History and Biographical Record of Lenawee County Michigan, Page 128
William B. Whitnah was born in Martinsburg, Berkley county, Va., February 8, 1789, where he resided until about the year 1819, when he moved to Groveland, Livingston county, N.Y., and purchased a farm. He resided in Groveland until 1832, where he was a thrifty, respected farmer. At that time Michigan was being talked of as a prospective greate State, and, having four sons, he decided to emigrate, with the idea of purchasing the cheap lands that were then to be had. He came to Lenawaee county and purchased 240 acres of land on section 23, in Tecumseh, where he ever after lived. He purchased the land of Powell Champlin, who located it from the government. Mr. Whitnah build a frame house and afterwards put up a brick one. He greatly improved the farm, and soon became one of the responsible, reliable and respected citizens of the township. He died August 4, 1861.
He married Mary Ward, daughter of Thomas Ward, of Groveland, Livingston county, N.Y., by whom he had three children, as follows: Thomas Ward was a soldier in the Mexican war, and died of sickness at Orazaha, Mexico, in 1846, aged twenty-five years; Henry, now a resident of New York city; Elizabeth, born in Groveland, N.Y., January 6, 1826, now owns her father's homestead in Tecumseh, where she resides.
Mr. Whitnah was married before he left Virginia, and had two sons, Andrew J. and Joseph, both of whom reside at Canton, Fulton county, Ill. Mrs. Mary (Ward) Whitnah was born in Harolsburgh, Pa., in 1788, and moved with her parents to Groveland, Livingston county, N.Y., where she was married. She died in Tecumseh, February 2, 1863. Her parents were well-to-do farmers in Livingston county, and raised quite a family, all of whom are now dead.