Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 293 - 294 

FREDERICK B. WHITTEMORE, an influential farmer and stock-raiser of Rockford Township, is a representative of one of the old New England families, whose history is that of the colonies and States for the last 240 years. He came to this county in 1883, and settled on section 24, where he is now making his home. 

     Mr. Whittemore was born in Pembroke, N. H., Sept. 12, 1857, and is the ninth child in a family of eleven born to his parents, Aaron and Ariana (Barstow) Whittemore, natives of the Old Granite State. Our subject and his father, as were many of his ancestors, were born and reared upon a farm which was granted by Queen Mary of England, about the middle of the sixteenth century, to Aaron Whittemore, the great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch. For more than 200 years this property has been held by the direct descendants of the grantee, and some of the buildings which are standing upon it are still in excellent repair, although erected more than 160 years ago. The old Congregational Church which stands upon the place, and is now used as a barn, was built in 1728. The family of Mr. Whittemore were of English descent, and their ancestors were fair specimens of the sturdy yeomanry of Albion, who have made the little island so famous in the annals of the world. 

     Aaron Whittemore, the father of the subject of this memoir, was an attorney by profession, and a very prominent man in his native State. For several years he occupied the bench as Judge of the District Court, and served several terms in the Lower House of the State Legislature, and two terms in the State Senate of New Hampshire. He was also Colonel of the 11th New Hampshire State Militia for a number of years, and was always prominently identified with all public matters in the State. He is still living in Pembroke, retired from participation in the active business of life, having survived his wife, who died July 11, 1885. He has been engaged throughout the course of a busy life in several enterprises besides that of his profession, principally dealing in lumber. He is a most estimable man, and is regarded with the highest respect by the citizens of his native State, among whom he has passed a lifetime. 

     The subject of this history received in his boyhood days the advantages of an excellent education, and, as he grew to maturer years, assisted his father in carrying on the lumber business until 1883. February of that year he bade adieu to his home among the hills of New Hampshire, and came West to the great and growing State of Kansas, and purchasing 130 acres of fine arable land on section 24, in Rockford Township, entered upon its cultivation. With the thrifty habits and industry so natural to a man of New England birth, he has with unwonted energy devoted himself to bringing it to a high state of tillage, and his efforts in this direction have borne ample fruition. He has set out a fine orchard and an abundance of the smaller fruits, erected a neat and handsome residence and substantial barns, and made all the improvements necessary for the comfort and convenience of himself and his family. Like nearly all the agriculturists of this section of the country, he is engaged in raising fine grade Short-horn cattle, horses and mules, and has usually a good stock of these on hand. His industry, perseverance and sterling integrity, have already won him the respect and esteem of the people of the township, and, although yet young in years, he occupies a prominent place in society. 

     Mr. Whittemore was united in marriage, March 17, 1885, with Mrs. Candace M. Chamberlain, the daughter of C. A. and Elmira (Holmes) Norton, and widow of Charles F. Chamberlain, who died June 4, 1883. Mrs. Whittemore is a native of Clinton County, Mo., and was born May 31, 1855. She was at the time of her second marriage the mother of two children: Arthur Claude, whose birth occurred Dec. 1, 1879, and Archie Warren, born March 11, 1882. Of her union with our subject there have been two children, twins, Aaron and Charlie, whose births occurred June 4, 1887. Aaron was called home by death Oct. 18, 1887. 

     Both Mr. and Mrs. Whittemore are consistent members of the Baptist Church, God-fearing and sincere Christian people. In his politics our subject is an active advocate of the principles formulated by the Democratic party, in which he believes are the true and best interests of the people of our country involved. 

     A lithographic view is shown of Mr. Whittemore's residence.

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