Clyde’s Corner: Cheaper by the dozen…but what about 2 dozen!

by Clyde Whitaker

As you read this, you may think it’s a case of “Believe It or Not.” Let me assure you, it is a true story—to the best of my research and recollections—about my grandfather, Morgan C. Whitaker, and his two wives named Mollie. (Yes, you read that correctly!)

Morgan was born in Magoffin, Kentucky, in 1876, to George and Susan (Puckett) Whitaker. In 1893, Morgan married Mollie Risner; both were 18 years old at the time they married.

Morgan and Mollie (Risner) Whitaker raised four sons and eight daughters. Sadly, Mollie fell into an icy creek one day and developed pneumonia, which contributed to her death in 1912.

On August 26, 1913, Morgan married another Mollie, Mollie Howard. A year later, my father, James Whitaker, was born, and he was the first of…are you ready for this…four sons and eight daughters that were born of this union.

Yes, if you are keeping up, each of Morgan’s wives gave birth to four sons and 8 daughters, bringing the grand total to eight sons and 16 daughters. That means my grandfather was father to a total of 24!

So I’d understand if you are thinking this could lend itself to an episode of “Believe It or Not”!

Morgan died in 1949 at the age of 73, which was before I was born, so I never knew him. On the other hand, my grandmother Mollie (Howard) Whitaker lived until 1972, so I have many memories of her.

One thing is certain, with all those kids to raise, it is a safe bet that life was hard back in the late 1800s and the first part of the 1900s for both Mollies. And according to my father, although he was not a tall man, my Grandpa Morgan was very strong. Dad enjoyed telling us kids about the time our grandfather was standing with a bunch of men around the storage buildings on a break at the Krummrey Farm. An empty railroad car happened to be sitting on the track beside the buildings. Legend has it that Morgan walked over to the empty car, hooked a chain to the car, wrapped the other end around his waist, and proceeded to pull that car a few feet down the track!

Now whether that last story is true, I can’t be sure. But there is no denying, my grandfather married two Mollies and was the father of 24 children. Believe it or not!

Back row, left, Morgan’s first wife, Mollie (nee Risner) along with Morgan, and Morgan’s mother Susie. These adults are pictured with eight of the first 12 of Morgan’s children, along with a few other family members. Photo provided by Marcy Tracy.

Morgan Whitaker pictured with two of his daughters, Mary (left) and Minnie (right). Photo provided by Marcy Tracy.

Morgan Whitaker pictured in downtown Stockbridge with three of his nieces. Photo provided by Marcy Tracy.

Morgan Whitaker’s pocket watch. Photo credit: Clyde Whitaker

Clyde Whitaker is a 1973 Stockbridge graduate. He and his wife, Mary, raised four children in Stockbridge, and they still reside in the Stockbridge area.