sentences:  It was named for General Samuel Whiteside, an Illinois officer in the War of 1812 and Black Hawk War.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.8%) is water.In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Morrison have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in February 1905 and a record high of was recorded in July 1936.