Samuel is the son of Alonzo Wells Newcombe Whitney and Henrietta Keys. Married Fannie Mariah Wall on 18 Oct. 1863. Married Pauline Ann Campbell Aug. 8, 1878. His father died in the city of Nauvoo and his mother later married Bishop Newell K. Whitney, who brought the family to Utah in 1847. As a small boy Samuel learned to speak the Indian language. When he was 14 years old he lost his left arm in a threshing machine accident. The Indians named him "Burrowit" which means 'One Arm Gone'. In 1862 Samuel moved to Cache Valley where he was called to herd the church cattle. Here he made many friendly contacts with the Indians whom he learned to trust.
He carried the first mail between Cache Valley and Brigham City. Due to the restlessness of the Indians orders were given that no man was to go, but the authorities allowed Mr. Whitney to travel wherever he wanted to go, because they knew the Indians loved and trusted him.
At one time Chief Washakie came to Logan to confer with Bishop Whitney. The government interpreter was called to talk with the great chief. After a few moments of conversation, Washakie asked for Burrowit to come to Logan. The chief said he would wait for him to come because he could not understand the interpreter. He sat down and waited for Mr. Whitney to come.
Chief John, a Mormon convert from the Sioux tribe, visited at the Whitney home on many occasions. He, like many of his tribe, was a firm believer in prayer and had implicit faith that God could heal the sick. Mr. Whitney had the misfortune to have his right leg amputated when he was 50 years old. During his severe illness, Old Chief John spent hours in the Whitney home, attending to his friend and continually offering a prayer to God that "Burrowit" would live.