Dr. Francis H. Whiton was born in Mansfield, CT on May 16, 1845, the son of Chester and Philama (Brown) Whiton. He attended public schools for his early education and went on to Harvard Medical School and Dartmouth Medical College, graduating from Dartmouth in 1872. After graduation he worked in a private health institution and spent a year working in a New York hospital.

In May of 1870, Dr. Whiton married Mary Elizabeth Loomis, daughter of George M. Loomis of Portsmouth, NH. Mary Whiton's ancestors came to this country in 1636 and were in the Revolutionary War. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

In December of 1873, Dr. Whiton came to Manchester to practice medicine, and was a well-known physician in the north end of town. He was very active in his profession and was a member of both the Connecticut as well as the Hartford County Medical Societies. He was also a member of the American Medical Association.

Dr. Whiton was also active in local and state politics. He represented Manchester in the Connecticut Legislature from 1895 to 1899, and was a long-time trustee of the North End Library.

Upon Dr. Whiton's death in 1922 he left a part of his estate to the town of Manchester for the construction of a library. The building had to be within the limits of the Eighth District. Dr. Whiton's picture (above) is hanging in the Manchester Public Library, Whiton Memorial Branch, 100 North Main Street.

Updated December 16, 2010