Santa Barbara County Biographies

B. P. WHITNEY

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


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, 
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 took up Government land, built a saw 
and grist mill, and thus started and named the town. and remained until March, 1859, 
when they started for California, driving ox team to Omaha, where they remained until 
May, then via Salt Lake City drove on to lied Bluffs, Tehama County. In January, 1860, 
they went lo 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 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 identified with his 
brother until the death of the latter, in January, 1883. In 1887 he came to Los Alamos, 
first renting shop and later buying 100x100 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. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.