Orson Ferguson Whitney (1855-1931)

Orson F Whitney (1855-1931)

LDS Church Apostle and Biographer

Vital Stats

 * Son of Horace Kimball Whitney (1823-1884) and Helen Mar Kimball (1828-1896)
 * 1855-Jul-01 : Birth in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co, Utah Territory
 * 1879-Dec-18 : Marriage to Zina Beal Smoot (1859-1900) in Salt Lake City, Utah
 * 1931-May-16 : Died in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co, Utah, USA. Buried next day at Salt Lake City Cemetery

Biography
Whitney was a politician, journalist, poet, historian and academic. In 1878, as a young man, Whitney began a career in writing with the business office of the LDS newspaper, the Deseret News, later becoming a reporter and the city editor. During a mission in Europe for the LDS Church from 1881 to 1883, he acted as editor of the church publication Millennial Star. In 1896–1897, Whitney taught English and Theology at Brigham Young College, in Logan, Utah.

In 1899, Whitney accepted the position of Assistant Church Historian and served in that position until he was called as an apostle.

Whitney was also involved in the politics of Salt Lake City and Utah. He served on the Salt Lake City Council in 1880, acted as City Treasurer from 1884 to 1890, and served as a State Senator in 1898, and again in 1901.

His wife had a brother, Reed Smoot, who was both an elected US Senator, for Utah and an Apostle in the LDS Church.

Orson was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from April 9, 1906 until his death.

Children of Orson Whitney and Zina Smoot

 * 1) Horace Newell Whitney (1880-1908) - died age 28
 * 2) Heber Kimball Whitney (1882-1883) - died young
 * 3) Emily Whitney (1885-1973) -
 * 4) Helen Margaret Whitney (1887-1962) -
 * 5) Margaret Whitney (1889-1968) -
 * 6) Charles Byron Whitney (1891-1943) -
 * 7) Murray Wells Whitney (1892-1972) -
 * 8) Albert Owen Whitney (1893-1963) -
 * 9) Virginia Clayton Whitney (1899-1984) -
 * 10) Paul Van Cott Whitney (1899-1942) -