Henry H. Whaley
Encyclopedia
Henry Hurst Whaley early settler of San Diego
.
Henry H. Whaley was born c. 1818 in New York City
to Thomas Alexander Whaley Sr. and Rachel Pye.
His father died in 1832, leaving Rachael to raise the family.
Henry, with his brother John, took over their late father's locksmith business when they became old enough.
They obtained government contracts in Washington, D.C.
, where he lived for a time, and the nearby government depot at Harpers Ferry
.
Henry and his wife Annie moved to San Diego in May 1855.
Henry went into partnership with his brother Thomas
, and reopened the General Store Thomas previously ran in Old Town San Diego as "Whaley and Whaley."
They also operated a brick manufacturing business, bought from George P. Tebbetts
.
Henry and Annie lived with his brother and wife until they had their own home.
Henry and Annie quarreled frequently and were often drunk, both in public and private.
Henry often overcharged customers, was loud, and often drunk.
Frustrated, Thomas dissolved the partnership in November 1855.
In retaliation, Henry assaulted Thomas in the store, and when Henry was sent out to the street, he shouted insults and obscenities and challenged Thomas to come out and fight.
The brothers weren't on speaking terms after that.
In 1857, Henry was a victim of an apparently unprovked knife attack on him and Lewis Franklin by William "Reub" Leroy. Leroy attacked the two and ran from Franklin's store. He pulled a man off a horse and ran it to the Presidio Hill
, where he remained. Authorities came and arrested him. Whaley's arm had to be amputated as a result of the attack.
Leroy was held in the county "jail" (an adobe building) where he dug out and descaped with another prisoner.
Whaley was Associate Judge, Court of Sessions, San Diego County during 1857–1858.
Whaley was appointed President for the San Diego city Board of Trustees (informally called "Mayor") during 1858–1859.
Henry and Annie had at least one son, John Thomas.
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
Henry H. Whaley was born c. 1818 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Thomas Alexander Whaley Sr. and Rachel Pye.
His father died in 1832, leaving Rachael to raise the family.
Henry, with his brother John, took over their late father's locksmith business when they became old enough.
They obtained government contracts in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where he lived for a time, and the nearby government depot at Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. In many books the town is called "Harper's Ferry" with an apostrophe....
.
Henry and his wife Annie moved to San Diego in May 1855.
Henry went into partnership with his brother Thomas
Thomas Whaley
Thomas Whaley early settler of San Diego.Whaley was born in New York City 1823 to Thomas Alexander Whaley Sr. and Rachel Pye. His father died in 1832 and his will said Thomas should receive a liberal education....
, and reopened the General Store Thomas previously ran in Old Town San Diego as "Whaley and Whaley."
They also operated a brick manufacturing business, bought from George P. Tebbetts
George P. Tebbetts
George Parrish Tebbetts was an American politician from California.Tebbetts was born in Concord, New Hampshire and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1848, where he studied medicine. With the California gold rush he sailed to San Francisco...
.
Henry and Annie lived with his brother and wife until they had their own home.
Henry and Annie quarreled frequently and were often drunk, both in public and private.
Henry often overcharged customers, was loud, and often drunk.
Frustrated, Thomas dissolved the partnership in November 1855.
In retaliation, Henry assaulted Thomas in the store, and when Henry was sent out to the street, he shouted insults and obscenities and challenged Thomas to come out and fight.
The brothers weren't on speaking terms after that.
In 1857, Henry was a victim of an apparently unprovked knife attack on him and Lewis Franklin by William "Reub" Leroy. Leroy attacked the two and ran from Franklin's store. He pulled a man off a horse and ran it to the Presidio Hill
Presidio of San Diego
El Presidio Reál de San Diego is an historical fort established on May 14, 1769, by Commandant Pedro Fages for Spain. It was the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific Coast of the United States. As the first of the presidios and Spanish missions in California, it was the base of...
, where he remained. Authorities came and arrested him. Whaley's arm had to be amputated as a result of the attack.
Leroy was held in the county "jail" (an adobe building) where he dug out and descaped with another prisoner.
Whaley was Associate Judge, Court of Sessions, San Diego County during 1857–1858.
Whaley was appointed President for the San Diego city Board of Trustees (informally called "Mayor") during 1858–1859.
Henry and Annie had at least one son, John Thomas.
See also
- "The Whaley House", The Journal of San Diego History 6:2 (April 1960) by June A. Strudwick
- Henry H. Whaley House
- 1888 Great Register of Voters for San Diego shows Henry H. Whaley age 70, born New York.