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Archiver > WHITNEY > 1998-08 > 0903124691


From: Debi Benell <>
Subject: Josiah D Whitney, geologist
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1998 11:58:11 -0800


Hello fellow researchers,

It would appear as though my mother has been "holding out" on me with our
Whitney ancestors.

In an attempt to find out more info about our ancestor, Josiah D. Whitney,
b. 1819, d. 1896, I took up Jan Whitaker's advice and looked at the MAINCAT
site. In my search I found a Josiah Dwight Whitney, geologist, born 1819
and died 1896.

Thinking that this might be the same Josiah as my own, I sent an email to
mom who thus informed me "yes, it's probably the same guy.... Mt. Whitney
was named after him (meaning our ancestor)." So i did a search for
Mt.Whitney, and found a photo of Josiah Dwight.

Now comes the frustrating part. I need to verify this. I looked at the
Whitney database and found Josiah with birth date, but his wife, cannot
possibly be the mother of my Caroline M. Whitney, daughter of Josiah D.,
because their marriage date is AFTER caroline's birth date, and they have
no listed children. Of course, could it not be possible that the wife
mentioned, a Louisa Goddard, was a second wife??

And now my request for help -- could anyone researching Josiah Dwight
Whitney and his ancestors contact me. I am interested in following this
lead. Some more particulars on my family are as follows:

Josiah D. Whitney
b. 1819
d. 1896
m. ????
.....Caroline M. Whitney
.....b. 19 June 1845 in ME
.....d. 21 Oct 1915 in CA
.....m. Thomas Horrell
..........b. 2 July 1836 in ME
..........d. 21 Oct 1888 in CA

My mother also mentioned a James Whitney, who is either a son or nephew or
something of Josiah's who was also a geologist.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Debi Benell

*Researching: Benell, Boone, Aull, LeGate, Daane, Garbani, Gideon,
Leathern, Tack, Hochstetler, Horrell, Nelson, Cordner, Coodey/Cudahy,
Tobin, Whitney and many many more!
email: or

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