WHITAKER / WHITTAKER BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== WHITAKER, Charles Houston source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 291 residence: Clinton, Henry Co, MO Charles Houston Whitaker, owner and editor of the Clinton daily and weekly "Democrat," was born in Savannah, Missouri, February 22, 1862, his parents being Charles Houston and Mary Elizabeth (Selecman) Whitaker. He pursued his education in the schools of Macomb, Illinois, where he completed the high school course. His boyhood and youth were passed in Macomb and his initial training in newspaper work came to him in the office of his father, who was then owner and publisher of the Macomb "Eagle." Mr. Whitaker has been a resident of Clinton since 1894. He has made the "Democrat" both a mirror and molder of public opinion, utilizing the most progressive methods of modern journalism in the publication of his paper, which in both the daily and weekly editions now has a wide circulation. The name indicates the political complexion of the paper and its editor, who has always been a stalwart advocate of Democratic principles, content, however, to support the party as a private citizen rather than seek the rewards of office in recognition of party fealty. On the seventh of October, 1891, in Galesburg, Illinois, Mr. Whitaker was united in marriage to Miss Ella May Martin, a daughter of T. B: Martin, of Galesburg. They now have three children: Helen Elizabeth, Charles Houston and Marian Frances. Mr. Whitaker belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, being exalted ruler of Clinton Lodge, No. 1034, in the years 1913-14. In private life as well as through his journalistic connections he stands for progressiveness in citizenship and for civic betterment and has made the "Democrat" a power for good along those lines. ==================================================================== WHITAKER, H. C. source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 660 residence: Blairstown, Bogard Twp H. C. Whitaker, the well known cashier of the Farmers Bank of Blairstown, is a native of Missouri. He was born at Weaubleau in Hickory County, October 28, 1889, a son of Rev. John and Emeline (Ernest) Whitaker, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Kentucky. Rev. John Whitaker served in the Union Army during the Civil War and afterwards came to Missouri. He taught a private college at Weaubleau for thirty years. This college was under the direction of the Christian Church. Reverend Whitaker was not only prominent in educational and religious work, but also took a leading part in politics. He represented St. Clair County in the Legislature and represented Hickory County two terms in that body. He was a Republican, and the nominee of that party for Congress from the Seventh District. Notwithstanding that this was a strong Democratic district, Mr. Whitaker lacked but a few votes of being elected. He died in January, 1909, at Weaubleau, and his wife preceded him in death about five years. They were the parents of the following children: O. B., who lives in Hickory County, Missouri, and is now a member of the Missouri State Legislature; Minnie, married Ed Buller and is now deceased; Unie, died in childhood; S. W., cashier of the State Bank of Brownington, Missouri; J. S., lumberman, Walnut Grove, Missouri; Jessie, deceased; Effie, wife of Cyrus Paxton, Strome, Alberta, Canada; and H. C., the subject of this sketch. H. C. Whitaker was reared in Hickory County and educated in the Weaubleau Christian College, where he was graduated in 1906. He then taught school at Weaubleau and Brownington for two years, after which he was engaged in the lumber business in Oklahoma for one year. He was then assistant cashier of the Bank of Brownington until April 15, 1911, when he accepted the cashiership of the Farmers Bank of Blairstown and has served in that capacity to the present time. The Farmers Bank of Blairstown was organized November 20, 1909, with a capital stock of $10,000. Its first officers were: W. W. Johnson, president; W. R. Farnsworth, vice-president; and J. S. Stover, cashier. The present officers are W. W. Johnson, president; C. L. Farnsworth, vice-president, and H. C. Whitaker, cashier. The Farmers Bank is a substantial institution and has had a gradual growth since its organization. Its officers are safe and conservative financiers. To illustrate the increase in business of this bank the deposits of March 7, 1911, were $19,803.14, and on June 28, 1918, the deposits had increased to $90,717.53. Mr. Whitaker was united in marriage March 20, 1912, with Miss Ruby Shepperd, a daughter of D. E. and Susie Fisher Shepperd, of Blairstown, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Shepperd reside at Blairstown, where the father is successfully engaged in the automobile, implement and hardware business. To Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker has been born one son, Valgean. ==================================================================== WHITTAKER, John W. - b: 1845 Greene Co, PA source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 772 residence: Bear Creek Twp John W. Whittaker was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1845, and was the son of John D. and Rebecca (Hammers) Whittaker, also natives of Pennsylvania. The former was a stock trader by calling and was a drover for over forty years. J. W. Whittaker passed his youth attending school and assisting his father in the stock business until his sixteenth year. In 1862 he moved to Illinois and located in Woodford County, where he was engaged in farming for some nine years. Moving thence to Iroquois County in 1871, he was married there September 15, 1874, to Miss Adaline Hicks of Ohio, who was reared and educated in Woodford County, Illinois. She is a daughter of Thomas Hicks. After his marriage Mr. Whittaker resided about eighteen months in Illinois, and in the spring of 1876 came to Missouri and located on the farm where he now resides. He makes a specialty of handling and feeding stock, and is also one of the successful farmers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. W. have three children: Charles A., born July 8, 1875; Willie E., born June 18, 1877, and Madge Myrtle, born December 18, 1881. Mr. Whittaker is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Henry County MOGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~mohenry/henryco.html Contact the Henry County Coordinator for comments or corrections. ====================================================================