My Genealogy Hound

HENRY CLAY WHITING was for over twenty years prior to his death, which occurred Feb. 1, 1901, connected with Dickinson College, at Carlisle, as a member of the Faculty, and he occupied a high position in the educational circles of the community.

Mr. Whiting was born March 27, 1845, in Speedsville, N. Y., and comes of a family which has long been settled in America, and which is descended from three brothers who came from England. His grandfather, Samuel Whiting, was a blacksmith and carriage builder by occupation, and his father, Samuel Whiting, was also a blacksmith by trade. The latter was a native of Connecticut, and settled in Speedsville, N. Y., where he died. He was twice married, his first wife being Mary Keeney, by whom he had two children, Henry Clay and Josephine (Mrs. David Smith), both now deceased. For his second wife he married Caroline Ford, who survives him, and to this union were born six children, namely: Percy, Frank (deceased), Randolph, Romeo, Charles and Cora.

Henry Clay Whiting attended the common schools in his youth, was prepared for college at Ithaca, N. Y., and took a classical course at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., after which he entered upon his career as an instructor. He accepted a position as teacher in the Drew Theological Seminary at Madison, N. J., where he also studied for the ministry, and he was ordained, but never took a charge, continuing to teach all his life. From Drew he went to Hackettstown, N. J., and taught in the seminary there for four years. His next experience was as vice-principal of Pennington Seminary, at Pennington, N. J. and in the fall of 1879 he came to Carlisle, Pa., to become professor of Latin in Dickinson College. He remained in that incumbency until the close of his life, practically, although he was out on a year’s leave of absence when he died, suddenly of heart disease, on Feb. 1, 1901. Mr. Whiting was a gentleman of the highest standing, intellectually and socially; and was greatly esteemed along the circle of his friends and acquaintances in Carlisle. He was long a prominent member of the First M. E. Church of that city, and served at one time as trustee and Sunday School superintendent. In politics, he was a strong Republican, and fraternally, he was associated with the F. & A. M.

Mr. Whiting was married, in Schenectady, N. Y., Nov. 21, 1867, to Miss Mary L. Freeman, who was born June 16, 1847, in Schenectady, daughter of Jonathan R. and Leonora (Terrell) Freeman. Her parents were both natives of Connecticut, the father born in Mansfield, and he settled in Schenectady, N. Y., after his marriage, conducting a mercantile business there for many years. Six children came to Mr. and Mrs. Whiting, viz: (1) Henry F. graduated from Dickinson College in the class of 1889, and is now engaged as an instructor in that institution. He married Miss Grace Derland, and they have had three children, Lawrence D., Russell F. and Gerald. (2) Leonora M., is unmarried, and is engaged in teaching. (3) Earle F., died when he was two years old. (4) Miss Helen is a teacher in Dowingtown, Pa. (5) Mabel is deceased. (6) Paul is now a student in Dickinson College. Mrs. Whiting and the family still make their home in Carlisle, and are among the most highly respected residents of that city.