Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Whitson, David G 1841 - 
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Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

DAVID G. WHITSON. Manhattan Township contains many rural homes, where comfort 
abounds and many of the luxuries of life may be found, among them that of 
David G. Whitson on section 18. The owner is an early settler of Will County, 
which has been his home since he was twelve years old, and much information 
can be obtained from him regarding the growth of this section, and indeed of 
the entire State, as he is well informed and possesses the happy faculty of 
conversing well. His nature is a genial and energetic one, the latter quality 
being well proven by his financial success and equally well by the services 
which he rendered his country during the late war. Mr. Whitson is the fourth 
in a family of nine children, whose parents are mentioned at length in the 
biography of his brother, John H. Whitson, found elsewhere in this Album. He 
was born April 7, 1841, in Lawrence County, where the first twelve years of 
his life were chiefly spent. His surroundings were such as were common to most 
farmers' sons, and even in his boyhood he was given his share in the duties of 
the home, acquiring skill in various lighter labors of the farm. His school 
privileges were somewhat limited, as the system then in vogue was that of 
subscription schools which were open but a portion of the year. The temple of 
learning was an old fashioned log building, with a large, open fireplace, 
puncheon floor, slab benches and small windows. One of his early recollections 
is of a trip to Iowa, which was made with teams, the Mississippi River being 
crossed at Burlington; this occurred when he was ten years old. The family 
sojourned in Iowa about a year and then returned to their former home where, 
not long after, our subject and his brother William were left in charge of 
some forty head of cattle, while the father came with the rest of the family 
to Will County. Two months after their removal the brothers drove the cattle 
to the new home, our subject taking a man's place upon the farm. During the 
winter he attended school, adding to his store of knowledge, and at other 
times becoming more and more thoroughly acquainted with agricultural life. 
When he had reached man's estate Mr. Whitson began life for himself upon 
rented land, in Kankakee County, near Rockville. He began his labors there in 
the spring of 1862, but in August, not being able longer to continue peaceful 
pursuits while his country's needs cried to him for the strength of his right 
arm, he left valuable machines standing in the field and dropping everything 
entered the army. He was enrolled in Company I, Seventy-sixth Illinois 
Infantry, mustered in at Kankakee City and sent South, two months later 
becoming a Corporal. From Cairo the troops went to Columbus, Ky., where for a 
short time they were in camp nnd whither they took their way to Bolivar, via 
Holley Springs, engaged in skirmishing daily. They were next sent to Memphis 
and on the way thither were engaged in skirmishes, several of which amounted 
really to battles. Our subject was at this time acting as Sergeant over thirty-
six men, doing provost and patrol work under Gen. Hall, Commander of the 
Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Seventeenth Army Corps. At Memphis the troops 
took boats for Vicksburg, landing at Young's Point, around which they marched 
to bear their part in the famous siege. Mr. Whitson had the good fortune to 
see Gen. Grant receive the sword of Gen. Pemberton when the latter 
surrendered. The next heavy engagement in which he took part was the battle of 
Jackson, following which was that of Clinton, a return to Vicksburg and the 
Yazoo expedition. The Red River expedition soon followed and then the removal 
to New Orleans, where they camped at Sedgwick Hospital. Only those who are 
familiar with army life can fully realize the danger and toil which filled the 
intervals between the battles and expeditions mentioned, and know all that the 
boys in blue endured on tented field, in weary marches and in the heat of 
battle. Breaking camp, the troops of which our subject formed an integral 
part, embarked on the "Peabody" with Gen. Hall. The boat was disabled on 
account of the rudder chain being broken by the force of the breakers, and it 
became necessary to throw three hundred and fifty mules, twenty-five horses, 
all the provisions and many other stores overboard, in order that the boat 
might be able to reach New Orleans, to which they were obliged to return. They 
then took the Lake Pontchartrain train to Pensacola, where they were in camp 
four weeks, marching thence to Spanish Fort which they captured, thence 
proceeding to besiege Ft. Blakely. Here Mr. Whitson received a serious wound 
which necessitated his being sent to the hospital and remaining there three 
months. After he had gotten inside of the rifle pits a shell struck the back 
of his right shoulder, taking off the flesh and injuring the shoulder blade. 
At Clinton he had received a slight scratch from a musket ball, which passed 
between his first and second fingers. At Sedgwick Hospital, September 6, 1865, 
he was mustered out of the service and honorably discharged after a valiant 
army life of over three years. Returning to his home Mr. Whitson again engaged 
in farming, the following year traveling through Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska 
with teams. Returning again to the parental home he farmed his father's place 
until 1868, when he purchased eighty acres of raw land, at $33 per acre, and 
located upon it. He placed it under thorough cultivation and excellent 
improvement, and it now forms a part of his fine estate. In 1876 he paid $46 
per acre for the eighty belonging to his brother John, and putting up a house 
removed to that part of his land. The entire quarter section is tillable, is 
divided by good fences into fields of convenient size, is beautified and made 
more valuable by a good orchard and all the buildings necessary for the proper 
housing of crops and stock and the convenience of the dwellers upon it. A 
modern barn, 46x46 feet, was built in 1889. Good grades of Clydesdale horses 
and Poland-China swine are kept, and in addition to those raised upon the 
place Mr. Whitson feeds at least a car load of swine per year. The lady who 
for a number of years ably presided over the home of Mr. Whitson, bore the 
maiden name of Mary Etter, and became his wife in Joliet, February 24, 1869. 
She was a native of the Buckeye State and member of a family of which further 
mention is made in the sketch of John H. Whitson, occupying another page in 
this Album. She was removed from the scenes of time in April, 1883, leaving 
behind her a sorrowing household and friends whose name is legion. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Whitson eight children were born, named respectively, E. Charles, 
Elizabeth, Laura, Louis, Mary, Edith, Arthur and William. Mr. Whitson has been 
an efficient laborer in the cause of education, and has been called upon to 
serve as School Director during nearly all of his mature years. He still 
occupies that position. He is a devoted adherent of the principles of 
Republicanism, has served his party as a delegate to county conventions and 
been appointed to represent the interests of this section in a State 
convention, although he did not attend this meeting. He has sat upon both 
grand and petit juries. He supports and attends the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 

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