Whitley was born in
Rochester, New York. He graduated from the law department of
Union College in 1898. He served as a sergeant in the
Spanish–American War. He was a member of the
New York State Assembly (Monroe Co., 2nd D.) in
1906,
1907,
1908,
1909 and
1910. He was a member of the
New York State Senate (45th D.) from 1919 to 1928, sitting in the
142nd,
143rd,
144th,
145th,
146th,
147th,
148th,
149th,
150th and
151st New York State Legislatures. He was elected as a
Republican to the
71st,
72nd and
73rd United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1929, to January 3, 1935. He died on May 17, 1959, in
Rochester, New York. He was buried at
Mount Hope Cemetery. ==References==