Born in Otsego County, New York, on the 17th of January, 1821. He received a liberal education and was reared on a farm. At twenty-two years of age he went to Alabama and became a merchant. In 1850 he joined the gold seekers in a trip to California where he remained until 1853. In 1855 he came to Iowa, locating in Monona County, where he acquired a farm of more than 7,000 acres. He began the planting of trees, raising black walnut from the nuts and was very successful. He also planted other varieties, including fruit trees, doing a large amount of intelligent experimental work in tree culture and giving the results of his labors in this line to the public through the State Horticultural Society and its publications. He was a close observer and contributed a large amount of valuable information for the benefit of Iowa and prairie farmers and western horticulturists. His farm beside being one of the largest in the State, was one of the best managed and was an enduring object lesson to other farmers. He was many times nominated by the Democratic party, of which he was a lifelong member, for public offices. He was one of the early trustees of the State Agricultural College and a valuable member of the board. He was elected to the State Senate in 1883, serving four years. In 1885 he was nominated by his party for Governor but was not elected. Mr. Whiting served six years as one of the Regents of the State University. He died at his home on the 2d of December, 1897. His son, William C. Whiting, was a member of the House of the Twenty-ninth General Assembly.

Born in Otsego County, New York, on the 17th of January, 1821. He received a liberal education and was reared on a farm. At twenty-two years of age he went to Alabama and became a merchant. In 1850 he joined the gold seekers in a trip to California where he remained until 1853. In 1855 he came to Iowa, locating in Monona County, where he acquired a farm of more than 7,000 acres. He began the planting of trees, raising black walnut from the nuts and was very successful. He also planted other varieties, including fruit trees, doing a large amount of intelligent experimental work in tree culture and giving the results of his labors in this line to the public through the State Horticultural Society and its publications. He was a close observer and contributed a large amount of valuable information for the benefit of Iowa and prairie farmers and western horticulturists. His farm beside being one of the largest in the State, was one of the best managed and was an enduring object lesson to other farmers. He was many times nominated by the Democratic party, of which he was a lifelong member, for public offices. He was one of the early trustees of the State Agricultural College and a valuable member of the board. He was elected to the State Senate in 1883, serving four years. In 1885 he was nominated by his party for Governor but was not elected. Mr. Whiting served six years as one of the Regents of the State University. He died at his home on the 2d of December, 1897. His son, William C. Whiting, was a member of the House of the Twenty-ninth General Assembly.