Biography extracted from History of Sauk County, Wisconsin Chicago: Western Historical Company, published 1880.

Reedsburg:

Rev. J. H. Whitney; born at Sutton, Mass, Nov. 21, 1834; is the son of David and Tyla Whitney; he lived for the greater part of his early life at Ashburnham, Mass.; studied law with Judge Chapin at Worcester, Mass. In May, 1861, Mr. W. enlisted for three months' service in Co. A. 4th Mass. V.I.; at the expiration of this time he re-enlisted in Co. G, 21st M.V.I., as Sergeant of company, and was soon promoted to Sergeant Major of the same company, and, finally became Second Lieutenant of the company. Mr. W. was in the 9th Army Corps, in Burnside's expedition to North Carolina, and also with Pope's army in the campaign of Bull Run and other battles. In 1863, failing health made it necessary for Mr. W. to return home for a time; but, in 1864, he en-listed as a private in 4th Mass. H.A.; was afterward promoted to the Sergeant Major of his company, which was mustered out in June, 1865. Mr. W. studied for the ministry at the Biblical Institute of Concord, N.H., and afterward, at the theological department of Boston University; he came to New Lisbon, Wis., in 1868, and preached as a supply. Mr. W. was ordained Deacon in the M.E. Church Oct. 2, 1870, and Elder of the same Sept. 22, 1872. He has been stationed at Baraboo, Wis., for two years; at Sparta, for one year, and at several other points. In 1875, Mr. W's health health obligated him to leave ministerial work and go South; he taught for a time the Central Tennessee College at Nashville; returning North, he was stationed at New Lisbon; here his first wife, who was Miss Mary L. Hubbard, and to whom he was married Jan. 24, 1864, died, leaving one daughter, Tyla. Mr. W.'s first wife was born at Hubbardton, Mass., Sept. 17, 1839, and died at New Lisbon, Wis., April 17, 1877. After the death of the first Mrs. Whitney, Mr. W. returned to Nashville, Tenn., where he remained until June of 1879, when he returned to Wisconsin and filled a vacancy at Tomah. In the fall of 1879, Mr. W. was stationed at Reedsburg, Wis. In October of the same year, was married to his second wife; she has two children by a previous marriage; Mr. Whitney's father died Dec. 28, 1876.

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