A wagon box placed upon the ground and sheltered from the on-coming storm by only the canvas cover that had protected it across rivers and plains gives little enough comfort to women and men of healthy physiques; but to the little Pioneer mother and new-born child within, it was nursery, bedroom, and home.

From the day-by-day account of the founding of Parowan, Iron County Utah, written by Andrew Jenson, Church Historian, we read: p. 37

"Saturday, March 1, 1851: New Samuel Whitney, a son of

Francis and Clarissa Whitney, was born in the camp,

he being the first white child born in Iron County."

Thus is recorded that on March l, 1851 where the Public Library now stands, six weeks after arriving at their destination, Clarissa Alger Whitney gave birth to her first child, a son, whom they christened New Samuel Whitney. He was called "New" all his life because of the fact that he was the first white child born in Iron County. I have often heard him say that his place of birth was in a wagon box, covered with ice and snow. No cabins had been built and no accommodations or comforts were available to the Pioneer Mother and Child. This same wagon box was soon made into a coffin for a woman who died very shortly afterward, and it became her last resting place.

This first white child in Iron County was the son of Clarissa Alger Whitney (born June 2, 1830, a daughter of Samuel and Clarissa Hancock Alger, pioneers of 1848) and Francis Tuft Whitney (born March 24, 1805, the son of Joseph and Rebecca Stinchfield Whitney.) See previous histories for their lives in detail. Francis Tuft Whitney was quite a poet. He penned the following on the occasion of his son's birth:

New Whitney was reared amid conditions incident to pioneer life in the West. From his father he learned the blacksmithing trade. This in turn he taught to his sons. Our family history tells us that there were four generations of blacksmiths in the Whitney family; these lived all the way from Massachusetts, Ohio, and on to Utah. New was an expert maker of wagon wheels, nails, an iron horse and ox shoes. His tall, gaunt frame was always as strong and straight as the tools he made at his forge and used for his life's work as a blacksmith.

His recreations and hobbies, however, took up a great deal of his busy life. He was an expert gardener, loving to experiment with new trees and shrubs. He was one of the first in the State to graft such fruits as plums, peaches, and apples on one tree. His love for chickens led him to raise a particularly beautiful species of Boffcoachin hen. His interest in the honeybee really led to quite an income, for at one time he had thousands of bees, hives, and a large extractor. He was a natural Bee Man, seldom using a hat or net.

New Whitney built himself a home on the corner of Main Street, just across from the County Court house, facing on Main, and with the north side of the house toward the courthouse. This home was built of rough concrete for the front part, and adobe walls for the back rooms. He and his wife lived there for almost their entire married life, at least for 50 years.

At the age of twenty-one he met and married Sarah Elizabeth Gurr. She was seventeen years old. Sarah was the daughter of William and Sarah Elizabeth Barker Gurr, pioneers from England, Australia and California. Sarah was born in Sidney, Australia February 13, 1855. The young couple traveled by team to Salt Lake City to be married in the Old Endowment House. They were accompanied by New's brother, Job Whitney, and Sarah's father and mother. They took along four horses, intending to bring back a Bainwagon for Brother Christian Rasmussen and freight for the Parowan Cooperative Store; but they had the misfortune to lose one horse, so they couldn’t bring back the freight. However, they did bring some furniture for themselves, including a Charter Oak stove at a cost of $47.00. They prepared their food over a campfire and were six weeks in making the entire wedding journey. They were married in the 0ld Endowment House July 29, 1872 by Joseph F. Smith.

Nine children were born to this worthy couple. The oldest and the youngest, however, did not live to adulthood. These are their children: Sarah Rosetta Gurr Whitney, born May 31, 1873, died August 16, 1887 at age 14 years; Mary Jane Whitney, born March 29, 1875; William Francis, born August 17, 1877; Rachel Geneva born September 25, 1879; Minnie, born January 23, 1882; Mabel, born August 5, 1886; Samuel James, born April 2, 1889; Bertha, born September 10, 1891; and Marion Gurr Whitney, born November 2, 1894, died January 13, 1895 age 2 months. To 1954 the surviving children are: Rachel Geneva (Eva), Minnie, Mabel, Samuel James and Bertha.

After eleven years of married life and becoming the father to five children, New was called to perform a mission to the Southern States. He writes that his friends and relatives assisted him with means to his field of labor in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His wife was his entire support while he was on his mission. She did this by operating and managing the telegraph stations in the towns of Parowan, Cedar City, and Beaver City, Beaver County, Utah.

He journeyed first to Milford, Utah to the railroad in company. with his wife, Sarah, and their youngest child Minnie, and his sister-in-law, Susan Gurr. The next day he arrived in Salt Lake City and stayed it the home of George A. Smith, the founder of Parowan thirty-two years before.

New was set apart for his mission September 3, 1883 and blessed by Apostles Wilford Woodruff and Heber J. Grant. He arrived in Chattanooga, Tenn., Friday, Oct. 31, 1883 where Brigham H. Roberts was president of the mission. He labored some months in Alabama with Brothers Fairbanks and Ransome M. Stevens. He traveled in Elmore, Macon, and Tallahassa Counties and I quote him as saying that he was often in "some very close places", meaning, very dangerous ones. During the first year of his mission he traveled 2006 miles. In the spring of 1885 he received word to meet Pres. John Morgan in Decatur, Alabama and finish his mission there until released. He was honorably released from his mission in September 1885 and arrived safely home in October of that year, the blessings of the Apostles upon his head being fully realized. During his mission he baptized four souls, helped emigrate three families to Zion; two to Utah, and one to Colorado; and indirectly brought many souls to membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

After returning from his mission, New became President of the Young Mens Mutual Association Edward M. Dalton and William H. Holyoak as counselors. He was ordained an Elder in the Church January 26, 1870 by Wm. C. McGregor.

New Samuel Whitney was ordained one of the Seven Presidents of the 69th Quorum of Seventies by Brigham H. Roberts, and later in life (1925) was ordained a High Priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He received a Patriarchal blessing at the hands of Apostle Wilford Woodruff just before he entered the mission field. He was elected to the City Council with Edgar Clark, Morgan Richards, Sidney Burton, George- Halterman, and one other man in his early manhood. For years before his death, after retiring from the blacksmith trade, he was custodian of the Iron County Courthouse; and acted as bailiff to the State and Federal Courts for many years. He was quite musically inclined and belonged to the Parowan Fife and Drum Corps for years. His singing voice was mellow and rich even in his declining years.

New's father, Francis Tuft Whitney, had helped to erect the first opera house in Parowan, and when New was a young man he took an active part in the amateur dramatics of the day. The names of three young men will be remembered in connection with those early entertainments; George Taylor, Orson Orton, and New S. Whitney. He was also quite a step-dancer and helped on all programs of the day. He always wore a full beard, floating like a white cascade over his chest. I remember that as a child he let us grandchildren swing our weight off the floor by holding on to his beard.

New and Sarah Whitney celebrated their Golden Wedding day, July 29, 1922 with a reception tendered them by their children in the Relief Society Hall. Friends and relatives by the score attended this eventful 50 year event. A pleasing program was given, talks relative to the life of the honored couple were enjoyed, and a banquet was served to all. Enjoyment was general; no time was left idle, and even at a late hour the guests seemed oath to depart. New was 71 at this time and Sarah was 67. They had seven living children and 39 grandchildren. They were to live four more eventful years together before being parted for this life.

Mrs. Eleanor G. Bruhn wrote the following poem in their honor for the event:

Fifty years together, more than an average man's life.

They have rowed together down the stream of life.

Fifty years - a half century they have rowed along,

Mixed their music with the ripples sent upon the waves their song,

Never lonely was the rowing, Babes were sent to bless the way,

The storms oft beat upon the vessel, They just smiled and sailed away.

Even death has made a visit to the little ship,

With more faith in their Creator, they went forward on their trip.

Fifty years!

They're, back again now

With a home for only two

Seemed at first they could not stand it,

Wondered what they'd ever do.

Till they all nine flocking in

Bringing home the babies.

Seems as if the old boat now

Is a visiting place for men and ladies,

Sail right on you dear old couple,

May the skies be ever blue,

May calm seas and pleasant weather

Fill the journey left to you.

May the storm waves and the thunder

Ne'r molest your little ship,

Happiness and endless pleasure

Go with you upon your eternal trip.

On Monday, March 5, 1926 the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers of Parowan celebrated the 75th birthday of "Uncle New" S. Whitney. The afternoon opened with a luncheon in the Relief Society Hall followed by a program which included a sketch of his life by his daughter, Eva W. Richards, and remarks by "Uncle New". The day's observance closed with a grand ball in the evening for all over 16.

During the middle of May 1926, in his 75th year, New became ill from a cold. The following is quoted from the Parowan Times, newspaper of the week of May 29, 1926: "Parowan’s First Born Child Passes at Seventy-Five. New Samuel Whitney goes to final reward after three quarters of a century as resident here. End comes after brief illness; funeral is held on Tuesday afternoon; following a couple of weeks' illness caused by chronic disorders of his system, New S. Whitney, first white child to be born in this County, passed quietly to his final reward on Saturday evening of last week at the family residence. Though it was apparent for some time before that the end might come at any time, yet there was little evidence of suffering; he was perfectly rational until the end came, and he passed on quietly much as one might wish to go when the inevitable hour arrived. Only an hour or two before he was joking some young lady, who called to inquire about him, and he mustered almost his last bit of strength to stretch out his hand to shake hands with friends who called during the evening. Near nine o'clock he had a coughing spell which lasted a few minutes and when it was fairly over he winked out with scarcely a struggle."

"Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon in the Tabernacle, at which time hundreds of people from this and adjoining communities gathered to pay final tribute. Messrs. John W. Bentley and Walter C. Mitchell were the speakers both of whom spoke words of praise for him and of comfort and consolation to the bereaved ones. Messrs. Rex c. Ward and Blanch Whitney sang a duet and Miss Ilene Hanks, a grand-daughter from Salt Lake City, read a few lines composed for the occasion by Eleanor G. Bruhn. The singing was furnished by members of both ward choirs." Then followed a sketch of his life and events.

"The surviving children are: Mrs. Charles D. Adams, Mrs. Clarence Richards, Mrs. William J. Lowder, Mrs. Scott Mitchell, Messrs. William F. and Samuel J. Whitney, all of Parowan, and Mrs. J. S. Hanks of Salt Lake City. Mr. Whitney was very active in church and civic affairs for many years and among his other public services he filled a mission to the Southern States for the L.D.S. Church.

With the community at large, we mourn his passing and we extend to the bereaved ones sincere sympathy."

IN LOVING MEMORY OF UNCLE NEW WHITNEY - Eleanor G. Bruhn

So Uncle New has left us, His friends he kept throughout the years,

And there’s sorrow far and wide That's the record of Uncle New.

Not just the little circle Fond of mirth and music,

Who stood at his bed side; Happy hours he whiled away

But every one in our town As he sat among his loved ones,

And many who are far away And his accordion did play.

Are shedding tears and speaking And 0! What a great comfort

Kindly words of him today, Were the last hours of his life,

He was the first white baby As with loving hearts and tender

That blessed our little town; Stood his children and his wife.

Born in a plain wagon box You can talk of gold and grandure,

That sat upon the ground. You can talk of wealth and fame,

He grew to be a credit But the greatest is the love of those

With his cheerful sunny way; Who've shared your home and name,

The little children loved him, But hope still cheers us onward

For his very gentle way. Although today ‘tis hard,

Just as humble as a child, For death is sweet to those

Meek and lowly too, Who die within the, Lord.

Thus, after seventy-five years of a good life passed one of God's loved sons, New Samuel Whitney. He loved little children, and during his last years was seldom seen without one or two grandsons or daughters following him like little shadows of himself. To the end he stood tall, straight, white of hair and beard, and ever strong from a lifetime of labor over the anvil, bellows and orchard. To the end his thinking was as straight and strong as his body. He was truly a worthy example to his posterity.