Charles Whittlesey

Charles Whittlesey (October 4, 1808 - October 18, 1886) was a soldier, geologist, historian, and an investigator of mounds relics of the United States. He is described by Ephraim George Squier and Edwin Hamilton Davis in their book Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley as a "zealous investigator" in the field of "American antiquarian research."

Biography Whittlesey graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1831, and was assigned to the 5th Infantry Regiment. In 1832 he was stationed at Fort Howard, Wisconsin, and after serving in the Black Hawk War, he resigned his commission on September 30 of the same year. After studying law, he followed that profession in Cleveland, Ohio and from 1836 to 1837, was editorially connected with the Cleveland Herald.

In 1837 Whittlesey was appointed assistant geologist of the State of Ohio, under William W. Mather, and given charge of the topographical and mathematical parts of that survey, which disclosed the rich coal and iron deposits of eastern Ohio that are the foundation of its manufacturing industries. At this time, he also carefully examined and measured several of the works of the Mound Builders, and his plans and notes of twenty of these remains were embodied in Edwin Hamilton Davis and E. G. Squier's Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley.

Due to his work describing early North American indigenous people, an archaeological designation, the Whittlesey culture, describing people who lived in Northeast Ohio from A.D. 1000 to 1600, was named in his honor.

Works Whittlesey's bibliography included about 200 titles. In addition to his reports for the geological surveys, he published in the “Smithsonian Contributions”: Historical collections of Ohio : containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc. (1848) Descriptions of Ancient Works in Ohio (Washington, 1851) On Fluctuations of Level in the North American Lakes (1860) Ancient Mining on the Shores of Lake Superior (1863) On the Fresh-Water Glacial Drift in the Northwestern States (1866)

He is also the author of: Life of John Fitch, in Sparks's “American Biography” (Boston, 1845) Early History of Cleveland and Vicinity (Cleveland, 1867)