H0069
The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.Sterling Wilfong Whitener
Born at Hickory in 1894 and died at Winston-Salem in 1950.
born 14 Aug 1894 at Hickory, Burke died 8 Sep 1950 at Winston-Salem, Forsyth
Life story
Sterling Wilfong Whitener married Marie A. Hegnauer, the youngest daughter of Christian Hegnauer and Anna Wirz of Pleasant Gap Township, at Butler, Bates County, Missouri, on 12 June 1919.1 He was, or became, a minister, and he and Marie went out to China as missionaries. Early in 1927 the family was "driven out by the hostilities in China", and at the end of March "Rev. Whitner and family" were staying with Marie's parents at Rockville.2
He died at Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on 8 September 1950.3
What we know
Proven
- Marriage to Marie A. Hegnauer at Butler, 1919
- Occupation at China, 1927
- Death at Winston-Salem, 1950
- one home, from the census and other records
What's still open
- Identity. The Sterling W. Whitener who married Marie A.
- Ministry. His church, training, ordination and mission board are not known.
Sources
Source 1
1 Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1919
"Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800–1991," database, FamilySearch, Marie A Hegnauer and Sterling W Whitener, 12 June 1919, Butler, Bates County, Missouri. FamilySearch record QKZ7-FDK7 (index entry; the record has not been read).
In the archive: O03168
Source 2
2 Appleton City Journal, 1927
"Rockville Department," Appleton City Journal (Appleton City, Missouri), 31 March 1927, p. 6: "Rev. Whitner and family have returned from China where they were missionaries, and are at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Hegnauer. They were driven out by the hostilities in China."; image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/863945723).
Source 3
3 North Carolina, U.S., Death Certificates, 1950
"North Carolina, U.S., Death Certificates, 1909–1976," database with images, Ancestry.com, Sterling Wilfong Whitener, died 8 September 1950, Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina; citing North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina Death Certificates (index entry attached to the family tree for his name and death; the certificate has not been read by this study).
More sources are in the evidence below.
Life in time
12 Jun 1919
Marriage, with Marie A. Hegnauer , Butler, Bates, Missouri, United States
How we know
Bates County marriage record of Marie A. Hegnauer and Sterling W. Whitener (FamilySearch index; the record itself has not been read).
FamilySearch's index of the Bates County marriage records gives the marriage of Marie A. Hegnauer and Sterling W. Whitener at Butler on 12 Jun 1919. In 1927 the Rockville column reported "Rev. Whitner and family" staying at "the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Hegnauer".
before Mar 1927
Occupation , China
How we know
Minister ("Rev.") and missionary in China, with his wife, until early 1927, when the family was "driven out by the hostilities in China".
The Rockville column of 31 Mar 1927 reports that "Rev. Whitner and family have returned from China where they were missionaries" and are staying with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Hegnauer. The mission, the denomination and the station are not named.
Mar 1927
Residence , Rockville, Bates, Missouri, United States
How we know
Staying with his wife and family at the home of her parents in Rockville, after leaving China.
The same newspaper item.
8 Sep 1950
Death , Winston-Salem, Forsyth, North Carolina, United States
How we know
The North Carolina death certificate of Sterling Wilfong Whitener, attached to the family tree, is indexed with his death on 8 Sep 1950 at Winston-Salem. The certificate has not been read by this study, and the identification rests on the unusual full name, which matches the Sterling W. Whitener of the 1919 marriage. Probable.
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1919 Marriage, with Marie A. Hegnauer
Bates County marriage record of Marie A. Hegnauer and Sterling W. Whitener (FamilySearch index; the record itself has not been read).
FamilySearch's index of the Bates County marriage records gives the marriage of Marie A. Hegnauer and Sterling W. Whitener at Butler on 12 Jun 1919. In 1927 the Rockville column reported "Rev. Whitner and family" staying at "the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Hegnauer".
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1921 Son born: Sterling Hegnauer Whitener
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1923 Son born: Donald Leonard Whitener
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1927 Occupation
Minister ("Rev.") and missionary in China, with his wife, until early 1927, when the family was "driven out by the hostilities in China".
The Rockville column of 31 Mar 1927 reports that "Rev. Whitner and family have returned from China where they were missionaries" and are staying with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Hegnauer. The mission, the denomination and the station are not named.
Source 2
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1927 Residence
Staying with his wife and family at the home of her parents in Rockville, after leaving China.
The same newspaper item.
Source 2
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1950 Death
The North Carolina death certificate of Sterling Wilfong Whitener, attached to the family tree, is indexed with his death on 8 Sep 1950 at Winston-Salem. The certificate has not been read by this study, and the identification rests on the unusual full name, which matches the Sterling W. Whitener of the 1919 marriage. Probable.
Source 3
- proven
- family event
Hover or drag along the line, or select a point and use the arrow keys.
Places in this life
4 places, in order- 1 Butler, Bates County Marriage 12 Jun 1919
- 2 China Occupation before Mar 1927
- 3 Rockville, Bates County Residence Mar 1927
- 4 Winston-Salem, Forsyth County Death 8 Sep 1950
Hollow markers are placed approximately, at the town, county or region.
Family
Records
Search the archive →Newspapers
- 31 Mar 1927 confirmed Social item “(Rev.) Whitner”, mentioned Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06121
Also cited as evidence: 1 record filed under relatives
The evidence 4 facts with their grades, 3 sources, and the research notes
Facts
| Fact | Date | Place | Grade | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage with Marie A. Hegnauer | 12 Jun 1919 | Butler, Bates, Missouri, United States | proven | 1 , 2 |
| Occupation | before Mar 1927 | China | proven | 2 |
| Residence | Mar 1927 | Rockville, Bates, Missouri, United States | proven | 2 |
| Death | 8 Sep 1950 | Winston-Salem, Forsyth, North Carolina, United States | proven | 3 |
Research notes
- Identity: The Sterling W. Whitener who married Marie A. Hegnauer in 1919 is the "Rev. Whitner" whose wife's parents were Mr. and Mrs. Chris Hegnauer (1927).1, 2 The North Carolina death certificate of Sterling Wilfong Whitener (1950) is attached to him in the family tree; the full name matches, but the certificate has not been read here, so the link is probable, not proven.3 Facts come from the Ancestry tree's attached records and FamilySearch's indexes; no image has been read.
- Birth (unproven): The family tree gives 14 Aug 1894 at "Hickory, Burke, North Carolina", without a source; it probably comes from his death certificate. Hickory lies mostly in Catawba County. Not recorded as a fact until the certificate is read.
- Parents (unproven): The family tree names "Danied W." [probably Daniel W.] Whitener and Alice Kineard, again probably from the death certificate.
- Ministry: His church, training, ordination and mission board are not known. The 1927 item says only that the family were missionaries in China.2 The family tree's death date for Marie, 1947 in China, if right, would mean that they went back after 1927. Mission-board records and the missionary press (for example the annual directories of Protestant missionaries in China) should name him.
- Children: The family tree gives two sons, born in the early 1920s. No record of either has been found, so both are treated as living, with private profiles, and are not named here.
- This profile is part of the Hegnauer one-name study.
Sources
- 1
"Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800–1991," database, FamilySearch, Marie A Hegnauer and Sterling W Whitener, 12 June 1919, Butler, Bates County, Missouri. FamilySearch record QKZ7-FDK7 (index entry; the record has not been read).
In the archive: O03168
- 2
"Rockville Department," Appleton City Journal (Appleton City, Missouri), 31 March 1927, p. 6: "Rev. Whitner and family have returned from China where they were missionaries, and are at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Hegnauer. They were driven out by the hostilities in China."; image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/863945723).
- 3
"North Carolina, U.S., Death Certificates, 1909–1976," database with images, Ancestry.com, Sterling Wilfong Whitener, died 8 September 1950, Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina; citing North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina Death Certificates (index entry attached to the family tree for his name and death; the certificate has not been read by this study).