Whalen migrated to St. Joseph, Missouri, about the middle of 1850's. At the age of fifteen he drove a party of gold seekers from the Missouri River to the infant town of Denver, which at that time consisted of only two adobe houses. On his return he went by way of Omaha, Nebraska. He was in St. Joseph on April 3, 1860, when he saw the first rider, whom he said was John Fry, take off for the west. That fall he went out along the trail and got a job, probably as stock tender, at one of the stations on Slade's Division. Later, he went to Salt Lake City where in April 1861, Howard hired him to ride the Pony Express line from Salt Lake to Camp Floyd. After two months service as a rider, the quartermaster at Camp Floyd persuaded him to drive his wife and daughter from Salt lake City to Fort Leavenworth. He then enlisted in the United States Army taking part in the battles of Shiloh, Vicksburg Landing, and Corinth. He marched with Sherman from Atlanta to the Sea. After serving three years and twenty days he was discharged from the army and returned to St. Joseph where he was a grading contractor for many years.
Whalen migrated to St. Joseph, Missouri, about the middle of 1850's. At the age of fifteen he drove a party of gold seekers from the Missouri River to the infant town of Denver, which at that time consisted of only two adobe houses. On his return he went by way of Omaha, Nebraska. He was in St. Joseph on April 3, 1860, when he saw the first rider, whom he said was John Fry, take off for the west. That fall he went out along the trail and got a job, probably as stock tender, at one of the stations on Slade's Division. Later, he went to Salt Lake City where in April 1861, Howard hired him to ride the Pony Express line from Salt Lake to Camp Floyd. After two months service as a rider, the quartermaster at Camp Floyd persuaded him to drive his wife and daughter from Salt lake City to Fort Leavenworth. He then enlisted in the United States Army taking part in the battles of Shiloh, Vicksburg Landing, and Corinth. He marched with Sherman from Atlanta to the Sea. After serving three years and twenty days he was discharged from the army and returned to St. Joseph where he was a grading contractor for many years.
Bio by: Bill Walker
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