11, 1917, at Honolulu, to Eloise Wichman. She b. July 5, 1896, at Honolulu. Dau. of Henry F. Wichman and Hattie Louise Work. . . Child. Carter, b. May 30, 1919.³

     (?) Wickham married Sarah Churchill, daughter of Josiah Churchill and Elizabeth Foote.¹

     Margaret E. Widner was born in 1797.² She was the daughter of Michael Widner and Rebecca (?).¹ Margaret E. Widner married Kingsley Olds, son of Timothy Olds, on 20 Jun 1816 at Huron County, Ohio.^3,4,5,6 Margaret E. Widner died in 1886.²
     Margaret E. Olds and Kingsley Olds appeared on the census of 1855 at Jo Daviess County, Illinois, as follows: Kingsley Olds, age 60-70; Margaret, 50 - 60; M., female, 10 - 20; K. E., male, 10 - 20; Almeda, female, under 5; Windsor Richards, 30 - 40; Elizabeth, 20 - 30; M. J., female, under 5; H. M., male, under 5.⁷
Margaret E. Olds and Kingsley Olds appeared on the census of 17 Aug 1860 at Nora Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, as follows:
     Kingsley Olds, 66, farmer, b. Mass.
     Margaret " , 62, b. Penn.
     Kingsley E. " , 21, farmer, Ills.⁸
Margaret E. Widner appeared on the census of 22 Jul 1870 in the household of Kingsley Elisha Olds at Warren, Jo Daviess County, Illinois.⁹

     Michael Widner married Rebecca (?).¹ Michael Widner died on 15 Apr 1813.¹

     (?) Wilcox married Augusta [Angeline?] Olds, daughter of Zenas Olds and Susannah Ford.¹

     Roxanna Wilcox was born on 2 Dec 1824 at Ashtabula County, Ohio.² She married Ezekiel Olds, son of Ezekiel Olds and Betsey Pitney, on 15 Mar 1841 at Astabula County, Ohio.^1,3 Roxanna Wilcox died at Como, Illinois.⁴
     Roxanna Olds and Ezekiel Olds appeared on the census of 7 Jul 1860 at Hopkins, Whiteside County, Ohio, as follows:

Roxanna Olds and Ezekiel Olds appeared on the census of 18 Jun 1870 at Hopkins, Whiteside County, Illinois, as follows:
     Olds, Thomas, 52, farmer, b. Ohio
      , Roxanna, 45, keeps house, b. Ohio
      , Harriet A., 21, at home, b. Ohio
      , Fannie E., 14, at home, b. Illinois
      , Addie, 10, at home, b. Illinois
      , Nettie, 7, at home, b. Illinois
      , Charles, 5, at home, b. Illinois
There is no doubt that THOMAS is given for the name of the head of this family, although the error remains unexplained.⁶
Roxanna Olds and Ezekiel Olds appeared on the census of 14 Jun 1880 at Hopkins, Whiteside County, Illinois, as follows:      
Olds, Ezekiel, 64, farmer, b. Ohio, parents b. Vermont
      , Roxana, 55, wife, keeping house, b. Ohio, father b. R. Island, mother b. Vermont
      , Charles, 15, son, at school, b. Illinois, father b. " [indicating R. Island], mother b. " [indicating Vermont]
      , Nettie, 18, dau., at school, b. " father b. ", mother b. "
The use of the quotation marks indicating birth place for the children's parents has lead to errors.
Also, it may be that the Nettie of the census is the same as the Hannah of the biographical statement. However, in the 1910 census in which both parents are listed with their son Charles W. Olds, Roxanna is listed as having had ten children. This could allow for both Nettie and Hannah.⁷
     Her obituary states:
     "ROXANNA (WILCOX) OLDS, better known as Grandma Olds, widow of E. Olds of Como, died at midnight at the home of her son Charles Olds, south of Como. Death was caused by the infirmities of old age, having been in feeble condition for some time. The funeral services will be held at he home of Charles Olds tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock, and the internment will take place in the Como cemetery. Mrs. Olds was a pioneer resident of Whiteside county. She was born in New York state and came to this county about fifty years ago. She was a woman who was greatly beloved by those who knew her, and her circle of friends was large. She was an estimable mother who had the love and respect of her children, and a true and loyal friend who won for herself the admiration of everyone. In the death of Mrs. Olds the county loses a woman who has been above reproach and whose every act has been to the glory of God. She was a conscientious Christian woman and her lovable life is well worthy of emulation. Mrs Olds was seventy nine years of age at the time of her death. Her circle of acquaintances was large in the county, and there are many who extend to the family at this time their moRoxanna Wilcoxt sincere sympathy. The deceased leaves to mourn her death two sons and four daughters as follows: Delos Olds of Como, Charles Olds of Como, Mrs W.D. Morgaridge of Galt, Mrs Samuel Morse of Nebraska, Mrs John Heath of Sterling and Miss Nellie Olds who lives at home.
Contributed by Lorie Morse Sterling Gazette Date: Sept. 22, 1903."⁸

     Albert J. Wilder was born on 27 Nov 1838.³ He was the son of Joseph Wilder and Eunice Olds.^2,1 Albert J. Wilder married Abbie L Roberty on 18 Jul 1864 at Palmer, Massachusetts.⁴ Albert J. Wilder died on 6 Mar 1908 at 563 Liberty Street, Springfield, Massachusetts, at age 69⁵ and was buried on 8 Mar 1908 at Island Pond Cemetery, Ludlow, Massachusetts.⁵

     Alonzo W. Wilder was born on 16 May 1841.³ He was the son of Joseph Wilder and Eunice Olds.² Alonzo W. Wilder died on 2 Jun 1891 at Palmer, Massachusetts, at age 50.⁴

     Franklin L. Wilder was born in Mar 1847.⁴ He was the son of Joseph Wilder and Eunice Olds.^3,1

     Joseph Wilder married Eunice Olds, daughter of Aaron Olds and Melinda Taylor.¹

     Mary E. Wilder was born in Jun 1858.³ She was the daughter of Joseph Wilder and Eunice Olds.¹

     Sarah A. Wilder was born in Mar 1851.² She was the daughter of Joseph Wilder and Eunice Olds.¹

     Willie F. Wilder died in 1856.² He was born in 1856.² He was the son of Joseph Wilder and Eunice Olds.²

     Mary A. Wildfong was born c 1879 at Canada.¹ She married Clinton George Olds, son of Homer Olds and Lidia Rose Huntoon, on 5 Nov 1902 at Mancelona, Antrim County, Michigan.^1,3
     Mary A. Olds and Clinton George Olds appeared on the census of 22 Apr 1910 at Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Michigan, as follows:

Mary A. Olds and Clinton George Olds appeared on the census of 9 Apr 1930 at Egelston, Muskegon County, Michigan, as follows:
     65/66 Olds, Clinton H., head, 50, marr., 1st marr. at 22, b. Mich., parents b. Mich., carpenter, house builder
      , Mary A., wife, marr., 1st marr. at 23, b. Canada (English), father b. Canada (English), m. b. Germany, naturalized
      , Phyllis J., granddau., 5, b. Mich., parents b. Mich.⁴

     Vida May Wiles was born at Springfield, Missouri.¹ She married Lester Charles Brittain, son of Myrtle Pleasant Brittain and Lela Olds, on 1 Mar 1923 at Heppner, Oregon.¹

     Dr. James B. Wilkie was born on 28 Mar 1815 at North Carolina.^3,2 He died on 21 Jun 1903 at age 88.² He was buried at Shiloh Baptist Cemetery, Shiloh, Rutherford County, North Carolina.⁴
     Dr. James B. Wilkie appeared on the census of 29 Aug 1850 at Fox Squirrel District, Rutherford County, North Carolina, as follows:
     962/956 James Wilkie, 35, farmer, b. N. C.
      Marinda, 31, b. N. C.
      G. W., 12, b. N. C.
      Oliver, 11, b. N. C.
      John, 9, b. N. C.
      Susan, 7, b. N. C.
      Lucinda, 5, b. N. C.
      Sarah, 2, b. N. C.⁵
Dr. James B. Wilkie appeared on the census of 14 Jul 1860 at Broad River District, Rutherford County, North Carolina, as follows:
     1132/1132 James Wilkie, 45, farmer, b. N. C.
      Marinda, 44
      Oliver, 22
      John, 20
      Susan, 18
      Lucinda, 15
      Sarah, 12
      James, 9
      Wm, 6
      Joseph, 3.⁶
Dr. James B. Wilkie appeared on the census of 11 Jun 1880 at Sulphur Springs, Rutherford County, North Carolina, as follows:
     99/99 Wilkie, James B. 65, single, farmer & Dr., b. N. C., parents b. N. C.
      Henderson, Rebecca, 37, widowed, keeping house, b. N. C., parents b. N. C.
      , Manora, 13, dau., single, at home, b. N.C., parents b. N. C.
      , Arkansas, 9, dau., single, b. N. C., parents b. N. C.
      , James, 4, son, single, b. N. C., parents b. N. C.⁷
Dr. James B. Wilkie appeared on the census of 1 Jun 1900 in the household of Zachariah Matthew Blackwell and Katherine "Katie" Blackwell at Sulphur Spring Township, Rutherford County, North Carolina.³
     There is a good article on Ancestry about James, his wife, his mistress and their children. It says, in part:
"James Byers Wilkie was born in Rutherford, North Carolina on 28 March 1815 and was the son of the Reverend William Wilkie, Jr. and Sarah Hunt. He married Miranda Collins on 5 December 1835; she was the daughter of Isaac Collins and Lula Whiteside and was born in Cleveland County, North Carolina sometime during the year 1819. Miranda died in 1904 at the age of 88 and was buried in Oak Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery. James was a farmer and a physician. He died on 21 June 1903 and was buried alongside his “significant other”; Mary “May” Selina Morrow, in the Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery in Rutherford County, Forest City, North Carolina.
. . .
"Before the year 1862 came to an end James had fathered his last child, Lorenzo Dow who was born on November 17th, with Miranda Collins and his first child, Mary Jane Morrow, with Mary “May” Selina. The following year his second child with Mary “May” was born and they named that daughter Catherine Morrow. We found no records to indicate that James ever cohabitated with Mary “May” Selina. However, what we did find proved to be evidence of the contrary.
"In the 1880 US Federal Census records we find 65-year-old farmer and doctor, James Byers Wilkie, living in the Sulpher Springs District of Rutherford County and he is listed as the head of his household for ‘self’ in Family No. 99 – also residing in his home is Rebecca Henderson, a 37 year-old white widow who is working as his housekeeper; she has two young daughters, Medora, 13, Arkansas, 7, and one 4 year-old son named James P. Henderson.
James’ next door neighbor in Family No. 98 was 43 year-old Mary “May” Selina Morrow, she is listed as single; her occupation is shown as conducts farm, and her five children are recorded as living in her household.
James Byer Wilkie and Mary “May” Selina Morrow’s children are listed as follows:
     Mary Jane Morrow, born about 1862, age 18, works on farm
     Catherine Morrow, born about 1863. Age 17, works on farm
     Rufus A. Morrow-Wilkie, born about 1864, age 15, works on farm
     Mellissa Morrow, born about 1867, age 13, attended school within the year
     Betsy A. Morrow, born about 1869, age 11, attended school within the year
Also living in Mary “May” Selina Morrow residence; Clementine, age 49, niece – check marked “insane”
. . .
"However, in 1900 Miranda Collins, now 82 years of age, is recorded as living with her and James’ youngest child, 37 year-old Lorenzo Dow who was married and his occupation is listed as a Cotton Mill Weaver. He and his wife Cora and their two young children were living in the Caroleen Township District of Rutherford County. There are no further records found on Miranda Collins, although it has been documented she died on 7 April 1904 at the age of 88 and was laid to rest in Oak Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery. Miranda Collins had outlived her estranged husband James and the other woman in his life.
James Byers Wilkie and Mary “May” Selina Morrow are buried side by side in the Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery in Forest City, Rutherford County, North Carolina. Their children and grandchildren are also there. Their son Rufus, their daughter-in-law Unity Susannah Ruppe, and their children are all close by James and Mary “May” Selina’s gravesides – just as they were nearby one another in their lifetime.
James Byers Wilkie was born on 28 Mar 1815, and died on 21 June 1903
Mary “May” Selina Morrow was born on 13 April 1837, and died on 17 August 1897.
. . .
"Authored by: Cynthia Yvonne Kale-Cousino-Whited [great-grandfather, Oliver Jobe Wilkie & great-grandmother, Jane Brooks].⁸

     Charles Bruce Wilkinson was born on 28 Jan 1855.¹ He married Mary Jane Olds, daughter of George Hanford Olds and Almira C. Smith, on 21 Oct 1877.¹ Charles Bruce Wilkinson died on 15 Mar 1912 at age 57.¹

     Clarence Alva Wilkinson was born on 25 Jul 1878.¹ He was the son of Charles Bruce Wilkinson and Mary Jane Olds.¹ Clarence Alva Wilkinson married Mary Ann Blum on 17 Nov 1908.¹

     Giles Clinton Wilkinson was born on 17 Feb 1896 at Ypsilanti, Michigan.¹ He was the son of Charles Bruce Wilkinson and Mary Jane Olds.¹

     Roy Lewis Wilkinson was born on 7 Apr 1884.¹ He was the son of Charles Bruce Wilkinson and Mary Jane Olds.¹

     Alpheus Rowland Willard was born on 17 Apr 1831 at Harvard, Massachusetts.¹ He was the son of Roland Willard and Melissa Warren Olds.¹