Family:Whitney, Alfred M. (1804-1866)

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Major Alfred M.7 Whitney (Samuel6, Asa5, Nathan4, Nathaniel3, Benjamin2, John1), son of Samuel6 and Mary (Rich) Whitney, was born 5 Jun 1804, Brooks, ME, and died 3 May 1866, Chicago, IL.

He "Capt." married, 14 Dec 1825, Jackson, ME, "Miss" Lucinda Ring "both of Brooks",[1] daughter of Iphedeiah and Mary (Piper) Ring. She was born 7 Feb 1804, NH, and died 17 Aug 1870.

He learned the trade of cloth fuller in his father's mill in Brooks, ME. The work not agreeing with him, he was elected sheriff of Somerset County, and was major in the state militia, by which title he was known through life. He was a successful business man and became associated with General Cunningham, of Poughkeepsie, NY, in vast land speculations, of which he was the manager. Their interest included West Virginia and Lowell, MA. Poughkeepsie was the headquarters, and Mr. Whitney moved his family there. There were no railways then and the capitalists invested largely in real estate. The Mansion House in Poughkeepsie was the principal rendezvous. It was a grand hotel then, in 1836, and the scene of much gaiety. Among others with whom Major Whitney was associated were Gen. Walter Cunningham, Judge James Emott, the Van Rennsalers, Millard Fillmore, William H. Seward (who settled in Auburn to manage some of their landed affairs), Hon. Meron R. Strong and other leading lawyers of New York City. Mr. Whitney was a very modest and retiring man and took no pride in any public matter except in Masonry. He was the master of the lodge wherever he resided. He also took pride in his military career. He was married in Newport, ME, and resided in Fairfield, where he had charge of the cloth mill, and remained there until his removal to Poughkeepsie in 1836, where he resided until 1841, when he moved to Brooklyn, NY, then to West Virginia, where he managed large landed interest and some mills, then to Champaign, IL, and finally to Chicago, where he died. He was interred with Masonic honors at Rose Hill. One who knew him intimately says he was one of the ablest business men he ever knew, but too visionary and too modest. He made fortunes for others, but when he made one for himself, as he frequently did, he branched out and got "squeezed." He has owned property in his day, which had he held, would have made his heirs immensely rich. He was a most generous man in all ways; he has helped make the political success of many men, but never took anything himself, except mayor of his city or justice of the peace. He was on the point of becoming county judge of Champaign County, IL, when it was found that he had not gained a residence there. He resided Detroit, ME, and Chicago, IL.

Children of Alfred M.7 and Lucinda (Ring) Whitney:

i. Samuel8 Whitney, b. 12 May 1828; d. 30 Sep 1829.
ii. Henry C. Whitney, b. 23 Feb 1831; m. Sarah A. Snyder.
iii. Mary Frances Whitney, b. 2 Mar 1833; m. 1850, Guyandotte, WV, Marcus Fee; resided San Francisco, CA. She was educated at Felicity seminary in Ohio.
iv. Sarah Jane Whitney, b. 26 Dec 1835; d. 12 Dec 1873; m. 1850, William B. Fowler; resided 114 Throop St., Chicago, IL, s.p. Educated at Felicity seminary. Stepson, Charles W., 216 Fremont St., Chicago, IL.

Census

800 829 Alfred Whitney 46 M - Innkeeper 1000 Me. Lucinda " 46 F - N.H. Henry C. 19 M - None Md. Mary F. " 17 F - " Sarah T. " 14 F - " Anna Shay 57 F - E. Indies Richmond W. Shoemaker 22 M - Schoolteacher Va. James Mathews 33 M - Stage driver Pa. 830 A. Sogney 35 M - Artist Mass. Marietta " 28 F - " Marietta " 5 F - " John Ducey 21 M - Labourer Ireland William W. McComas 23 M - Physician Va. Patience McHenry 45 F - " Illiterate

References

1.^  "Alfred M. [Whitney], Capt., and Miss Lucinda Ring, both of Brooks, m. 14 Dec 1826, by Silas Warren, J.P.," according to Mosher, Elizabeth M.,Vital Records of Jackson, Maine, prior to 1892 (Rockport, ME: Picton Press, 1989).

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