In 1870, with some money inherited from English relatives, he was enabled to buy his present home at Mount Vernon. He also married and set to work in earnest to earn a living by his pen. This he succeeded in doing by writing serials and dime novels for Muuro, of the Fireside Companion, Beadle and others. He also contributed a set of papers to the Army and Navy Journal, called " Volunteer Cavalry ; the Lessons of the Decade." These attracted much attention, and in 1874 Mr. Whittaker became the first National Guard editor, and afterwards assistant editor of the Journal. In 1876 he left it for a time and wrote the " Life of General Custer." In the following year he returned to the Journal and also wrote a good deal for the Galaxy magazine. He also l)ublished a novel, " The Cadet Button," about this time. Since then he has been engaged in writing serials for a living, and has also written a play, "Napoleon," intended for Edwin Booth, but never acted. He compiled for this work the chapter on " Civil War" in Westchester County.

Eliza W. Farnham, philanthropist and author, was born at Rensselaerville, November 17, 1815, and died in New York City, December 1-5, 1864 Her maidenname was Burhaus. She went to Illinois in 1885, and was married there in the following year to Thomas J. Farnham. In 1841 she returned to New York, and was employed in visiting prisons and lecturing to women. In the spring of 1844 she accepted appointment as matron of the Female Department of the State Prison, at Sing Sing. In 1848 she was connected with the Institution for the Blind, in Boston, and from 1849 to 1856 resided in California. She returned to New York and published "Calilbrnia, in Doors and Out." She was also the author of several books, and was active iw promoting social reforms and the rights of women.