Archive:Benjamin Piper Whitney (1834-1900)
Archives > Archive:Biographies > Benjamin Piper Whitney (1834-1900)
Yda Addis Storke A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California (1891).
B. P. Whitney was born in Corinth, Maine on October 7, 1834. His father was a farmer, also kept a small shoe store. From thirteen years of age subject lived with his brother [Albion Paris], who had large milling interests, and he worked in the shingle mills in summer and in the blacksmith shop in winter. In 1852 they went to Canada, and then to Minneapolis, Minnesota, always in milling interests and continuing blacksmithing. In 1856 they moved to what is now Kingston, Minnesota. His brother [A.P.] took up Government land, build and saw and grist mill, and thus started and named the town, and remained until March, 1859, when they started for California, driving an ox team to Omaha, where they remained until May, then via Salt Lake City drove on to Red Bluffs [sic] Tehama County. In January, 1860, they went to Table Rock, Sierra County, remaining until October, 1862, working in the mines. They then went to Petaluma, and except one year at Virginia City remained until 1868, carrying on a blacksmith shop. He then went to Eel River, Mendocino County, and acted as superintendent of his brother's stock ranch, and also interested in blacksmith shop, remaining until 1882, when he went to Point Reyes, Mendocino County, and there worked at his trade for five years. Mr. Whitney's interests were identfied with his brother until the death of the latter, in January, 1883 [sic, Feb. 1884]. In 1887 he came to Los Alamos, first renting [a] shop and later buying 100 x 100 feet, and establishing his present situation.
He was first married in Petaluma, on April 13, 1865; and formed his second matrimonial relation, at Potter Valley, Mendocino County, in October, 1877, by marrying Mrs. Martha Long. He has four children living, but all by his first wife.
Benjamin P.8 Whitney (William7, Samuel6, Abner5, John4, Isaiah3, Thomas2, John1)
