William Whitaker

Shortly after the Civil War, in which he had served, about 1867, William Whitaker with his wife, the former Elizabeth Hoff, came to Henry County from around Clyde, Ohio. They purchased 160 acres of land at the northern border of Colton, Ohio, to continue farming. Their first home here was a log cabin on this land. Later in 1872 they built a frame house.

He was a member of the G.A.R. at Colton, and the Masonic Lodge at Liberty Center. She was a member of the W.R.C. at Colton, and the Eastern Star at Liberty Center. Their children born in Henry County were: 1869-?, Cyntha Whitaker, who married George Ellsworth; 1871-?, Millie Whitaker, who married Ira Whitney of Toledo; 1873, D' Etta Mae Whitaker, who married Charles Slater; 1875-?, William E. Whitaker; 1877-?, Hiram Whitaker; 1884-?, Ray Whitaker.

William E. Whitaker was a graduate law student at Ohio State University, and Hiram had a degree in pharmacy from Ada College.

The last survivor of this family was D' Etta Whitaker Slater who died July 27, 1972, at the age of 99 years.

Ray Whitaker married Lillian Bel-nap and they lived on the home farm after his father William moved to Liberty Center. About 1 yr. before the early death of Ray Whitaker, Jan. 1920, his wife Lillian took over a grocery store in Colton which she operated for several years.

They had a daughter Elizabeth who married John Wilcox of California. They had one son and a daughter, and since the death of John Wilcox, Elizabeth is now living in Cupertino, California, near the children.

The other daughter of Ray and Lillian Whitaker, Lois died at the age of 5, and they had one son Charles who was killed in an auto accident. His surviving family now live in Napoleon, Ohio.

The surviving grandchildren of William Whitaker are: Elizabeth Whitaker Wilcox, Cupertino, California; Florence Slater Lake, Toledo, Ohio; Roy Whitney, Dayton, Ohio; Howard Whitney, Bradenton, Florida; Louise Whitaker Sessions, San Francisco, California.

Submitted by the Family