SEVENTH GENERATION


35. George Hustus Whalen was born about 1855 in Nova Scotia, Canada. George's birth year is recorded from a Family Group Record completed March, 1995 by Patricia Hudson Stephens, wife of Dr. Harley W. Stephens who was a grandson of George H. Whalen. On his Registration of Marriage to Abbie Bennett, he records his birthplace as "Nova Scotia, British America." He died about 1946 in Massachusetts. The actual death date and burial location for George H. Whalen is not yet known. This information about his death in Massachusetts comes from Miriam Seagren's daughter Nancy Meikle. George's death in the states is probable because he had a daughter Named Carrie by his second marriage that was a school teacher in Massachusetts. George was a farmer living in Arena, Iowa County, Wisconsin.

According to Grace Naomi Marquis (the daughter of Abigail (Bennett) Stephens), after the death of his wife Abigail O. (Bennett) Whalen, George gave custody of their daughter (Grace's mother) to his mother-in-law Rachel Dodge Bennett and then moved to Canning, Kings County, Nova Scotia. George remarried there and later had six children in Nova Scotia. The story goes that Ma Bennett, in grief, ran off George after her daughter Abbie died.

He was married to Abigail Olivia Bennett (daughter of Elisha Rue Bennett and Rachel Dodge) on Oct 7 1878 in Black Earth, Dane County, Wisconsin. George and Abigail were married at the residence of clergyman E.H. Sackett and was witnessed by John Ford and M.A. Sackett. Elisha R. Bennett and Rachel Dodge Bennett were married on a Monday. Both Elisha and Rachel were 23 years old according to their Marriage Certificate. Abigail Olivia Bennett was born on Aug 31 1857 in Northwestern county in Illinois bordering Wisconsin. In the United States Census for Arena, Iowa County, Wisconsin, taken July 12, 1870, Abigail's (Abby as it is written in the census) birthplace is recorded as Illinois. Her birthplace is probably in the same area that her parents Elisha R. Bennett and Rachel Dodge Bennett were married. This would possibly be Jo Davies County where Galena, Illinois is located. She died on May 14 1879 in Arena, Iowa County, Wisconsin. Abigail's death is also recorded in the Bennett Family Bible. Abbie O. Whalen died about three weeks after giving birth to her daughter Abigail (Bennett) Stephens.

The published newspaper obituary reads: The funeral services of Mrs. Abbie O. Whalen were held at the Congregational Church instead of at the residence of Mrs. Bennett as stated last week. The occasion was a sad one indeed and the house was well filled with sympathizing friends. Rev. Alvirus Hitchcock preached a very able and pleasing sermon, at the close of which he paid a fit tribute of respect to the departed one. She was buried on May 16 1879 in Spring Green, Iowa County, Wisconsin. The inscription on the gravestone of Abigail reads:

"Rest then daughter, rest in peace, Though the grave be dark and drear; For the time is swiftly speeding, And our Saviour must be near."

"Abbie O. Wife of Geo. H. Whalen, Died May 14, 1879, age 21 years, 9 mo." George Hustus Whalen and Abigail Olivia Bennett had the following children:

child+45 i. Abbie Bennett.

He was married to Julia Whalen in Nova Scotia, Canada. The second marriage for George H. Whalen. Julia Whalen was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. George Hustus Whalen and Julia Whalen had the following children:

child46 i. Carrie Whalen was a in 1910 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. In the first letter, dated NOV 1910, from Carry's father George H. Whalen to his first daughter Abbie (Bennett) Stephens, he writes: "Abby, I am going to tell you that you have three brothers and two sisters they are scattered. My oldest girl Carry has been teaching school in Boston for the last six years."

Carrie's sister Alma D. Whalen that lived near Carrie in Massachusetts writes to Abbie (Bennett) Stephens: "My oldest sister Carrie is teaching school in Everett near Boston. She has been teaching there some time." She was born in Canning, Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Carry Whalen was the half-sister of Abigail (Bennett) Stephens. She became a school teacher, taught in Boston, MA and then moved to California. Carry never married, and lived to be 105 years old.
child47 ii. Josephine Whalen was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. Josie, as her father George H. Whalen called her, married a man by the name of Ralph Shaw. In a post card, dated December 11, 1911 to her half-sister Abbie (Bennett) Stephens she writes: "Dear Sister - Just a card to wish you a merry Christmas and happy new year. Will write you a letter soon. I expect to go home for Christmas which is eleven miles from here. I would like you to write me a nice long letter telling me all about yourself. Can't fit much on a card so must close with every good wish to you and Mr. Stephens. I am your loving sister. Mrs. Ralph Shaw, Wolfville, Kings County, N(ova) S(cotia)."

Her sister Alma D. Whalen wrote to Abbie (Bennett) Stephens: "My sister Josephine is married and lives near our home. She has one child but is afraid she is not going to raise it as it has been rather sickly ever since it was born." No name or gender for Josie's child is mentioned in Alma's letter.
child48 iii. Alma D. Whalen was a on Dec 31 1911 in Amherst, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Alma writes to her half-sister Abbie (Bennett) Stephens: "I have been up here (Amherst) this makes the second season am working at trimming hats... I will try and tell you a little about the place I am working. It is a small town about 98 miles from Boston. There are two colleges so of course that makes a town more lively." She was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. Alma wrote her half-sister Abbie (Bennett) Stephens a Christmas greeting dated December 20th, 19??. On the card, she listed her address as 63 Main Street, Amherst, Mass. Alma wrote: "Dear Mrs. Stephens, No doubt you will be surprised to get a card from me a perfect stranger. Our father sent me your address so am sending a card to wish you a merry Christmas. Would like to hear from you if you care to write. Your sister, Alma D. Whalen."
child+49 iv. Ralph Whalen.
child50 v. Harry Whalen was born in Nova Scotia, Canada.
child51 vi. Lance Whalen was born in 1891 in Nova Scotia, Canada.

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