Catherine McPhee was born on April 8, 1826 in Finch, Eastern District, Upper Ontario, Canada to Hugh McPhee and Mary (Carter) McPhee. She was married to Stephen Whitney sometime in the early 1840s. They had six children: Henry William (b. December 12, 1845), Hugh Angus (b. November 14, 1846), Mary Ann (b. 1849), Matilda (b. 1855), Abraham (b. November 13, 1861), and John (b. September 16, 1864. Stephen was a farmer, and the family resided in Simcoe, Ontario.
Stephen and Catherine Whitney
In November 1874, 52-year-old Stephen was attending an auction at a tavern called Washago House in Washago, Ontario. The “town drunk” assaulted Stephen and several other auction attendees with steel knuckles, and the fight escalated until Stephen (also intoxicated) confronted the man and shot him in the head with a revolver at four paces. By the time constables arrived late that night, Stephen was nowhere to be found. He was never seen again, and Catherine was left to take care of the family. She died on July 20, 1901 in North Orillia Township, Simcoe County, Ontario, at age 75.
