Joseph Whitehill
Encyclopedia
Joseph Whitehill, Jr. was a Nineteenth century Ohio
farmer who entered politics who was elected to a series of local offices in Warren County, Ohio
, before his election as Ohio State Treasurer
.
, the son of Joseph Whitehill. In 1800, at age fourteen, his family moved to Botetourt County, Virginia
, near Fincastle
. In 1808, his father died and Whitehill assumed responsibility for his family: six sisters and a brother. In the War of 1812
, he was lieutenant in the militia company from Boutetourt County, and served in the defense of Norfolk, Virginia
from the British. Upon the death of the captain of his company, Whitehill was in command.
After the war, the family moved to Warren County, Ohio
, north of Cincinnati
. They arrived in the county in 1815, initially settling near the town of Waynesville
but relocating closer to Lebanon
, the county seat. He was forced to abandon farming because of his rheumatism
. Moving into the town of Lebanon, he hauled freight between Lebanon and Cincinnati. He also owned a grist mill on the Warren County Canal
's Lock 3, southwest of Lebanon.
In 1826, he was elected sheriff
of Warren County and served 1826 to 1830, two two-year terms. Whitehill was briefly out of office in 1830, during which time he bought a farm three miles north of Lebanon in Turtlecreek Township
. In 1830, he was elected to the Ohio General Assembly
as a representative. He was re-elected three times, serving four one-year terms. In 1834, as he was completing his final term in the legislature, he was elected Ohio State Treasurer
. He was re-elected three times, serving four three-year terms. When his service expired, he remained in the state capital, Columbus
. Whitehill, who never married, lived there with his spinster sister Jane.
Whitehill speculated in property and became quite wealthy, but lost his fortune through the failure of several companies he had invested in. Josiah Morrow, the historian of Warren County, wrote of him:
Whitehill died in Columbus two months before his seventy-fifth birthday. Both he and his sister Jane are buried at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
farmer who entered politics who was elected to a series of local offices in Warren County, Ohio
Warren County, Ohio
Warren County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 212,693 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Lebanon. Warren County was erected May 1, 1803, from Hamilton County, and named for Dr...
, before his election as Ohio State Treasurer
Ohio State Treasurer
-List of Ohio State Treasurers:...
.
Biography
He was born in Lancaster County, PennsylvaniaLancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
, the son of Joseph Whitehill. In 1800, at age fourteen, his family moved to Botetourt County, Virginia
Botetourt County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,496 people, 11,700 households, and 9,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile . There were 12,571 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
, near Fincastle
Fincastle, Virginia
Fincastle is a town in Botetourt County, Virginia, United States. The population was 353 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Botetourt County.Fincastle is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. In 1808, his father died and Whitehill assumed responsibility for his family: six sisters and a brother. In the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, he was lieutenant in the militia company from Boutetourt County, and served in the defense of Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
from the British. Upon the death of the captain of his company, Whitehill was in command.
After the war, the family moved to Warren County, Ohio
Warren County, Ohio
Warren County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 212,693 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Lebanon. Warren County was erected May 1, 1803, from Hamilton County, and named for Dr...
, north of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. They arrived in the county in 1815, initially settling near the town of Waynesville
Waynesville, Ohio
Waynesville is a village in Wayne Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 2,558, up from 1,949 in 1990. It is named for General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. The village, located at the crossroads of U.S. Route 42 and State Route 73, is known for its...
but relocating closer to Lebanon
Lebanon, Ohio
The population at the 2010 census was 20,033. As of the census of 2000, there were 16,962 people residing in the city. The population density was 1,440.6 people per square mile . There were 6,218 housing units at an average density of 528.1 per square mile...
, the county seat. He was forced to abandon farming because of his rheumatism
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
. Moving into the town of Lebanon, he hauled freight between Lebanon and Cincinnati. He also owned a grist mill on the Warren County Canal
Warren County Canal
The Warren County Canal was a branch of the Miami and Erie Canal in southwestern Ohio about in length that connected the Warren County seat of Lebanon to the main canal at Middletown in the mid-19th century. Lebanon was at the crossroads of two major roads, the highway from Cincinnati to Columbus...
's Lock 3, southwest of Lebanon.
In 1826, he was elected sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Warren County and served 1826 to 1830, two two-year terms. Whitehill was briefly out of office in 1830, during which time he bought a farm three miles north of Lebanon in Turtlecreek Township
Turtlecreek Township, Warren County, Ohio
Turtlecreek Township is one of the eleven townships of Warren County, Ohio, United States. It is in the central part of the county and surrounds the county seat of Lebanon. Turtlecreek is the largest township in the county, originally containing sixty-three whole and seven fractional sections. ...
. In 1830, he was elected to the Ohio General Assembly
Ohio General Assembly
The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...
as a representative. He was re-elected three times, serving four one-year terms. In 1834, as he was completing his final term in the legislature, he was elected Ohio State Treasurer
Ohio State Treasurer
-List of Ohio State Treasurers:...
. He was re-elected three times, serving four three-year terms. When his service expired, he remained in the state capital, Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. Whitehill, who never married, lived there with his spinster sister Jane.
Whitehill speculated in property and became quite wealthy, but lost his fortune through the failure of several companies he had invested in. Josiah Morrow, the historian of Warren County, wrote of him:
- Mr. Whitehill was not a man of much knowledge of the sort that is derived from books, he having had but little time for the acquisition of that kind of knowledge in his early life, which was one of labor and activity, rendered necessary by reason of the responsibilities imposed upon him . . . . But he was a man of strong sense and sound judgement. His disposition was frank and generous, and his manners were popular. He enjoyed in an eminent degree the affection of his relatives and friends, and the respect and esteem of his acquaintances.
Whitehill died in Columbus two months before his seventy-fifth birthday. Both he and his sister Jane are buried at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus.