Husband Albert Pawling Whitaker 1 2 3 4 5
Born: 11 Oct 1817 - Troy, Rensselaer Co, NY 1 2 3
Christened:
Died: 26 Feb 1897 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 3
Buried:
Father: John Whitaker (1784-1843) 2 3
Mother: Abigail Sanford (1797-1834) 2 3
Marriage: 31 Jul 1845 - Sandycreek Twp, Venango Co, PA 3 6
• Residence: : Franklin, Venango Co, PA.
Wife Mary Simcox 3 4 5 7
Born: 28 Oct 1824 - Sandycreek Twp, Venango Co, PA 3 6
Christened:
Died: 19 May 1911 3
Buried: 27 May 1911 - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA 8
Father: William Simcox (1794-1850/1855) 3 4 5 7
Mother: Jane Marshall (1804-1860) 3 4 5 7
Children
1 M John Henry Whitaker 1 3 6
Born: 11 Nov 1846 3
Christened:
Died: 15 Nov 1885 9
Buried: 11 Nov 1885 - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA 8
Spouse: Maud Conser ( - ) 3
Marr: 25 Apr 1871 3
2 F Jane Marshall Whitaker 6 10
Born: 19 Apr 1848 10
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: George Walker Plumer (1840-Aft 1919) 11
Marr: 2 May 1867 12
3 F Ann Eliza Whitaker 6 9
Born: 5 Aug 1849 9
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Matthew H. Mercer ( - ) 9
Marr: 7 Oct 1869 9
4 M William Simcox Whitaker 9 13
Born: 11 May 1851 9
Christened:
Died: Nov 1907 9
Buried:
Spouse: Sarah Jane Adams (1836- ) 9 14 15
Marr: 28 Nov 1878 16
5 F Mary Whitaker 6 9
Born: 5 Jan 1853 9
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Rev. Marcus Alden Tolman ( - ) 9
Marr: 14 May 1878 9
6 F Emma Whitaker 6 9
Born: 14 Oct 1855 9
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: John V. Stephenson ( - ) 6 9
Marr: 18 Dec 1878 9
7 F Frances Adelaide Whitaker 3 6
Born: 12 Oct 1857 3
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Joseph A. Hughston ( - ) 3
Marr: 2 Sep 1891 3
8 M Albert P. Whitaker 6 9
Born: 8 Dec 1863 9
Christened:
Died: 22 Dec 1874 9
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
9 F Clara Eaton Whitaker 6 9 17 18
Born: 3 Feb 1867 9
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Elmer Ellsworth Lyon ( - ) 9 17 18 19
Marr: 29 Oct 1890 - ? Venango Co, PA 9
General Notes: Husband - Albert Pawling Whitaker
He was educated at Marion College, Missouri, and came to Venango County, PA, in 1838 to take a business position with A. W. Raymond, who was then extensively engaged in merchandising and in manufacturing iron. His initiative in journalism was an experience of two years, 1842-44, as publisher of the Meadville Democratic Republican in partnership with Samuel W. Magill. Having purchased from Doctor Connely and others the materials of the Democratic Arch he established the Spectator, of which the first number was issued January 10, 1849. James Bleakley became associated in the publication January 30, 1851; his interest was acquired by R. L. Cochran January 1, 1853, who, on the 1st of December in that year became owner and continued the publication until May 16, 1860, John W. Shugert being connected as editor for a brief space during this time. Mr. Whitaker, with C. C. Cochran as partner, resumed his former position May 16, 1860, and by the retirement of Mr. Cochran February 20, 1860, became individual proprietor. June 29, 1864, R. L. and C. C. Cochran became the publishers; the latter again retired November 7, .1865, and on the 20th of April, 1866, E. L. Cochran sold the paper to A. P. and J. H. Whitaker. October 28, 1870, J. H. Whitaker became individual owner by the withdrawal of his father, but the latter again became connected with the publication in his former capacity as editor August 24, 1876, and on the 13th of October in the following year assumed the sole proprietorship; he has continued the publication from that date. The Spectator has been frequently increased in size and is now a large eight column folio. Since its first inception it has been a pronounced exponent and defender of Democratic principles and enjoys to an exceptional degree the confidence of the party. Mr. Whitaker is an editor of recognized ability, and in point of service is the senior member of his profession in this part of the state. His style is characterized by strength, terseness, and perspicuity; the Spectator has usually sustained well its position in political or other matters of controversy. [HVC 1890, 247]
After a primary education in the common schools he went to academies in New Jersey and New York City, and subsequently graduated at Marion College, Missouri. In 1838 he came to Utica, Venango County, and clerked for his uncle, A. W. Raymond. In 1842 he removed to Meadville, and became associated with Samuel W. Magill in the Democratic Republican. In 1844 he resumed his former duties at Utica.
Mr. Whitaker's connection with newspaper work was resumed in 1849. On Jan. 10th of that year, having purchased the old material of the Democratic paper at Franklin, he issued the first number of the Venango Spectator (which suspended publication in 1917), and with slight exception was its editor and publisher ever after until his death, his career in that capacity thus covering a period of more than forty-eight years.
In politics Mr. Whitaker was always an active Democrat. He was appointed an inspector of customs in Philadelphia in 1856 under President Buchanan's administration, having previously held a clerkship in the surveyor general's office in 1852, and he resigned from the inspector's place to resume charge of the Spectator in 1860. He was elected burgess of Franklin in 1852 and 1853; was a school director in 1868 and for the two succeeding terms; was clerk to the county commissioners, and at times he was the choice of his party for county offices.
As a writer Mr. Whitaker held a recognized place among those in the first rank of his profession. His mental eye had keen and swift perception of all the points of his subject. Forming clear ideas, he expressed them with accuracy, force and a grace that came from a fine taste and a well cultivated fancy. There was a purity, conciseness and pungency in his literary style charming to the lover of good English. No forced fancy, no bungled metaphors, no cheap tricks of verbosity, played any part in his literary products. He was always a student, expanding and strengthening his mind. Thus it was that, after a service far beyond the period of life when most men have dropped from the active list, his pen still retained its cunning and its point. He was not only the Nestor of the press in this part of the State, but up to the last he could bend the bow of Ulysses. In his persistent process of education Mr. Whitaker not only became an all-round scholar in his native tongue, but besides acquainted himself with the French language and literature. He was also an expert fisher and woodsman. His inherent poetical faculty placed him in touch with the masters, from Shakespeare to Tennyson, and from Tennyson to Halleck. A retentive memory gave him wonderful command of their treasures. Hence it was that while he was a master of sarcasm and invective, he was none the less at home in the realm of the affections and of the ideal. His friends knew Mr. Whitaker as an adept in the range of conversation. The general public were aware of his peculiar gift of pungent wit and ready repartee. Without changing his facial expression he could crush a conceit with a droll sentence or skewer a humbug on a point of irony. He was never in a hurry or a flurry, and yet never hung fire. Beneath the surface of his wit and invective, however, was a tender and sensitive nature, a generous, sympathetic heart, attuned to "the still, sad music of humanity." [CAB, 505]