My Genealogy Hound

HON. DANIEL E. WHITMORE belongs to that class of men who, by their innate force and by the alertness of their characters, are bound to make their mark in whatever community their lots may be cast. Mr. Whitmore, whose portrait* we present on the opposite page, has, in his long and eventful career, ever been a positive force, acting in the interest of those movements that tend toward human progress and enlightenment. He has taken an active and living part in the educational, civil and mercantile life of Central New York, and in each and every line has evinced an adaptability and a proficiency which has brought him both honor and prosperity.

Mr. Whitmore is a son of Luther and Elsie (Perkins) Whitmore, and was born January 6, 1825, at Columbus, Chenango County, N. Y. His grandfather was the well-known Samuel Whitmore, who came into Chenango County from the State of Connecticut in the early days. Samuel Whitmore was by trade a cooper, but the greater part of his life was spent in farming. He lived to an advanced age, and died at his adopted home.

Luther Whitmore came into the world in 1792 at his father’s home in Chenango County. His first regular work in life was as a clerk in one of the early stores of the region. He later on became a farmer, and followed that vocation mainly throughout his career. His marked thrift and good methods made him very successful, and he became, as time passed on, one of the heaviest land owners and most extensive agriculturists of his section. He was a man of more than the ordinary educational attainments, and in his younger days was a school teacher. In political affairs, his ideas linked him first with the Whig party, and latterly with the Republican organization, in both of which he was very active and influential. Mr. Whitmore was often induced by his appreciative townsmen to assume charge of varied local offices, and throughout the most of his life he served in some official capacity or another. He possessed all the attributes of a good citizen, and when he died, in 1869, he was greatly missed by all. His wife was a daughter of Daniel Perkins, and became the mother of a well trained family, every individual of which has well performed the duties of life that have been encountered. The children by name were: Samuel; Daniel E., our subject; Ann F.; Augustus C.; John L.; George B.; Henry I.; Lee H.; and Alice. Samuel Whitmore now resides in Chenango County, and leads the life of a retired farmer. Ann F. is now in the land of the blest, but in life was the faithful wife of Nicholas Richer. Augustus C., also deceased, was a thrifty farmer of the State of Wisconsin. John L., a physician and pharmacist, lives in Minnesota, and is a very prominent and prosperous citizen of his chosen state. Hon. George B. resides in Chenango County, and was Member of Assembly from that county in 1885. He is the senior member of the firm of George B. Whitmore & Co., wholesale produce dealers of New York City, a firm that in its line is one of the most extensive in that great metropolis. Henry I. lives in Minnesota. He was for a number of years a teacher, later engaged in mercantile lines, and is now retired. Lee H., also of Minnesota, has been in business there for years. Alice wedded Andrew Robinson, a stone-mason, and has lived in Chenango County all her life.

Hon. Daniel E. Whitmore, the subject of our history, was the second eldest son of this family. He attended the common schools of his native town, then took a course at the academy, and in 1846 became a student at the Albany Normal School, now known as the Albany Normal College. The degree of Master of Arts was an honor later bestowed upon him by the time-honored Hamilton College of Clinton, N. Y. Mr. Whitmore began his busy life as a teacher at the early age of fifteen years. He had been the victim of a sad accident at the age of ten, which resulted in the loss of a limb. This rendered manual labor impracticable, but it could not daunt the spirit of the lad. The expenses of his education were mainly met through his own successful efforts as a teacher. In 1840 he felt himself fully equipped and forthwith regularly entered upon his pedagogic work, which he continued with uniformly satisfactory results until 1857. During that time he was principal of schools at Marathon, teacher in Homer Academy, principal of schools at Canandaigua, and occupied several other important educational positions. His friends in 1857 prevailed upon him to become commissioner of schools for District No. 1 of Cortland County. How his labors were performed is best evidenced by the fact that he was retained in this capacity for five consecutive terms of three years each, a longer period of service than was ever attained by any other similar official in the whole State of New York. It is safe to say, too, that there was never a space of fifteen years in the history of the common schools of this district, in which was shown such a marked and steady growth, or that brought the teachers into more harmonious relations, that resulted to the lasting good of the schools. For eight years he was president of the board of education of the Marathon Union School and Academy.

In 1873, our subject became a wholesale produce dealer at Marathon, a branch of business in which he has been constantly engaged up to the present writing. His business is connected with that of George B. Whitmore & Co. of New York City, and through them he enjoys the very best of connections with consuming centers. Incidentally, he has in the past forty years built up quite a valuable fire insurance business. Mr. Whitmore was united in marriage, July 9, 1850, to Lydia M. Shattuck, a daughter of David Shattuck. To them have been born the following children: Daniel Webster, born September 27, 1853; Frank E., June 6, 1857; and David L., July 7, 1859. The oldest son, Daniel Webster, was wedded to Emily F. Watrous of Homer, N. Y. He is now a member of the firm of George B. Whitmore & Co., and is following up a brilliant and successful career. He is an ex-alderman of the city of Mount Vernon. He received a thorough academic education, and as a young man taught school. Frank E., the second son, married Carrie Wood, who is now deceased. He was also once a teacher, but at present resides at Marathon, and is in the produce business. David L., the youngest son of Mr. Whitmore, was united in marriage to Miss Rosalie Rees, and is a member of the firm of George B. Whitmore, above referred to.

The subject of this article has much of which to be justly proud, and for which to be truly thankful. Born of a family of the highest standing, reared alongside with brothers, who were true men in every sense of the word, living in a community which is ever appreciative of true worth, and father of a family of sons, who have shown their ability to cope with the world in its busiest marts, he is rounding out a life that has been well and honorably spent. True to the teachings of his honored father, he has always adhered to the principles of the Republican party. During his middle and later life he was always a valued counsellor, and leader of that party, and his services were often enlisted in its behalf. He was supervisor of his town for three years, was chairman of the Cortland County board of supervisors, and has held the office of justice of the peace intermittently for a longtime. Most of the minor town offices he has filled at one time and another. In the State Legislature of 1875, he was the member from Cortland County, and his Albany record was one of usefulness to the state and his district. With all his secular interests, Mr. Whitmore finds time to look to religious affairs, and is a devoted and active member of the Presbyterian Church, where he regularly performs the duties of clerk of the session. He was commissioner and examiner of Auburn Theological Seminary three years. The Sabbath School also honored him as their respected superintendent fifteen years. He is a trustee of the Peck Memorial Library Association, which built the Peck Library at Marathon, and was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Marathon, of which he is now a director; he was also one of the organizers of the Cortland Savings Bank.

*A portrait was included in the original printed volume.