Cumberland County, Maine - Ammi Whitney
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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.