Greetings Whitney List! I am a great-great grandson of Eliza Whitney of Franklin Grove, Illinois. Eliza's father, Colonel Nathan Whitney (Nathan, Jonathan, Jonathan, Jonathan, Benjamin, John) was born in Conway, Massachusetts on January 22, 1791 and lived to celebrate his 100th birthday. He opened a farm near Allison, New York, and another at Elba, New York. Nathan received three military commissions, those of captain, lieutenant-colonel and colonel from De Witt Clinton, Governor of New York. He served in the war of 1812, and was mentioned for bravery at the battle of Lake Erie. Col. Nathan visited what later became Franklin Grove, Illinois in 1835, 1836 and 1837, his family following in 1838. He was one of three commissioners to organize the county of Lee, and then held the office of county commissioner. His nursery was the first north of the Illinois river. The Whitney orchard was well known -- Col. Whitney brought with him many seeds of fruit trees for planting. By 1843 he had a large orchard and in 1847 began selling fine apples and other fruit. He also perfected new varieties by grafting and it is said that he had developed numerous types of apples. One that came to be well known was the "Whitney #20 Crabapple." He shipped fruit and nursery stock all over the country and helped to establish other orchards locally. Col. Whitney's home (also known as Franklin Grove Nursery and Orchards 1620 Whitney Road, Franklin Grove) was placed on the National Register of Historic Places (#90001726) in 1990. The March 7, 1891 edition of Scientific American said he was probably the oldest living Mason in the world. The one hundredth anniversary of Col. Whitney's birth was made the occasion of a gathering of prominent masons from all over Illinois. Nathan Whitney Chapter No. 129, Royal Arch Masons, named in honor of "Father Whitney", presented him with a solid silver platter, suitably inscribed, and several hundred congratulatory letters and telegrams were received. He passed away June 11, 1891 and he was laid to rest in Oakwood Cemetery in Dixon, Illinois. Three of Col. Whitney's brothers -- Luther (96), Otis (99) and Cheeney (91) were also very long lived. Interestingly three sisters lived to adulthood, two passing in their 20's and one at 35 years of age. Are there any others descendants of this Whitney line on the list with other information or stories to share? I would welcome hearing from you! Best wishes -- Greg Nickels Seattle, Washington