I came across the information that the Masonic Lodge in Canton, ME is named 'Whitney Lodge No. 167, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons". Perhaps someone out there is related to Whitneys that once lived in Canton. Jan W

Col. Nathan Whitney was also a very active Mason and founded a lodge of the Royal Arch Masons in Dixon, Illinois in 1853. Is there a source of historical information on the Masons that might include connections to the Whitney's? Greg Nickels Nathan Whitney (1791-1891) A CENTENARIAN January 22, Colonel Nathan Whitney, of Franklin Grove, Ill., celebrated his one hundredth birthday. He was born in Conway, Mass., fifteen years after the declaration of independence, and was one of the pioneer settlers of Illinois, having lived within the State for fifty-four years. Before there was a sidewalk laid in Chicago and a bridge over the river, he was appointed a commissioner to organize Lee County and established his home on its prairies. He served in the war of 1812, and was mentioned for bravery at the battle of Lake Erie. Mr. Whitney had reached the age of threescore and ten when the first gun was fired on Fort Sumter. He has seen the development of the greatest nation on the earth from feeble States harassed by foreign foes, menaced by savages upon its borders, to a country of magnificent cities, which no internal war can disrupt and no foreign foe intimidate. He received his first degree of masonry seventy-four years ago, and is probably the oldest mason in the world. We present a portrait of Colonel Whitney, his son, grandson, and great-grandson, four generations. The one hundredth anniversary of Colonel Whitney's birth was made the occasion of a gathering of prominent masons from all over the state. 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. - The Graphic. - Scientific American, 7 March 1891, page 147. www.whitneygen.org/archives/biography/nathanw.html ----- Original Message ----- From: Jan Whitaker To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 9:04 AM Subject: [WHITNEY-L] Canton, ME I came across the information that the Masonic Lodge in Canton, ME is named 'Whitney Lodge No. 167, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons". Perhaps someone out there is related to Whitneys that once lived in Canton. Jan W