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Canfield Historic Society honors famous citizen
By ABBY SLANKER
The Canfield Historical Society will host a ceremony July 4 to dedicate an Ohio State Historical Marker to Canfield’s most famous citizen, Elisha Whittlesey.
The ceremony will be at noon at the band stand on the Village Green.
The marker will be located on the site of the original Whittlesey Legal Records Building, in close proximity to the Canfield Post Office. The original Whittlesey Legal Records Building was relocated to Pioneer Village on the Canfield Fairgrounds.
According to Canfield Historical Society member Pat Sabo, Whittlesey is most famously known as the watchdog of the U.S. Treasury.
“Whittlesey served as Comptroller of the U.S. Treasury under four presidents, including President Taylor, President Fillmore, President Pierce and President Lincoln. He restored financial stability to the U.S. Postal System, which is kind of ironic, as his historical marker is now located near the Canfield Post Office,” Sabo said.
According to Sabo, Whittlesey was also the founder of the Whig Party in Ohio, founder of the Mahoning County Agricultural Society, founder of Norwalk, Ohio, general agent and president of the Washington National Monument Association, secretary to General
William Henry Harrison and brigade major in the Army of the Northwest in the War of 1812 under General Elijah Wadsworth.
Whittlesey was born in Connecticut and was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1806, and in that same year, immigrated to Canfield and became prosecuting attorney for Western Reserve. He and his wife, Pauly Mygatt, had 10 children and some of her family also immigrated to Canfield.
Eight descendents of Whittlesey’s son, William Wallace Whittlesey, will attend the dedication ceremony. One will participate in the ceremony, alongside Canfield Historical Society President Suzie McCabe who will give the introduction, Canfield Mayor Bill Kay and State Sen. Joe Schiavoni will serve as the keynote speaker.
Robert H. and Maxine Neff and family are the benefactors for the historical marker.
According to Sabo, the Canfield Historical Society is always looking for new members.
“For anyone interested, historical society membership applications will be available at the Mahoning Dispatch Museum, which will be open for tours July 4,” Sabo said.