Family:Whitney, Ammi Ruhamah (1802-1851)
Ammi Ruhamah Whitney, was born 7 Decemer 1802, Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, and died 14 December 1851 in Falmouth.
He married 23 December 1827,in Cumberland, Cumberland County, Maine, Hannah (Hall). She was born 22 March 1810, Maine, and died 2 August 1869.In 1830, 'Ammi R. Whitney' was enumerated with his family in Cumberland, Cumberland County, Maine.
They moved to Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine in 1833.
In 1850, they were enumerated in Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine.
Probable Relative: Family:Whitney, John (c1797-a1860)
Children of Ammi R. and Hannah (Hall) Whitney:
i. Robert H. Whitney, b. about 1830, probably Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine. ii. Granville Whitney, b. 23 February 1831,Falmouth,Cumberland County, Maine. iii. Ammi Whitney, b. 13 February 1833, Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine. iv. James H. Whitney, b. 1 January 1835, Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine. v. Ervin T. Whitney, b. 10 February 1837, Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine. vi. Susan Whitney, b. 8 January 1838, Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine. vii. Gorham R. Whitney, b. 26 September 1840, Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine. viii. Mary E. Whitney, b. 13 September 1832, Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine.
References
Biography of Ammi Whitney (Jr.)
Biography Ammi Whitney Biographical Review Cumberland County, Maine Boston Biographical Review Publishing Company 1896 Page 331-332
Ammi Whitney, senior member of the firm of Kendall & Whitney, one of the oldest
and best-known firms of Portland, was born in Cumberland, Me., February 13,
18J3, son of Ammi R. and Hannah (Hall) Whitney. Ammi R. Whitney also was a
native of Cumberland, where he likewise grew to maturity. He moved to Falmouth
in 1833, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits up to the time of his
death, December 14, 1851. His wife, who was a daughter of Robert Hall, one of
the early farmers of Cumberland, died August 2, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney were
members of the Baptist church. They reared the following children: Robert H., a
farmer now living on the homestead at Falmouth, formerly a member of the well-
known firm Grenville, Griswold, Whitney & Co. of Boston, now Whitney & Clough;
Ammi, whose name heads this article; James H., a farmer in Falmouth; Ervin T.,
in business at the Suffolk Market, Boston; Susan P. Curtis (deceased), who was
the wife of Gorham R., a farmer in Falmouth; and Mary E., wife of K. Watts, of
Falmouth.
Ammi Whitney was an infant of six weeks when his parents removed to Falmouth. He remained on the farm until twenty years of age, in the mean time acquiring a fair education in the common schools of the town. He then went to Boston and entered the employ of the old firm of Parker & White, dealers in seeds and other agricultural goods. He spent nearly six years in this employment, returning to Portland in 1858, and forming a partnership with Hosea Kendall in the same kind of business. The firm bought the remains of the old agricultural warehouse of James E. Robinson, which had been in the receiver's hands, and first opened a place of business under the old City Hall, occupying two stores. Their trade increased to such an extent that within a short time they were using all the space under the City Hall, comprising five stores. In 1888 Mr. Whitney erected a brick block at the corner of Temple and Federal Street, one hundred and thirty- seven feet by one hundred, and three stories high. Of this block the firm now uses a part of the ground floor, measuring seventy-five feet by one hundred, and all the rooms above. Established in 1858, the firm of Kendall & Whitney is one of the oldest and most reliable in Portland, and has the most extensive business of the kind east of Boston. For the past twenty-five years Mr. Whitney has also owned and operated a large plant for the manufacture of tubs and woodenware at "Duck Pond," Westbrook, which gives constant employment to fifty men. He is a Director of the Casco Bank, one of the most solid financial institutions of Portland; a Trustee of the Old Men's Home; Vice-President of the Governing Board of the Eye and Ear Infirmary, in which he has been actively interested since its establishment; and an extensive owner of real estate, both business and residential. Essentially a self-made man, he has attained prosperity by the exercise of natural business talent, a conservative judgment, and a scrupulous probity in business as well as in all other relations.
On October 10, 1860, Mr. Whitney was united in marriage with Emily S., daughter of Samuel Haskell, one of the leading hotel men of early Portland. Mr. Haskell was the proprietor of the Elm House, which formerly stood on the site of the present store of Kendall & Whitney, and in which Mrs. Whitney was born. He was afterward host of the American House. Toward the close of his life he retired from business, and died at Cape Elizabeth. Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Whitney. They were: Alice P.; Kate D.; Samuel H., now in business with his father; Joseph W; and Emma H., who died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Whitney favors the Democratic party. He attends the Unitarian church. His home, one of the handsomest residences in the city, built by him in 1878, is situated at the corner of Neal and Spring Streets. - Source: http://www.raynorshyn.com/megenweb/cumberland/biographies/whitney2.txt
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