Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

age boy would consider hardships, were
to him opportunities for getting closer to
nature and the land. From time im-
memorial, the Whitneys have been lovers
of land, tillers of fields and raisers of
flocks and herds. Throughout his broad
and varied career, with its pronounced
commercial success, William Hiram (2)
Whitney has been imbued with this in-
nate Whitney love of the land.
He was educated in the public schools
and Connecticut Literary Institute, entering
the employ of Leach, Shewell &
Sanborn, New York publishers, on the
completion of his studies, and subsequently
going with Cowperthwait &
Company, also publishers. Seeking a
more active life, at the age of twenty, he
went West, locating at Castle Rock,
Colorado, thirty-three miles south of
Denver, where he devoted two years to
the lumber business under the firm name
of Holcomb & Whitney, whence he re-
turned to the East and immediately entered
the paint business, working his way
up from the bottom with the King Paint
Manufacturing Company of Brooklyn,
New York, to the position of superin-
tendent. With seven years experience,
and after mastering the manufacturing
and selling of paint, he organized the
Colonial Works, Inc., Brooklyn, New
York, and established numerous famous
brands of paint, selling practically in all of
the world's markets. The success of Colonial
Works, Inc., has been notable, due
in large measure to Mr. Whitney's
rugged perseverance, resourcefulness and
determination to produce only quality
products. Colonial Works, Inc., alone
might well be an enviable monument to
mark any man's career.
On October 16, 1895, at Enfield, Connecticut,
William Hiram (2) Whitney
married Mary Harriet Pryor, daughter
of George and Charlotte Elizabeth Abbe
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
24:
Pryor, of Enfield, the Pryors being an old
Enfield family. There are three daughters
: Anna Kincaid, Elizabeth Abbe, and
Mary Elizabeth.
Notwithstanding an exceptionally ac-
tive business life, and with many interests
constantly before him, William
Hiram (2) Whitney has given much of
himself and means to the development
and maintenance of the beautiful family
estate, Enfield Farms, at Enfield, Con-
necticut. He has also devoted a great
deal of time especially to the constructive
breeding of the Duroc-Jersey hog. Mr.
Whitney's objective in breeding has been
to raise the standard of the Duroc-Jersey
and make its merits known universally.
As a distinct contribution to the Whitney
family history, and in keeping with
its finest traditions, there is perhaps
nothing which is more genuinely typical
of those traditions and nothing more
likely to be of definite and lasting benefit
to thousands of Americans than William
Hiram Whitney's wholehearted interest
in "flocks and herds." All has been done
without thought of profit, no ulterior mo-
tive has prompted the development of
Enfield Farms, and only a native love of
"flocks and herds" could possibly steel
a man to give years and the best of him-
self to making it easier for others to suc-
ceed in. constructive breeding.
Mr. Whitney is also prominently identi-
fied with numerous clubs and civic organ-
izations, working for the betterment of
conditions and interested in welfare
movements. Twice he has been elected
president of the Eastern Duroc-Jersey
Association, and also served as president
of the Commerce Club. He was one of
the founders of the Green Point National
Bank of Brooklyn, and is one of its direc-
tors. Mr. Whitney is also interested in
the following: Brooklyn Chamber of
Commerce, Manufacturers' Association