Pg 839

Alfred U. Whiffen, justice and farmer, was born in 1827 in Sterbredge, England, one of six children (three deceased) of Uridge and Sarah (smith) Whiffen, both born about 1800, the former near London and the latter at Worcester, England. They were married at Worcester, and afterward lived in our subject's native town until the latter's second year, when they went to Utica, N. Y., where the father was a teacher in the high school, and among his pupils were Horatio and John Seymour. In 1835 they went to Buffalo, where he was mathematical professor in the high school. In the winter of 1837, with our subject, he made a tour of Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Washington, where they remained a time and returned to Utica, where the father died in the same year and the mother soon after,

Pg 840

leaving our subject and another child, who went to North Carolina where, through the influence of George W. Berthune, a noted Philadelphia divine, she secured a situation as teacher at $800 per year. After three years there she taught two years in Wautumpka, Ala; She then went to the present Okalona, Miss., and bought a farm with her money, and thence our subject soon went via New York, Mobile and the Tombigbee River. In 1858 our subject and wife moved to Coffee County, Tenn., and in 1863, on account of political ideas, was driven out to Shelby County Ill.

In 1862 he joined Crittenden's corps of Rosecran's army and served as scout until he left Tennessee. In 1865 he began farming in White County, served four years as surveyor, and served as justice until August, 1875, when he settled in Franklin County. Since 1884, when he was elected to fill an unexpired term, he has served as justice. The mother and a younger brother lived on the Mississippi farm until 1867, and bought a farm in White County where she died in 1877.

By his first marriage our subject's children are Fannie, wife of E. Kershaw; Emily, wife of G. W. Graddy; Jeffielona (deceased), William B., Robert E. and Ida. His wife, nee Louisa Bowden, was born about 1835 in Coffee County, Tenn., and died in 1878 at his mother's home in her native county.

In November, 1886, he married Louisa, daughter of Henry and Jane (Roberson) Bolen, born in 1865. He owns 340 acres, ninety-three in Hamilton County. His satisfactory justiceship is attested by larger majorities at re-election. Formerly a Whig and first voting for Taylor, he has since been a Republican. He is a member of the F. M. B. A., and of the Christian Church, while his wife is a Methodist.