-------------------------------
from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
Dennis E. Whitehill is the owner of a good farm of two hundred and thirty-five acres, four miles from New Sharon. A native of Illinois, he was born in Millersburg, Mercer county, on the 8th of May, 1867, his parents being Thomas and Mary G. (McCollum) Whitehill. The father was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, a son of Thomas Whitehill, who was born and married in Scotland. The father spent his youth in the state of his nativity and taught school for several years in Ohio and later in Illinois. He lived in the latter state until 1875, when he came to Iowa, settling in Harrison township, Mahaska county, where he engaged in farming, cultivating rented land. In 1880 he removed to Union township and with the money which he had acquired through his own industry and economy purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land upon which he resided until 1901, carefully and successfully conducting his farming operations until that year, when he removed to New Sharon, where he is now living a retired life. He has been a supporter of the republican party since age gave to him the right of franchise and he has held the position of supervisor and other township offices. Both he and his wife members of the Presbyterian church and are people of the highest respectability. They have four children and the family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. These are: Dennis E.; Myrtie, living in Chicago; Everett E., who resides on a farm in Adams township, this county; and Gretta, the wife of J. P. Nash, who resides on a farm in Adams township. Dennis E. Whitebill was eight years of age when his father came to this county and was educated in the country schools, He worked upon the home farm until seventeen years of age, after which he engaged in teaching school for five years, being a capable educator, whose ability in the schoolroom was widely acknowladged. In September, 1891, he married Miss Minnie Bell Knowlton, who was born in Oskaloon, June 27, 1866, and is a daughter of Samuel Knowlton, whose birth occurred in Maine, August 28, 1822, his parents being Samuel and Olive Knowlton, both of whom were natives of England. Samuel Knowlton, Jr., was a soap manufacturer in Cincinnati, Ohio, for many years and in 1864 came to Mahaska county, continuing in the same business in Oskaloosa. A few years later he purchased six hundred and forty acres of land in Union township and made his home thereon until he retired from active business life, taking up his abode in New Sharon in 1891. He was a very successful man, his business interests bringing him a handsome competence. His first wife was Julia A. Hadley, who was born March 4, 1827, and whom he married September 17, 1845. They had twelve children, namely: Olive Ann, who was born October 31, 1846, and is the wife of W. H. Needham; Sherman, who was born May 3, 1848, and died in infancy; Simon, who was born May 16, 1849, and is deceased; Mary Thornton, who was born Febuary 24, 1851; Charles H., born May 18, 1853; Mrs. Emily M. Gritman, who was born May 18, 1855; Edwin S., who was born May 18, 1857, now deceased; Mrs. Anna Christman, born May 17, 1859; Mrs. Martha Webster, who was born June 9, 1861, also deceased; Julia Ellen, who was born January 2, 1864, and is the wife of O. B. Noel; Minnie Bell, now Mrs. Whitehill; and Mrs. Cora M. Styles, born November 10, 1869. On the 14th of December, 1882, Mr. Knowlton was married to Harriet J. Ellis, now living in New Sharon. In his political views he was an earnest republican until 1885, when the tariff question caused him to give his allegiance to the democracy. He held membership with the Masonic fraternity and the Odd Fellows lodge and in early life he was identified with the Society of Friends or Quaken, but five years prior to his death became a Presbyterian. He passed away in New Sharon, May 10, 1899. He was for many years a prominent and valued citizen of the county, conducting important business interests, so that he contributed to the general prosperity of this part of the state. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Whitehill have been born two sons: Dwight E., born July 7, 1893; and Roy S., May 9, 1896. The home farm comprises two hundred and thirty-five acres of land four miles from New Sharon and is a part ot the Knowlton estate. In the house where they now reside Mr. and Mrs. Whitehill were married and he has since carried on farming, having placed the land under a high state of cultivation and added to the place many modern improvements. In politics he is an earnest republican and has served as township clerk. He and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church, in which he is serving as an elder, and they are prominent and influential people of the community with a circle of friends almost co-extensive with the circle of their acquaintance.
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy