Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Phinney, John 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 1:21 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

John Phinney, a citizen of Union Grove Township, located on a farm on section 
13, is engaged in the twofold calling of agriculturist and teacher. He was 
born April 29, 1825, in Monkton, Addison Co., Vt., where he obtained a common-
school education, and he extended the scope of his intellectual attainments at 
the academy at Bakersfield, Vt. His parents, Martin and Sally (Mallory) 
Phinney, were natives of Vermont and were of Scotch and English lineage. They 
remained in the State of their nativity throughout their lives. They had three 
children,—John, Harris and Sally. The mother died in 1830 and the father 
contracted a second marriage, with Mercy Brown. To them two children were 
born,—Dan A. and Ellen M. The former died near Iowa City, of typhoid fever, in 
1856, and is buried in the Quaker burying-ground near that city. On completing 
his education Mr. Phinney applied himself to the occupation of teaching, which 
he followed in Vermont between two and three years. In April, 1854, he came to 
Whiteside County and first located in the township of Union Grove, where he 
pursued the vocation of teacher two years. In 1856 he went to Como, and was 
there occupied in the same capacity four years. In 1860 he bought a farm in 
the township of Montmorency, where he engaged in farming two years, spending 
the winters in teaching. In 1862 he sold his farm and went to Sterling, where 
he taught one year. At the expiration of that time he made an engagement to 
take charge of the school at Unionville, where he was employed three years. He 
then returned to Sterling to enter upon an engagement as teacher, which 
existed five years, after which he taught two years in Unionville. From there 
he went to Hopkins Township, and after teaching there two years he engaged in 
the same capacity at Como, where he continued to operate four years. In the 
fall of 1883 he began to teach in Mt. Pleasant township, where he was engaged 
seven months. The aggregate of his teaching in Whiteside County covers a 
period of 31 years. He bought his farm in Union Grove Township in the fall of 
1872, consisting of 88 acres, and where he has maintained his residence since 
the property came into his possession. It is nearly all under cultivation. In 
political relations Mr. Phinney is independent. He formed a matrimonial 
alliance with Alzina L. Twitchell, April 18, 1855, and they have had three 
children,—Burritt E., Martin Loyal and Effie B. The oldest son died Oct. 20, 
1883, in Union Grove Township, at the age of 25 years. He fixed upon the 
calling of a jeweler, and spent four years in preparation for making that the 
business of his life, serving his apprenticeship at Morrison. He contracted 
consumption and went to California in the vain hope of recovery. He returned 
home and died at the home of his parents in Union Grove. He lies buried in the 
cemetery at Morrison. The second son is a student at Oberlin, Ohio. Mrs. 
Phinney was born in New Haven, Vt., May 1, 1836. She is the daughter of L. C. 
Twitchell, of whom a sketch appears on another page.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

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