_From the Engineering Record, New York, Dec. 13, 1890_
Thomas Jefferson Whitman was born July 18, 1833, in Brooklyn, N. Y.,
from a father of English Stock, and mother (Louisa Van Velsor) descended
from Dutch (Holland) immigration. His early years were spent on Long
Island, either in the country or Brooklyn. As a lad he show'd a tendency
for surveying and civil engineering, and about at 19 went with Chief
Kirkwood, who was then prospecting and outlining for the great city
water-works. He remain'd at that construction throughout, was a favorite
and confidant of the Chief, and was successively promoted. He continued
also under Chief Moses Lane. He married in 1859, and not long after was
invited by the Board of Public Works of St. Louis, Missouri, to come
there and plan and build a new and fitting water-works for that great
city. Whitman accepted the call, and moved and settled there, and had
been a resident of St. Louis ever since. He plann'd and built the works,
which were very successful, and remain'd as super-intendent and chief
for nearly 20 years.
Of the last six years he has been largely occupied as consulting
engineer (divested of his cares and position in St. Louis,) and
has engaged in public constructions, bridges, sewers, &c., West and
Southwest, and especially the Memphis, Tenn., city water-works.
Thomas J. Whitman was a theoretical and practical mechanic of superior
order, founded in the soundest personal and professional integrity. He
was a great favorite among the young engineers and students; not a few
of them yet remaining in Kings and Queens counties, and New York city,
will remember "Jeff," with old-time good-will and affection. He was
mostly self-taught, and was a hard student.
He had been troubled of late years from a bad throat and from gastric
affection, tending on typhoid, and had been rather seriously ill with
the last malady, but was getting over the worst of it, when he succumb'd
under a sudden and severe attack of the heart. He died at St. Louis,
November 25, 1890, in his 58th year. Of his family, the wife died in
1873, and a daughter, Mannahatta, died two years ago. Another daughter,
Jessie Louisa, the only child left, is now living in St. Louis.
[When Jeff was born I was in my 15th year, and had much care of him for
many years afterward, and he did not separate from me. He was a very
handsome, healthy, affectionate, smart child, and would sit on my lap
or hang on my neck half an hour at a time. As he grew a big boy he liked
outdoor and water sports, especially boating. We would often go down
summers to Peconic Bay, east end of Long Island, and over to Shelter
Island. I loved long rambles, and he carried his fowling-piece. O,
what happy times, weeks! Then in Brooklyn and New York city he learn'd
printing, and work'd awhile at it; but eventually (with my approval) he
went to employment at land surveying, and merged in the studies and work
of topographical engineer; this satisfied him, and he continued at it.
He was of noble nature from the first; very good-natured, very plain,
very friendly. O, how we loved each other--how many jovial good times we
had! Once we made a long trip from New York city down over the Allegheny
mountains (the National Road) and via the Ohio and Mississippi rivers,
from Cairo to New Orleans.]
God's blessing on your name and memory, dear brother Jeff!