MAJOR JOHN CALVIN WHALEY (1838 – 1903)

Dr. Whaley practiced medicine in Osceola. He was born in Missouri 1838/39 and died 1903. He is buried in Osceola Cemetery.

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Missouri History Encyclopedia, 1901:

John Calvin Whaley, physician and legislator, of St. Clair County, Missouri, was born December 16, 1838, near Palmyra, Missouri. His parents were Albert and Mary Foreman (Bird) Whaley, both natives of Kentucky – the father was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky and the mother in Harrison County, of that State. Albert Whaley came to Missouri in 1821, and his wife’s family a year or two later. The ancestry of the Whaley family is highly honorable and peculiarly interesting. James Whaley, a Virginian, descended from an English family which immigrated to America about 1660, was a soldier in the Virginia line of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, and was present at the surrender of Yorktown. His son, Edward, was named for Sir Edward Whaley, a not remote ancestor. Edward was a soldier in the war with Great Britain in 1812. He was also a Captain of Kentucky Riflemen during the Indian Wars and was promoted to Major. He was the father of Albert Whaley, whose son was John Calvin Whaley. The last named acquired the rudiments of an education in the common schools of Palmyra, following this with academical studies in the Baptist Seminary of that city and collegiate courses at St. Paul’s College and McKee College. He then took up the study of medicine, meanwhile teaching school in order to defray his expenses. He afterward entered the Louisville (Kentucky) Medical College, where he attended lectures. He first entered upon practice in Texas, removing to Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1869, and in 1875 to Osceola, Missouri, where he has been professionally engaged ever since. The Civil War interrupted the medical career he had determined upon. When hostilities began in 1861 he enlisted as a private soldier in Colonel Porter’s Missouri Regiment. He then assisted in recruiting for General M.E. Green’s Regiment of Missouri State Guards, in which command he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. In the desperate and bloody battle of Lexington, resulting in the surrender of the Federal Colonel Mulligan and his command, Lieutenant Whaley so distinguished himself in action that he was promoted to the rank of Captain. He was subsequently severely wounded in the ankle. In 1864 he was further promoted to the rank of Major in the Confederate States Army, but his wound incapacitated him for active field service, and he was practically retired. In 1896 Dr. Whaley was elected to the State Senate by the largest Democrative majority ever cast in the Sixteenth Senatorial District. His service in that body was conspicuous, and at every stage and in every emergency was in the interests of the people. He was active in his advocacy of the famous Anti-Trust Law, which he introduced, and which is known as “the Whaley Anti-Trust Law” and the purpose of which is to restrain the operations of largely capitalized corporations in their encroachments upon the ordinary business of citizens of the State, dealing in such lines and after such methods as may be carried on by individuals. He had the satisfaction of seeing this salutary measure pass both houses, receive the approval of the Governor and take its place in the Statutes of Missouri. Dr. Whaley had in charge one bill upon the success of which his heart was set, his naturally humane disposition and his professional knowledge of the urgent necessity therefor, moving him to his most strenuous effort. It was the bill providing for the proper care of epileptics and the feeble-minded. Largely through his efforts the measure was passed in the Senate and House, and the institution for which it provided is now one of the fixed humanitarian institutions of the State. Dr. Whaley is an uncompromising, old-time Democrat, firm and steadfast in his support of the principles of the party, and stopping at no personal sacrifice to advance its interests. He is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity. Dr. Whaley was married to Mrs. Fannie Decherd, in September 1867. They have buried one child and have one living. Three other children remain to them from Mrs. Whaley’s former marriage. Dr. Whaley continues the practice of his profession and makes opportunity, as well, to assist in furthering all worthy movements and purposes, whether public or private in their nature, and in all this praiseworthy endeavor he has the cordial and earnest approval of the estimable woman who presides over his home.

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Bitter Ground, by Kathleen White Miles:

Dr. John Calvin Whaley was born in Marion County, MO 1838.
He enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861 at the call of Governor Jackson and was commissioned Lieutenant. He was a Captain when
wounded and captured in Shelby County. Imprisoned at Palmyra, St. Louis and Alton. He escaped and rejoined Price in Mississippi. Volunteer aide to Gen. Green in the Iuka Springs skirmish. Went to New Mexico after the surrender and back to Osceola in 1875.

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1883 History of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg. 1101:

WHALEY, John Calvin
JOHN CALVIN WHALEY, M.D., comes of old revolutionary stock. His great
grandfather, James Whaley, born in Virginia, removed to Kentucky at an early day. He served in the revolutionary war, and furnished his hired man with a horse and paid him a salary for service in the same cause. Edward Whaley, the son of James, came to Kentucky with his father when thirteen years old. He married and settled in Bourbon County, Kentucky. In 1819 he located lands in what is now Marion County, Missouri. He entered these lands at the first land sales in St. Louis in 1821. Albert Whaley, the father of John C., and Polly Bird were married December 21, 1826. The doctor's grandfather came to Missouri with his family and slaves in 1821 and improved the lands he had previously
located. He was the first county surveyor of Marion County and a member of the first grand jury. The subject of this sketch was born in Marion County, Missouri, December 16, 1838, and was the seventh of a family of thirteen children. He was reared on a farm, and received a good practical education at McGee and St. Paul Colleges. After leaving school he taught for seven years in Texas. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate army at the call of Governor Jackson and was commissioned a first lieutenant. After the battle of Lexington he was appointed adjutant to Colonel Franklin with the rank of captain, and he served in that capacity until wounded and captured near Bragg's School House in Shelby County. He was confined at Palmyra, St. Louis and Alton and succeeded in making his escape. He rejoined Price's army in Mississippi and became a volunteer aid to General Green in the Iuka Springs expedition. He went to Texas on important duty, and after the surrender he went to New Mexico and the mountains. In 1866 he was at Waco, where he engaged in teaching school and pursuing his medical studies. He commenced his professional career in Clernard County. In 1869 he
removed to Arkansas, near Fayetteville, and practiced there until 1875, when he came to Osceola, where he has since been actively pursuing his chosen profession. In connection with Mr. G. W. O'Conner he is largely interested in stock raising. Dr. W. was married in September, 1867, to Mrs. B. Deckerd, widow of B. Deckerd, who was killed in a battle in the Red River expedition. Mrs. W. has three children by her former marriage: Hugh, Ben and Bettie. Dr. and Mrs. W. have one son. Politically, the doctor is a Democrat, and he is also a Mason.

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St. Clair County Democrat February 1, 1940:

JOHN CALVIN WHALEY, M.D.
In 1896, Dr. Whaley was elected to the State Senate by the largest Democratic majority ever cast up to that time in the Sixteenth Senatorial District. His service in that body was conspicuous. He was active in the advocacy of the famous Anti-Trust Law, which he introduced and which was known as the ”Whaley Anti-Trust Law”. He had the satisfaction of seeing this bill pass both houses, receive approval of the Governor and take it’s place inthe statutes of Missouri.

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1880 census St. Clair County, Osceola Twp.:
J.C. Whaley, Self, Married, Male, White, age 41, birthplace MO, M. D.,
father born KY, mother born KY
Fannie Whaley, Wife, Married, Female, White, age 39, birthplace GA,
Keeping House, father born GA, mother born GA
Nat A. Whaley, Son, Single, Male, White, age 2, birthplace MO, father born MO, mother born GA
Hugh Dechard, Step-Son, Single, Male, White, age 22, birthplace TX, Works On Farm, father born TN, mother born GA
Ben Dechard, Step-Son, Single, Male, White, age 20, birthplace TX, Works On Farm, father born TN, mother born GA
Bettie Dechard, Step-Daughter, Single, Female, White, age 18, birthplace TX, At Home, father born TN, mother born GA

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International Genealogical Index:

John Calvin "Cal" Whaley, Confederate Army, Major.
Dr., male, born 16 DEC 1838 in Marion Co., Mo.; died 3 February 1903 in Osceola, St. Clair Co, Mo. Palmyra Baptist Seminary; McGee And St. Paul Colleges; Louisville (KY) Medical School.


John Calvin Whaley, born 1838, died 1903. Son of Albert Whaley & Polly Bird. Married Sarah Frances Newsome Deckerd. 1870 Clear Creek, Washington Co., Arkansas; 1880 Osceola Twp. Buried Osceola Cemetery.
Sarah Frances born 1841, died. 1909. Married 1, B. Decherd; married 2, John Calvin Whaley, buried Osceola Cemetery.

John Calvin Whaley, son of Albert and Mary Whaley. Born December 16, 1838, Marion County, Missouri, married September 1867 Fannie Deckerd, widow of B. Deckerd, killed during a battle in the Red River expedition, Civil War. Fannie had three children by her first marriage: Hugh, Ben and Bettie. John Calvin and Fannie had two children, one of which died young.

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Letter to son Nat

City of Osceola
June 4, 1901
Nat C Whaley
Fulton, Mo.
Dear Son
I have just received your letter asking our consent to a trip to Monroe City. All right if you can do yourself any good by doing so, go a head. While you are at Monroe City you are only about 20 miles from your Uncle Edward's at Palmyra. We are anxious to see you and have you with us but a few days will soon be over and then you will be home for some time. Ben will marry in the morning and start for the Klondike by the 7 o'clock morning train.
Yours as ever in haste,
John C. Whaley

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Osceola Cemetery Records:
Whaley, Emma, 1868 - 1948
Whaley, John, 1865 - 1948
Whaley, John Calvin, 1838 – 1903
Whaley, Sarah Frances, 1841 – 1909

Landaker Cemetery:
Whaley, Albert, 25 March 1804 – 6 January 1886, son of Edward Whaley, married Mary F. Bird. (1870 Washington Co., AR, Prairie Twp.)
Whaley, Martha A., 25 February 1853 – 2 March 1880
Whaley, Mary F. (Bird), wife of Albert Whaley, 5 April 1812 – 21 July 1888 (1880 Osceola Twp. Census)