Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 872.
 
CHARLES H. WHITNEY

     The subject of this sketch is very closely connected with the educational
interests of the county, as he served very acceptably as County Superintendent
of Public Instruction for two terms and refused a third nomination.
     Mr. Whitney was born in Auglaize county, Ohio, February 15, 1851.  He was
the son of Benjamin Whitney, born in New York, August 10, 1822.  He was a farmer
by occupation and married, November 5, 1845, a lady by the name of Minerva
Daniels, who died May 16, 1856.  He married a second time, March 1, 1857,
Margaret Armstrong, daughter of Joseph Armstrong.  She was born in Ohio, April
14, 1841.
     Our subject remained in his native place until sixteen years of age,
receiving a common school education. In 1870 he removed to Kansas, located in
Wilson county, where he worked on a farm for three years, in 1873 he went to
Marion county, Oregon, and again worked on a farm.  From there he went to
Portland, Oregon, and attended commercial college, after which he clerked in a
store owned by Meier & Frank, with whom he remained one year.  He then went to
Benton county and stayed two years, during which time he acted as a bookkeeper
for a business firm of that place.  In 1882 he settled in Corvallis and engaged
in mercantile business.  He remained there until 1886, furnishing supplies to
the Oregon Pacific Railroad Company, removing to Baker county in May of that
year.
     In 1888 M. Whitney was elected County Superintendent of Public Schools,
served his first term and was unanimously re-elected, being the only Republican
that was elected without opposition.  He refused the third nomination,
preferring to devote his time to his fine ranch, thirty miles from Baker City,
consisting of several hundred acres.
     Mr. Whitney was married December 10, 1883, to Miss Sarah Huffman, born
September 28, 1851.  Her father's name was Eli Watkins, and she was a native of
Putman county, Missouri.  Her parents came to Oregon in 1864.  Mrs. Whitney is
one of eight children and she had two children by her first marriage, namely:
Minnie and John; the former now married to M. P. Burnett, who is now Treasurer
of Benton county.
     Mr. Whitney is a member of I.O.O.F., has passed all the chairs and is a
member of Corvallis Lodge, No. 7.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Whitney are estimable
people and highly esteemed by their host of friends.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2006 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.