CHESTER G. WHITHAM, a farmer at Clinton, Ohio county, West Virginia, is a native of this county, and was born October 22, 1858; he is a son of Peregrine and Christiana Whitham, natives of Ohio County, West Virginia, and Washington County, Pennsylvania, respectively.
     Peregrine Whitham pursued farming, and had much ability as an agriculturist. He was interested in raising stock, and gave considerable attention to importing fine sheep and other stock. He first introduced registered and imported sheep into the neighborhood. He was born January 30, 1808, and his death took place November 19, 1883. Most of his life was spent in Liberty district. He was first an Abolitionist, and later became a Republican; he held the office of justice of the peace, and was well known in the county. In early life he belonged to the Free Presbyterian church, until after slavery was abolished. His wife was also a member of the Free Presbyterian church; she was born November 12, 1816, and departed this life August 16, 1881. They had seven children, - three sons and four daughters, - as follows: J. D., Sarah J., Luther B., Mary C., Josephine M., Arabella M., and Chester G., the subject of this sketch.
     J. D. is a resident of Denver, Colorado. Sarah J. was born in 1837, married S. B. Chambers, and died in 1884. Luther B. has recently engaged in the lumbering business, and resides in St. Louis, Missouri. Mary C. became the wife of J. F. Trovilla, and lives at Aledo, Illinois. Josephine M. is now Mrs. J. I. Carson, residing at Washington, Pennsylvania. Arabella M. was united in marriage with J. B. Chambers, of West Alexander, Pennsylvania.
     Mr. Whitham attended the common schools and has followed agricultural pursuits all his life, raising, also, very fine stock. He owns 200 acres of land, all improved, and supposed to have coal under it. It is part of the old Marling farm.
     Mr. Whitham married Margaret E. Marling, a native of Pennsylvania, on June 21, 1883. She is a daughter of John and Margaret (Harrison) Marling, distant relatives of General Benjamin Harrison. John Marling is still living; he was born November 29, 1822, in Ohio county, where he has followed farming all his life. His wife died January 16, 1895, in her seventieth year. Mr. Whitham's wife was an only child, and after a common school education she attended the Wheeling Female Academy. Mr. and Mrs. Whitham have one child, Doris Marling, who is well known by her acquaintances as a sweet, loving child. Mr. Whitham is one of the best farmers of the county, and stands well as a neighbor, citizen and friend.

LUTHER BRAINARD WHITHAM was born 28 Mar 1840 on the Whitham family farm near Valley Grove, Ohio Co., VA. He was a teacher, real estate broker, and investment broker. On 28 Dec 1870, he married Elizabeth Canon Stewart, a native of Indiana Co, PA. The couple taught school together in Hillsboro, IL, then St. Louis, MO. Elizabeth died in St. Louis on 23 Jan 1892 at age 52. The couple had two children: Peregrine Stewart Whitham and Mary Stewart Whitham, both born in Hillsboro, IL. Luther Whitham returned to Ohio Co, VW before 1910, living in retirement in Valley Grove. In May 1917, he was admitted to the Weston Hospital in Weston, WV where he died on 15 Aug 1917 of complications of bronchitis. He was interred in the West Alexander Memorial Cemetery, West Alexander, PA in the Whitham family plot.