John Whittemore SR

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Biography

JOHN ELLSWORTH WHITTEMORE 1911-1983

John Elsworth Whittemore was born in Binghamton, Broome County, New York on the 11th of February 1911 and was the son of Frank Ezra Whittemore 1880-1967 and Mary Jane CORBIN Whittemore 1884-1963.

John's Father, Frank and Mother, Mary Jane Whittemore were the Parents of:

• (1) Orrin Orin Leslie Whittemore 1902–1986
• (2) Clarence John Whittemore 1904–1976
• (3) Frank Ezra Whittemore JR 1906–1906
• (4) Earl Clifford Whittemore 1908–1997
• (5) John Ellsworth Whittemore 1911–1983
• (6) Olivetta "Olive" R. Whittemore 1914–1926.

Five years before John was born, on the 5th of December, 1906 his baby brother, Frank Ezra Whittemore, JR died at only 16 days old. Another family death occurred when John was 15 years old, his only sister, Olivetta "Olive" Whittemore died at the age of 12.

The Press and Sun Belletin Newspaper of Binghamton, New York, published the Whittemore - Arnold Wedding Announcement on the 18th of February 1929. Eighteen year old John Ellsworth Whittemore, son of Frank E. Whittemore and his wife, Mary Jane CORBIN and 22 year old Miss Dorothy E. ARNOLD, daughter of George Arnold and his wife, Mary PARREY intended to marry on the 11the of October 1929.

On the 11th of October 1929, John Ellsworth Whittemore and his Bride, Miss Dorothy E Arnold were married in Binghamton, Broome County, New York. Announcement of the Marriage was published on the 12th of October 1929 on page five of The Press and Sun Bulletin.

In 1930 John and Dorothy Whittemore were living with her parents - George and Mary Arnold in Binghamton, Broome County, New York. Brothers of Dorothy: Roland - age 19, Paul - age 14, John - age 10, and sister, Thelma - age 2 were still living with their parents also. Parents, George and Mary Arnold also had a lodger, Harold Lakius, age 25, living at the home too. Husband, John Whittemore was working as a tinsmith in Binghamton.

Sadly, on the 19th of January 1932 an Interlocutory Decree of Divorce was granted to Mrs. Dorothy E ARNOLD Whittemore from her husband, John Ellsworth Whittemore. The reasons for the divorce are unknown. The Interlocutory Decree grants the divorce provisionally but does not terminate the Marriage until the expiration of a certain period of time, which has not been disclosed thus far in our research. Dorothy ARNOLD Whittemore resumed her maiden name of Arnold after the divorce.

On the 8th of August 1932, John married Vera Gladys "Fluff" UTTER 1915-2006 in New Jersey. From this union two sons were born.

John E (no middle name - intial only) Whittemore, JR born in Binghamton, New York. When this researcher asked as to why John, JR did only had a middle initial and not his Dad's middle name all his Mother said was she didn't want to write it out. However, she did add JR. to his name. After moving from New York to Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, USA to their surprise, Gary Lee Whittemore was born Ten Years after his brother.

Children of John and Vera "Fluff" Whittemore:\

• 1 - John E Whittemore, JR 1934-2012
• 2 - Gary Lee Whittemore

For reasons unknown to the Sons of John Whittemore, the First Marriage of their Father was never disclosed to his children and was recently discovered via research on ancestry.com by his daughter-in-law, Carole BROWN Whittemore. It was quite a surprise! Oldest son, John JR had passed in 2012 and brother Gary, who also did not know, has no idea if Johnny had ever known about his Father's first marriage. The Grandchildren were also bewildered as to why the marriage and divorce was never discussed. A search has been under way to see if there may be "hidden siblings" to find, but at this current time, it looks like there were no children born to John Ellsworth Whittemore's first marriage to Dorothy ARNOLD who also remarried to Herbert M. Covey on the 31st of July 1933 in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania.

John was a salesman in New York and then took a job as the Regional Manager for Scott Paper and retired after he had a serious double heart attack in 1965. The doctors suggested he move to Florida for his health which they did in two stages. First they stayed there 6 months and home 6 months, then in 1971 they permanently moved to Fort Myers, Lee County, Florida where they enjoyed their retirement. They lived at Orange Harbor Mobile Home Park and had a large double wide mobile home with two bedrooms on the Orange River with a boat dock. John enjoyed his boat for a while but then his health required him to sell it. He was a smoker but stopped when he had his heart attack. He enjoyed drinking scotch every day at 5:00 pm, two drinks and no more, but that soon disappeared too. He developed lung cancer which he did radiation treatments for a short period, but didn't like it so he stopped. Lung cancer is what took his life in August of 1983 instead of heart disease.

John was a tall, dark, and handsome man who always treated me so nice. When he came home from traveling for his job, he would not shave all week end and would enjoy sitting in his recliner with his feet up watching television. John just loved it that I was into genealogy and was so pleased he gave me his book on the Whittemore Family by Zimmer. I was totally thrilled!! I sure wish he was here to see all the work I have done on his family! Love you, John!!

Biography, First hand knowledge, and Research by Daughter-in-law, Carole Anne Brown-44556 Whittemore on the 27th of April 2016 and updated on the 28th of May 2023.

Sources

Birth & Parents
New York Birth Certificate Feb 11, 1911 Parents: Frank E Whittemore and Mary Jane CORBIN
[1] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

Birth 11 Feb 1911 Binghamton, Broome, New York, USA
ERROR in book - John was born in 1911 NOT 1914

• (1) Book: A bicentennial history of the James Whittemore Family of Union, New York 1776-1976 by Kenneth Robert Whittemore, JR. PAGE 20
  
• (2) First hand knowledge of Daughter-in-law, Carole Anne BROWN Whittemore and possession of Original Birth Certificate
  

1915 Albany NY State Archives Population Census Sched
1915 Election Dist:02 Assembly Dist:01 City: Binghamton Ward 12 County:Broome Pg:12 **WHITTEMORE: Frank 35 Mary J 31 Oren L 13 Clarence J 11 Earl C 7 John T 4 Oliver R 1 (is Olive R) Residence 1 June 1915 Binghamton Ward 12, Broome, New York, USA
[2] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

1920 Census
Place: Binghamton Ward 12 Broome New York Roll T625_1086 Pg:11B; Enumeration District: 60 Img: 855 **WHITTEMORE: Frank E 39 HEAD Mary J 36 wife Oren L 17 son Clarence J 15 son Earl C 10 John E 8 son Blivetta - error name is OLIVETTA 6 dau
[3] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

1925 NY State Population Census Schedule
1 June 1925 Conklin, Broome, New York, USA NYState Archives Albany NY State Population Cen sus Sched 1925 ElectionDist:01 Assembly District: 02 City: Conklin County:Broome Pg:12 **WHITTEMORE: Frank 45 Mary J 41 Clarence 21 John 14 Olive 12
[4] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

Page 5 Newspapers.com - The Press and Sun Bulletin 18 Feb 1929
Article: (1st) Marriage of Son John E Whittemore to Miss Dorothy Arnold John Parents: Frank E and Mary Jane CORBIN Whittemore marriage place Itutland address Lilver-View St Dorothy parents: Geo Arnold II, Mary Parrey
[5] Paid Members Only, Newspapers.com

New York County Marriage Records 1847-1849
Name: John E Whittemore Gender: Male Age: 18 Birth: abt 1911 Marriage: 10 Oct 1929 Marriage Place: Broome, New York, USA Father: Frank E Whittemore Mother: Mary J Corbin Spouse: Dorothy E Arnold Film: 000808878
[6] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

New York, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1847-1849, 1907-1936
John E Whittemore Male Marriage Date: 11 Oct 1929 Marriage Place Broome, New York, USA Spouse Dorothy E Arnold Film Number 000808878
[7] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

New York State, Marriage Index, 1881-1967
John E Whittemore Gender Male Marriage 11 Oct 1929 Marriage Place Binghamton, New York, USA Spouse Dorothy E Arnold Certificate 34674
[8] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

Page 5 Press & Sun Bulletin Sat 12 Oct 1929
Miss Dorothy Arnold is Bride of John E Whittemore
[9] Paid Members Only, Newspapers.com

1930 Census
Place: Binghamton Broome New York Page: 4A Enumeration Dist: 0048 FHL microfilm: ** ARNOLD: George 49 Mary 46 Dorothy 22 daughter ** WHITLE MORES (WHITTEMORE): John 19 born NY Son-in-law Occupation: Tinsmith ** ARNOLD: Roland son 19 Paul son 14 John son 10 Thelma daughter 2 ** LAKIUS: Harold 25 Lodger
[10] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

Page 3 Press & Sun Bulletin - Divorce Decree Granted to Dorothy E ARNOLD
From John E Whittemore on 19 Jan 1932 Page3 Press & Sun Bulletin Binghamton NY
[11] Paid Members Only, Newspapers.com

Page 3 Press & Sun Bulletin - Interlocutory Divorce Decree Granted to Dorothy E ARNOLD Whittemore
Interlocutory Divorce Decree Granted to Dorothy E ARNOLD Whittemore from John E Whittemore Tues 19 Jan 1932 She resumes Maiden Name Arnold Binghamton, NY Page 3 Press&Sun Bulletin.
[12] Paid Members Only, Newspapers.com

Search - People also ask: What is an Interlocutory Decree of Divorce
An interlocutory decree of divorce in the United States or a decree nisi in England, for example, is a judicial decree pronouncing the divorce of the parties provisionally but not terminating the marriage until the expiration of a certain period.
[13] yahoo search.com

Marriage 8 Aug 1933
To Vera Gladys "Fluff" Utter 1915–2006 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, USA Only year given in book. Place- first hand knowledge of Daughter in law, Carole Anne BROWN Whittemore Vera Gladys "Fluff" Utter 1915–2006
SOURCE: Book: A bicentennial history of the James Whittemore Family of Union, New York 1776-1976 by Kenneth Robert Whittemore, JR. PAGE 20

Marriage to Vera Gladys "Fluff" UTTER
8 Aug 1933 Binghamton, Broome, New York, USA Certified Copy Mar 10, 1976 Ref # 61017 Office of City Clerk City Hall Jersey City, NJ 07302 This is to certify that the records of this ofc disclose a marriage as indicated John Elsworth Whittemore to Vera Gladys Utter Aug 8 1933 Judge Edward Markley Certified Copy in Possession of Carole Anne Brown-44556 Whittemore
[14] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

1935 Included in 1940 Census
1935 Odensburg, New York, USA INCL in 1940 Census Place: Dunkirk, Chautau qua, New York; Roll: T627_2509; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 7-29 **WHITTEMORE: John 29 Mgr Household Equip Works for self Vera 25 Clerk Retail Store John 5 PRINCE: Emma 20 Lodger
[15] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

1938 U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 Name: Vera G Whittemore Gender: Female Residence Year: 1938 Street address: 407 Main Residence Place: Dunkirk; Fredonia, New York, USA Spouse: John E Whittemore Publication Title: Dunkirk, New York, City Directory
[16] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

1940 Census
Place: Dunkirk, Chautauqua, New York; Roll: T627_2509; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 7-29 **WHITTEMORE: John 29 Mgr Household Equip Works for self Vera 25 Clerk Retail Store John 5 PRINCE: Emma 20 Lodger
[17] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

Personal Appearance
1941 New York, USA Personal appearance: Height: 5' 61/4" tall, Weight: 137 Color Eyes: Blue, Color Hair: Brown, Date of Birth: Feb 11, 1911 and his signature. **NOTE: HEIGHT IS WRONG!! According to his Driver's license valid thru 1985 he was 5'11" tall!! Corrected by First hand knowledge of Daughter-in-law, Carole Anne BROWN Whittemore - He was TALL, dark (Black hair) and Very Handsome!
[18] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

John suffered a double coronary at age 55
May 1965 Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, USA John suffered major heart attack just before 1st grson, Gary JR was born. Forced him to retire and eventually move to Fla, they stayed 6 mo in IN and 6 mo in FL until 1971 when they moved permanently.
First hand knowledge of Daughter-in-law, Carole Anne BROWN Whittemore

U.S. Public Records 1935-1993 Index, Volume 2
1971 Fort Myers, FL U.S. Public Records 1935-1993 Index, Volume 2 : Name: John Whittemore Birth Date: 11 Feb 1911 Address: 200 Suncrest Ln City: Fort Myers State: FL Zip Code: 33903 ERROR: CORRECT Address is 200 Sun CIRCLE
[19] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

50th Wedding Anniversary
8 Aug 1983 Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, USA Unfortunately John was in the hospital on their 50th Anniversary and died 2 days later of lung cancer. Here is the photo of their 45th anniversary.
[20] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

Obituary - Florida Newspaper
10 Aug 1983 Fort Myers, Lee, Florida, USA Metastatic Carcinoma of lung (Fluff gave me the clipping but couldn't remember the name of the newspaper company)
[21] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

Death 10 Aug 1983 Fort Myers, Lee, Florida, USA
SOCIAL SECURITY DEATH INDEX: Name: John Whittemore SSN: 075-05-1132 Last Residence: 33905 Fort Myers, Lee, Florida, United States of America Born: 11 Feb 1911 Died: Aug 1983 State (Year) SSN issued: New York (Before 1951)
(1) [22] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com
(2) [23] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

Burial Aug 1983 Fort Myers, Lee, Florida, USA
Lee Memorial Park - Mauseoleum Abbey "East" A - 17. Lee Memorial Park Cemetery - Cremated Social Security Death Index, Master File. 075-05-1132 Last Residence: 33905 Fort Myers, Lee, FL, USA Born: 11 Feb 1911 Died: Aug 1983 State (Year)
[24] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

Find-A-Grave Memorial 38629372 1983 Fort Myers, Lee, Florida, USA Created by: Carole Whittemore Record added: Jun 22, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 38629372 Web: Florida, FindAGrave Index, 1800-2012 Name: John Els worth Whittemore Birth: 11 Feb 1911 Age: 72 Death: 10 Aug 1983 Burial Pl: Fort Myers, FL
[25] FindAGrave.com

Ancestry.com Whittemore Family Tree by CaroleAnne269 Bio and research by Daughter-in-law, Carole Anne BROWN-44556 Whittemore.
[26] Paid Members Only, ancestry.com

BOOKS in possession of Carole Anne Brown-44556 Whittemore:
1 - A bicentennial history of the James Whittemore Family of Union, New York 1776-1976 by Kenneth Robert Whittemore, JR.
2 - GENEALOGY of the WHITTEMORE FAMILY by D.S. Zimmer
3 - A Genealogy of several branches of the Whittemore family including the original family of Hitching, England with a brief lineage of other branches 1890 B.B. Whittemore
[27] archive.org

wikitree.com - Whittemore-354
Biography, First hand knowledge, and Research by Daughter-in-law, Carole Anne Brown-44556 Whittemore on the 27th of April 2016 and updated on the 28th of May 2023.
[28] wikitree.com/wiki/Whittemore-354