Writings of John D. Whitford
John Dalton Whitford (17 Aug 1825-13 Sep 1910), legislator, railroad president, soldier and historian, was born in New Bern, the son of Hardy Whitford and Mary James Clark. He married Jeanie Reid. At the age of 21, he was elected Intendent of New Bern (as the office of Mayor was designated at the time). He also served as Collector of Customs at New Bern's port, and soon after was elected President of the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad. In May 1919, Judge R.A. Nunn gave a speech detailing the life of Col. John D. Whitford.
At various times during the late 1800s and the early 1900s, Whitford penned articles for the local newspapers detailing the history of New Bern. These articles are being transcribed and placed here for your enjoyment.
Bits of the History of New Bern Series (1882-1883)
- May 28, 1882 (First Steamboat in New Bern)
- June 4, 1882 (Chester's New Year's Address, 1819)
- June 11, 1882 (Steamboats in New Bern: Norfolk and John Stoney)
- June 18, 1882 (Steamboats in New Bern, continued)
- June 25, 1882 (Fire on the Steamboat Wayne, 1848 )
- July 2, 1882 (Explosion on the Steamboat Wayne, 1853)
- July 9, 1882 (Independence Day, 1821, Celebration)
- July 16, 1882 (More on Steamboats in New Bern)
- July 24, 1882 (More on July 4, 1821, and History of the Baptist Church)
- July 30, 1882 (Stephen Chester)
- August 6, 1882 (Clubfoot and Harlowe Creek Canal)
- August 13, 1882 (Jonathan Price)
- August 20, 1882 (Rambles about Town: Pollock and East Front Streets)
- August 27, 1882 (Rambles about Town: East Front and New Streets)
- September 3, 1882 (Rambles about Town: New Street, The Academy, Johnson Street)
- September 10, 1882 (Rambles about Town, New Street, Change Street, East Front Street, The Cypress Tree)
- September 17, 1882 (Visit of Edward Everett (1859), Tryon Palace, Stanly Family, Davis Family, Revolutionary War in New Bern, Gaston Family)
- September 24, 1882 ("Hunting the Wild Cat" by Alexander Gaston)
- October 1, 1882 (Visit of Edward Everett to New Bern in 1859)
- October 8, 1882 (Rambles about Town: East Front Street to King and Queen Streets)
- October 15, 1882 (Article Omitted from Web: Poem by Stephen Chester on a Comet, plus history of Comets from 1331 to 1819)
- October 22, 1882 (Rambles about Town: Queen Street and Neuse River)
- October 29, 1882 (A Poem by Chester and Proceedings of the Knowing Club, 1819)
- November 5, 1882 (Rambles about Town: The Neuse River)
- November 12 and 19, 1882--none published.
- November 26, 1882 (Rambles about Town: George Street)
- December 3, 1882 (Rambles about Town: Tryon's Palace)
- December 10, 1882 (Rambles about Town: Tryon's Palace, continued)
- December 17, 1882--not published
- December 24, 1882 (Rambles about Town: Tryon's Palace, concluded; George Washington's Visit to New Bern)
- December 31, 1882 (James W. Cook and the CSS Albemarle)
- January 7, 1883 (Rambles about Town: Pollock Street from Queen to Middle)
- February 25, 1883 (About our Mothers)
- No further articles in this series have been located.
New Bern/New Berne History Series (1891)
- Sketches of Masons and Masonry, St. John the Babtist's [sic]Day, Funeral in 1798
- McClures & Gastons, Harlowe Canal, A Free Negro Sells His Father, Olden Times and Present, Masonic Integrity, Yellow Fever
- Yellow Fever in 1788-89, Two Old Notes, Capital B Without Final e in 1792
- Our Sister Town, Is It Kingston, Caswell or Kinston
- How a Scholar, De Graffenried and Historians Spelled It, Cemetery Gate Inscription, D Dropped from Handcock, Mayor Manly and the Mother City
- The Crooms; Stanly-Henry Duel; Dr. Isaac W. Hughes: His Skill, Unselfish Disposition, Public Spirit and Attachment to New Berne.
- Dr. Isaac W. Hughes' Last Days, HIs Son "Coll" in the War, Killed at Gettysburg, Valor of Our Soldiers
- Grandest Ball Ever Held in This City, Part 1
- Grandest Ball Ever Held in This City, Part 2
Historical Reminiscences/Historical Sketches Series (1904-1905)
- December 6, 1904
- December 13, 1904
- December 20, 1904
- December 27, 1904
- January 3, 1905
- January 17, 1905
- January 24, 1905
- No further articles in this series have been located.
Miscellaneous Articles
- New Berne & Beaufort Canal Company, Part 1 (January 13, 1891)
- New Berne & Beaufort Canal Company, Part 2 (January 14, 1891)
- It Is "New-Bern." (February 6, 1896)
