AVHITAKER
AYHITE
WHITAKER, Walter C, soldier, was born in
Slielby cuuiity. Ky., in August, 1823. He attended
colle.^e ill Virginia, but left before finishing his
course in law to figtit in the war with Mexico,
being commissioned lieutenant in a volunteer
regiment from Kentucky. After the war he
completed his course in law, practised in Shelby-
ville, Ky., and was a state senator at the begin-
ning of the civil war. He helped to keep Ken-
tucky in the Union, and was commissioned colonel
of the 6th Kentucky Union volunteers in Sep-
tember, 1861. He fought under General Nelson
in November, 1861, in eastern Kentucky, and
with Nelson joined Sherman near Louisville, Ky.
He commanded his regiment in the 19th brigade
(Hazen) 4th division (Nelson) in the Army
of the Ohio under Buell, at Shiloli, April 6-7,
1863 ; participated in the pursuit of Bragg, the
battle of Perryville, Oct. 8, 1863, and the battle
of Stone's River, Dec. 31, 1862, where his regiment
was in the 3d brigade (Hazen), 2d division
(Palmer), left wing (Crittenden) under Rosecrans.
On June 2o, 1863, he was commissioned brigadier-
general of volunteers, and at Cliickamauga com-
manded the 1st brigade, 1st division (James B.
Steedman) of Gordon Granger's corps. At Chick-
amauga lie marched to the support of Thomas in
the afternoon, and led his brigade in a desperate
charge to protect tlie right flank. In the attack
Whitaker was wounded and seven of his eight
staff officers were wounded or killed. General
Thomas succeeded Rosecrans in the command of
the Army of the Cumberland and Whitaker's
brigade became the 2d brigade, 1st division
(Charles Cruft), 4th corps under Granger. Dur-
ing the battle of Chattanooga Cruft's division
was separated from the rest of the Army of the
Cumberland, and was at Lookout Mountain under
Hooker. Hooker had to cross Lookout Creek,
which was strongly defended by a Confederate
advance line, and sent Whitaker's brigade and
Geary's division, under cover of a dense mist, up'
stream to a ford, where at 8 A.M. on Nov. 24,
Whitaker led the advance, drove back the enemy's
picket, capturing many, and ascended the moun-
tain until he reached a tenable position, where he
was later joined by the rest of Hooker's command.
In the spring of 1864 the Army of the Cumber-
land, still under Thomas, accompanied Sherman
on his march to Atlanta. Whitaker's brigade
was in the 1st division (General Stanley) of the
4th corps(0. O. Howard) and took part in prac-
tically all of the battles. General Thomas was
sent north in September, 1864, to protect Sher-
man's communications, and in October the 4th
corps under Stanley hastened to Thomas : fought
at Franklin, Tenn. ; participated in the retreat to
Brentwood, and fought at Nashville, Tenn., Dec.
15-16, 1864, Kimball commanding the division
and T. J. Wood the corps. General Whitaker was
brevetted major-general of volunteers and at the
close of the war, continued his law practice. He
was for a short time confined in an insane asylum,
but upon his recovery returned to the practice of
law. He died in Lyndon, Ky., Julv 9, 1887.
WHITCHER, Frances Miriam, author, was born in Whitesboro, N.Y., Nov. 1, 1811 ; daughter of Lewis Berry. She attended the district schools, and began literary production at an early age, be- coming widely known as a humorist through her contributions to Xecd's Saturday Gazette signed " Widow Bedott,"' 1840-50. She married, in 1850, the Rev. Benjamin W. Whitcher, rector of St. John's Church, Whitesboro, but he was obliged to resign as his wife's former neighbors accused her of "writing them up" in the "Widow Be- dott " papers, and he accepted the rectorship of Grace Church, Elmira, N.Y. Mrs. Whitcher re- turned to Whitesboro in 1851, where her child was born, and where she died soon after. Her rel- atives collected her letters, which were published as : Tlie Widow Bedott Papers, icith an intro- duction by Alice B. Neal (3 vols. 1855); Aunt Maguire and Letters from TimberviUe which originally appeared in Godey's Lady^s Book, and Widoio Spriggins, Mary Elmer, and Other Sketches, were edited with a memoir by Mrs. M. L. Ward Whitcher, and published in 1867. She died in Whitesboro, N.Y., Jan. 4, 1853.
WHITE, Albert Blakeslee, governor of West Virginia, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 22, 1856 ; son of Emerson Elbridge and Mary Ann (Sabin) White. He attended the Columbus, Ohio, public schools and was graduated from Marietta college, Ohio, A.B., 1878, A.M., 1881. He was associated with the Daily Journal, in La- fayette, Ind., as reporter, 1878, and as manag- ing editor, 1879-81. He was married, Oct. 2, 1879, to Agnes, daughter of William S. and Cath- arine (Clark) Ward of Marietta, Ohio. In 1881, Mr, White purchased the Stcde Journal, Parkers- burg, W.Va., converting it into a Republican daily newspaper in 1883, and editing the same until July, 1899. He was president of the Na- tional Editorial association, 1887-88 ; collector of internal revenue, district of West Virginia, 1889- 93 and 1897-1901, and in March of the latter year was inaugurated governor of West Virginia for the term expiring March 4, 1905.
WHITE, Albert Smith, senator, was born in Blooming Grove, N.Y., Oct. 24,1803, He was graduated from Union college, A.B., 1822, A.M., 1825 ; was admitted to the bar in Newburg, N.Y., 1825 ; removed to Indiana ; practised in Rushville and Paoli, and in March, 1829, located in Lafay- ette, subsequently making his home in Stock- well. He was special reporter of the legislative proceedings of the state for the Indianapolis
