Notes for DAVID WHITAKER:
1840 Census (Clinton County, Missouri)
Lists Males - 2 under 10/ 2 under 15/ 1 under 50
Lists Females - 1 under 40
From "Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas" published in 1889:
Jonas Whitaker is descended from an old English stock, as the name clearly indicates, and fortunately is able to trace the line back through the traditions of the family to the first ancestor who settled on this side of the waters. That ancestor was his paternal grandfather, David Whitaker, who, in company with a brother, emigrated to America from England during the early settlement of this country, and located in one of the Southern states, where he pursued his trade as a miller, till his death. He left eight children, one of whom was named Samuel, who became the father of Jonas Whitaker. Samuel Whitaker was born in White County, Tennessee, moved to Clay county, Missouri, when about twenty-five years of age, lived there eighteen years, and in 1844 moved to Texas. He settled in what afterward became Grayson county, near the Collin county line, laying a head-right there of 640 acres, and lived in that community until his death, which occured in January, 1863, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. He was for many years a large and successful farmer and stock dealer, and was also at one time the owner of a great many slaves.
The mother of Jonas Whitaker bore the maiden name of Susan Turner, and was a daughter of James Turner, a native of White county, Tennessee, but who moved to Clinton county, Missouri, and there died. Mrs. Whitaker was also born in White county, Tennessee, was a child when her father moved to Missouri, grew to womanhood there, and there met and was married to the subject's father. The children of this union were -Jonas, Jane, who was married to John Batterson; Rebecca, who married Christopher Nowland; Elizabeth, Jennette, who was married to William Garnett; Christopher, and Parmelia Ann.
The eldest of these, and the subject of this brief biography, Jonas Whitaker, was born in White county, Tennessee, March 20, 1825. He was about a year-old when his father moved to Missouri, settling in Clay county. In that county the subject of this sketch was mainly reared, being brought up to the plain life of a farmer.
On November 22, 1843, Mr. Whitaker married Isabelle, daughter of James Smarr, then of Andrew county, Missouri, but originally of Virginia.
In 1845, Mr. Whitaker and his father started with their families to Texas, reached Grayson county in November that year, and located. At that time neither Grayson nor Collin county was organized, the territory being included in old Fannin county. They settled near the Grayson and Collin line, locating their lands partly in each county, each taking up 640 acres, and making permanent settlement there on. At that date the entire country west as far as Gainesville was open and unsettled, there being only a militery post even at Gainesville. The Indians were numerous and troublesome, making frequent raids on the scattered setlements, in which they murdered, burnt, and carried away property and committed other depredations, ofter their manner of carrying on warfare. The Mexican troubles came on in a year or two after Mr. Whitaker's coming to Texas. His two brothers-in-law, John Batterton and Christopher Nowland, were both in the Mexican War, Mr. Whitaker remaining at home to take care of his and their families. Batterton and Nowland were killed while in service, and this calamity left upon Mr. Whitaker the burden of permanently providing for their families - a burden which he cheerfully assumed and faithfully performed.
When the the Civil War came on Mr. Whitaker was for the preservation of the Union, but on Texas going out he went with her, and became a sympathizer with the Confederate cause. He did not go into the service, however, but remained at home, rendering the cause such aid as he could by affording shelter and protection to Confederate soldiers and by providing for their families.
Mr. Whitaker has been a successful farmer and an extensive stock dealer. Over-confidence in his fellow-men has cost him much in the way of security debts, and he has a time or two been on the verge of financial ruin from this source, but he has held up well, notwithstanding his reverses, and retains the hope and buoyancy of spirit characteristic of his younger and more prosperous days. Mr. Whitaker has reared to maturity a large and interesting family of children, all of whom are now living except the youngest, are married and settled in life. His children are - Julia Ann, wife of John Watson; John, Susan, who was the wife of John Simpson, but is now deceased; Dennis, Nannie, wife of Irving T. Simpson; Addie, Elizabeth, wife of Pickens Bowen, and James Richard. These Mr. Whitaker has made reasonable provision for, and they are repaying his care and solicitude in their behalf with lives of usefulness and sobriety.
