The ninth of ten children and the youngest of four sons born to Caleb Whims and Rachel Kerr, Newt and his siblings were raised near Hookstown, Pennsylvania. On August 11, 1862, in the second year of the Civil War, he and his brother Jasper enlisted for three years of service. On August 22, at the public square in front of the Beaver County courthouse, they mustered as privates in Company H, 140th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, along with their older brother Joshua. Newt subsequently served in several major battles of the Civil War, including Chancellorsville, Cold Harbor, and the Siege of Petersburg. According to his daughter Minnie, "Father liked to tell of one experience in the war. After [his] first battle, he noticed that his older brother Joshua was standing beside him, when he should have been in another place. (A very serious thing for a soldier to do.) Father asked him what he was doing there, and Uncle Joshua replied, 'I wanted to see how the little boy was taking it.' Father then asked, 'How did I?' 'Splendidly,' Uncle Josh replied, 'but your face was as white as snow.'"
On October 24, 1864, at the Poplar Grove Church built by Union soldiers outside of Petersburg, Newt was promoted to second lieutenant and spent the rest of the war as an officer in the 23rd U.S. Colored Troops Regiment. During that time the 23rd USCT participated in the continuing siege of Petersburg, followed after the war's end by guard duty at Fortress Monroe while Jefferson Davis was a prisoner there. Newt left the army on June 3, 1865, as the regiment was preparing for deployment to Texas.
While he was away at war, Newt's childhood sweetheart Glaphyra Ketura "Kitty" Vance had moved to Pottawatomie County, Kansas with her family. After a brief return to Pennsylvania to see his parents, Newt joined the Vances in Kansas and was married to Kitty at the Vance farm in Myers Valley on October 11, 1865. In the years that followed he practiced farming, teaching, merchandising, and law and was an active member of the Westmoreland Post 151, Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.). He also served on the executive committee of the Westmoreland County Republican Party. In August 1886, he moved his family to San Diego and then to Escondido, where Newt was postmaster for about six years and a regent of the Methodist high school. When his tenure as postmaster ended in the second Cleveland administration, he returned to farming and teaching. In 1899, the family moved to Los Angeles so Louise and Minnie could attend the State Normal School there. Newt served as Inspector (and later Superintendent) of Street Sweeping for the City of Los Angeles and as commander of Stanton Post No. 55, G.A.R.
Newt and Kitty had four children that survived to adulthood: Jasper Calhoun, Mattie Elsie, Minnie Vance, and Louise Ketura.
The following biographical sketch of Newton appeared in "An Illustrated history of southern California," Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1890:
"NEWTON C. WHIMS was born near Hookstown, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1844. He was the son of Caleb Whims, a prominent farmer of that county. The first few years of his life were uneventful, attending district school in the winter and working on the farm in the summer, until the breaking out of the war. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers. This regiment was attached to Hancock's old division (First) of the famous Second Corps, and took part in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac from Chancellorsville to Appomattox. The last year of the war he was in command of his company, with the rank of Second Lieutenant. In June, 1865, he settled on a farm in Pottawattamie [sic] County, Kansas. He taught school and studied law during the winter seasons until 1872, when he was admitted to the bar. From that time until 1886 he was principally engaged in educational work. In the spring of that year he removed to San Diego, and the same year he located in Escondido, in the sun-kissed vale, and engaged in the mercantile business. In October, 1887, he received the appointment of Postmaster at Escondido, but, being an uncompromising Republican, he was removed to make room for a Democrat. In March, 1889, on the return of the Republicans to power, he was again appointed to the position of Postmaster, which place he now holds.
He was married to Miss G.K. Vance, October 11, 1865, and has four children, one son and three daughters. Mr. Whims is a radical temperance man, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a good citizen."
On October 24, 1864, at the Poplar Grove Church built by Union soldiers outside of Petersburg, Newt was promoted to second lieutenant and spent the rest of the war as an officer in the 23rd U.S. Colored Troops Regiment. During that time the 23rd USCT participated in the continuing siege of Petersburg, followed after the war's end by guard duty at Fortress Monroe while Jefferson Davis was a prisoner there. Newt left the army on June 3, 1865, as the regiment was preparing for deployment to Texas.
While he was away at war, Newt's childhood sweetheart Glaphyra Ketura "Kitty" Vance had moved to Pottawatomie County, Kansas with her family. After a brief return to Pennsylvania to see his parents, Newt joined the Vances in Kansas and was married to Kitty at the Vance farm in Myers Valley on October 11, 1865. In the years that followed he practiced farming, teaching, merchandising, and law and was an active member of the Westmoreland Post 151, Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.). He also served on the executive committee of the Westmoreland County Republican Party. In August 1886, he moved his family to San Diego and then to Escondido, where Newt was postmaster for about six years and a regent of the Methodist high school. When his tenure as postmaster ended in the second Cleveland administration, he returned to farming and teaching. In 1899, the family moved to Los Angeles so Louise and Minnie could attend the State Normal School there. Newt served as Inspector (and later Superintendent) of Street Sweeping for the City of Los Angeles and as commander of Stanton Post No. 55, G.A.R.
Newt and Kitty had four children that survived to adulthood: Jasper Calhoun, Mattie Elsie, Minnie Vance, and Louise Ketura.
The following biographical sketch of Newton appeared in "An Illustrated history of southern California," Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1890:
"NEWTON C. WHIMS was born near Hookstown, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1844. He was the son of Caleb Whims, a prominent farmer of that county. The first few years of his life were uneventful, attending district school in the winter and working on the farm in the summer, until the breaking out of the war. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers. This regiment was attached to Hancock's old division (First) of the famous Second Corps, and took part in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac from Chancellorsville to Appomattox. The last year of the war he was in command of his company, with the rank of Second Lieutenant. In June, 1865, he settled on a farm in Pottawattamie [sic] County, Kansas. He taught school and studied law during the winter seasons until 1872, when he was admitted to the bar. From that time until 1886 he was principally engaged in educational work. In the spring of that year he removed to San Diego, and the same year he located in Escondido, in the sun-kissed vale, and engaged in the mercantile business. In October, 1887, he received the appointment of Postmaster at Escondido, but, being an uncompromising Republican, he was removed to make room for a Democrat. In March, 1889, on the return of the Republicans to power, he was again appointed to the position of Postmaster, which place he now holds.
He was married to Miss G.K. Vance, October 11, 1865, and has four children, one son and three daughters. Mr. Whims is a radical temperance man, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a good citizen."
The ninth of ten children and the youngest of four sons born to Caleb Whims and Rachel Kerr, Newt and his siblings were raised near Hookstown, Pennsylvania. On August 11, 1862, in the second year of the Civil War, he and his brother Jasper enlisted for three years of service. On August 22, at the public square in front of the Beaver County courthouse, they mustered as privates in Company H, 140th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, along with their older brother Joshua. Newt subsequently served in several major battles of the Civil War, including Chancellorsville, Cold Harbor, and the Siege of Petersburg. According to his daughter Minnie, "Father liked to tell of one experience in the war. After [his] first battle, he noticed that his older brother Joshua was standing beside him, when he should have been in another place. (A very serious thing for a soldier to do.) Father asked him what he was doing there, and Uncle Joshua replied, 'I wanted to see how the little boy was taking it.' Father then asked, 'How did I?' 'Splendidly,' Uncle Josh replied, 'but your face was as white as snow.'"
On October 24, 1864, at the Poplar Grove Church built by Union soldiers outside of Petersburg, Newt was promoted to second lieutenant and spent the rest of the war as an officer in the 23rd U.S. Colored Troops Regiment. During that time the 23rd USCT participated in the continuing siege of Petersburg, followed after the war's end by guard duty at Fortress Monroe while Jefferson Davis was a prisoner there. Newt left the army on June 3, 1865, as the regiment was preparing for deployment to Texas.
While he was away at war, Newt's childhood sweetheart Glaphyra Ketura "Kitty" Vance had moved to Pottawatomie County, Kansas with her family. After a brief return to Pennsylvania to see his parents, Newt joined the Vances in Kansas and was married to Kitty at the Vance farm in Myers Valley on October 11, 1865. In the years that followed he practiced farming, teaching, merchandising, and law and was an active member of the Westmoreland Post 151, Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.). He also served on the executive committee of the Westmoreland County Republican Party. In August 1886, he moved his family to San Diego and then to Escondido, where Newt was postmaster for about six years and a regent of the Methodist high school. When his tenure as postmaster ended in the second Cleveland administration, he returned to farming and teaching. In 1899, the family moved to Los Angeles so Louise and Minnie could attend the State Normal School there. Newt served as Inspector (and later Superintendent) of Street Sweeping for the City of Los Angeles and as commander of Stanton Post No. 55, G.A.R.
Newt and Kitty had four children that survived to adulthood: Jasper Calhoun, Mattie Elsie, Minnie Vance, and Louise Ketura.
The following biographical sketch of Newton appeared in "An Illustrated history of southern California," Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1890:
"NEWTON C. WHIMS was born near Hookstown, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1844. He was the son of Caleb Whims, a prominent farmer of that county. The first few years of his life were uneventful, attending district school in the winter and working on the farm in the summer, until the breaking out of the war. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers. This regiment was attached to Hancock's old division (First) of the famous Second Corps, and took part in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac from Chancellorsville to Appomattox. The last year of the war he was in command of his company, with the rank of Second Lieutenant. In June, 1865, he settled on a farm in Pottawattamie [sic] County, Kansas. He taught school and studied law during the winter seasons until 1872, when he was admitted to the bar. From that time until 1886 he was principally engaged in educational work. In the spring of that year he removed to San Diego, and the same year he located in Escondido, in the sun-kissed vale, and engaged in the mercantile business. In October, 1887, he received the appointment of Postmaster at Escondido, but, being an uncompromising Republican, he was removed to make room for a Democrat. In March, 1889, on the return of the Republicans to power, he was again appointed to the position of Postmaster, which place he now holds.
He was married to Miss G.K. Vance, October 11, 1865, and has four children, one son and three daughters. Mr. Whims is a radical temperance man, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a good citizen."
On October 24, 1864, at the Poplar Grove Church built by Union soldiers outside of Petersburg, Newt was promoted to second lieutenant and spent the rest of the war as an officer in the 23rd U.S. Colored Troops Regiment. During that time the 23rd USCT participated in the continuing siege of Petersburg, followed after the war's end by guard duty at Fortress Monroe while Jefferson Davis was a prisoner there. Newt left the army on June 3, 1865, as the regiment was preparing for deployment to Texas.
While he was away at war, Newt's childhood sweetheart Glaphyra Ketura "Kitty" Vance had moved to Pottawatomie County, Kansas with her family. After a brief return to Pennsylvania to see his parents, Newt joined the Vances in Kansas and was married to Kitty at the Vance farm in Myers Valley on October 11, 1865. In the years that followed he practiced farming, teaching, merchandising, and law and was an active member of the Westmoreland Post 151, Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.). He also served on the executive committee of the Westmoreland County Republican Party. In August 1886, he moved his family to San Diego and then to Escondido, where Newt was postmaster for about six years and a regent of the Methodist high school. When his tenure as postmaster ended in the second Cleveland administration, he returned to farming and teaching. In 1899, the family moved to Los Angeles so Louise and Minnie could attend the State Normal School there. Newt served as Inspector (and later Superintendent) of Street Sweeping for the City of Los Angeles and as commander of Stanton Post No. 55, G.A.R.
Newt and Kitty had four children that survived to adulthood: Jasper Calhoun, Mattie Elsie, Minnie Vance, and Louise Ketura.
The following biographical sketch of Newton appeared in "An Illustrated history of southern California," Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1890:
"NEWTON C. WHIMS was born near Hookstown, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1844. He was the son of Caleb Whims, a prominent farmer of that county. The first few years of his life were uneventful, attending district school in the winter and working on the farm in the summer, until the breaking out of the war. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers. This regiment was attached to Hancock's old division (First) of the famous Second Corps, and took part in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac from Chancellorsville to Appomattox. The last year of the war he was in command of his company, with the rank of Second Lieutenant. In June, 1865, he settled on a farm in Pottawattamie [sic] County, Kansas. He taught school and studied law during the winter seasons until 1872, when he was admitted to the bar. From that time until 1886 he was principally engaged in educational work. In the spring of that year he removed to San Diego, and the same year he located in Escondido, in the sun-kissed vale, and engaged in the mercantile business. In October, 1887, he received the appointment of Postmaster at Escondido, but, being an uncompromising Republican, he was removed to make room for a Democrat. In March, 1889, on the return of the Republicans to power, he was again appointed to the position of Postmaster, which place he now holds.
He was married to Miss G.K. Vance, October 11, 1865, and has four children, one son and three daughters. Mr. Whims is a radical temperance man, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a good citizen."
Gravesite Details
Member GAR. Source: Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Dept. of California and Pacific
Family Members
Siblings
