Last updated on 01/12/08
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Lynn Watson-Powers has done research on Adelaide Harnden and this is what she discovered. To view the individual family tree of Adelaide, click here.
Adelaide Harnden was born the 3rd child of Enos and Charlotte (Kent) Harnden on 10-04-1842 in Port Byron, NY. Her mother, Charlotte died in 1849 when Adelaide was about 7 years old. Our records indicate she married William J. Osborne (b. 1840 in MI) on 06-10-1861 in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co, MI at the St. Luke's parsonage. Adelaide was 18 and William was about 21 at marriage. They had two daughters, Flora M. (b. 09-25-1862 in MI) and Alice E. (b. 03-14-1864 in MI). When the Civil War came about, William enlisted on 11-21-1863 at Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., MI (when Adelaide was about 5 months pregnant with Alice). He mustered into service at Mount Clemens, MI as a blacksmith for Co. A, 1st Regiment Michigan Cavalry. On 06-11-1864 he was taken a prisoner of war and sent to Andersonville, GA. The Widow Pension records show Adelaide received her last letter from William on 07-13-1864 stating he was "expiring somewhat from a serious illness". James E. Johnson who was also a prisoner at Andersonville, testified for Adelaide's Widow's Pension records that he was "an acquaintance" of William's during their stay in prison. He stated William died of chronic diarrhea (and starvation) about the first day of November 1864 in the hospital of Andersonville prison. The records show Adelaide was living in Dentonville, Wayne Co., MI on 01-02-1867 and then in Dundee, Monroe Co., MI on 09-06-1867. In 1870, she was living in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI when she married James Jardine (of Huron Station, Brownstown, MI). James was 22 (b. est. 1848 in Scotland) and Adelaide was 27 at the time of their marriage in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI. Adelaide's sister, Melvina Watson had witnessed their marriage. On 09-07-1870, Melvina Watson petitioned for pensions for Adelaide and William's daughters. Gustavus A. Whitney appeared as one of the witnesses to the respectability of the petitioners. We aren't sure what became of James Jardine, but on 01-01-1878 Adelaide married Gustavus Adolphus Whitney in Monroe Co., MI. Gustavus (b. est. 1827 in Maine) was about 51 and Adelaide was 35 at the time of their marriage.
In the 1880 Michigan, Wayne Co, Detroit census it shows Gustavus as a painter and Adelaide living with Flora 17, Alice 16, Frank 14 and Bertha 8. We believe that Frank is Gustavus' son from a previous marriage. We are not sure if Bertha is Gustavus' daughter from a previous marriage or if she is Adelaide and James Jardine's daughter. In the 1900 Michigan, Wayne Co, Detroit census, it shows G. and Adelaide Whitney with their grandson, Raymond (b. 08-1893 in MI), age 6. (We believe Raymond Whitney Kerfoot is the son of Bertha.)
Gustavus Whitney died on 07-24-1904 at the age of about 77, in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI and was buried in Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI. In the 1910 Michigan, Wayne Co., Detroit census it shows Adelaide Whitney as the head of household. Her occupation was listed as "agent, real estate/house renting". Living with her was her grandson, Raymond Whitney Kerfoot, age 17. According to Adelaide's Widow Pension records, on 01-02-1917 Raymond Kerfoot and Adelaide Whitney were living on Leslie Ave. in Nashville, Davidson Co., TN. And then Adelaide was shown from the Widow Pension records as living in Puyallup, Pierce Co, WA at the Ladies of G.A.R. Home. Adelaide Harnden
Osborne Jardine Whitney died at the age of 90 years and 4 months at the
Ladies of G.A.R. Home in WA on 02-06-1933 of apoplexy, old age and
invert bowels. |
