whitneye
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
EUGENE O. WHITNEY, who is now
living at Hartline, has the distinction of being one of the earliest pioneers
of Douglas county. Since those days of frontier life, Mr. Whitney
has given his attention to farming and stock raising in this county and
has achieved success commensurate with the labors he has bestowed.
He is one of the well known men of the country, of excellent standing and
real worth.
Eugene O. Whitney was born in Marquette county,
Wisconsin, on January 29, 1853. His parents, Loren J. and Fannie
(Forbes) Whitney, were natives of Wisconsin and very early pioneers in
Minnesota. Our subject was educated in the common schools of Faribault
county, Minnesota, and when he arrived at manhood's estate, gave his attention
to farming. When twenty-five years of age, he came thence to Washington
and settled in Douglas county about eleven miles north of Hartline, near
the present postoffice of Lincoln. He first took a preemption and
then a homestead and turned his attention to raising grain and stock.
He has a large herd of fine cattle and has been well prospered in his labors.
Mr. Whitney has one brother, Jessie S., and one sister, Mrs. Marian Bassett.
At Bluearth City, Minnesota, on April 10,
1879, occurred the marriage of Mr. Whitney and Miss Flora Rusho and to
this marriage two children have been born: Maude, on January 21, 1880 and
now the wife of Medley Osborne; Loren J., born May 15, 1885, living at
home. The former is a native of Minnesota and the latter of Idaho.
Mrs. Whitney's parents, Anthony and Almira (Morris) Rusho, were natives
of Canada. She has the following brothers and sisters: Anthony, dwelling
at Cusick, Washington; Joseph, in Taylor, Nebraska; Charles, in Dakota;
Frank, who died in Usk, Washington, on June 9, 1889; Mrs. Almira Boyer;
Mrs. Philmay Cheesbrough, in Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Margaret Wilcutt,
in Lane county, Oregon; Mrs. Cornelia Payne, who died at Lagrande, Oregon,
in 1900; Mary, who died in Minnesota at the age of nineteen.
Mr. Whitney is a member of the I. O. O. F. and was raised under the
influence of the Baptist church.
BACK