Almon Case Whitbeck Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1462-1463 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	ALMON CASE WHITBECK, of Chamberlain, is a prominent figure in 
financial circles in the state, being a member of the firm of Case & 
Whitbeck, bankers of Chamberlain and Oacoma, and being individually 
engaged in the banking business at Kimball, this state. He was born in 
Sodus, Wayne county, New York, on the 3d of May, 1864, and is a son of 
Cornelius A. and Mary M. (Case) Whitbeck, whose four living children are 
as follows: Minnie L., the wife of W. G. Wallace, of Albion, Michigan; 
James, paymaster's clerk in the United States navy and now stationed on 
the island of Guam; Anna E., who remains at the parental home; and Almon 
C., the subject of this sketch. The parents were likewise born in Sodus, 
New York, being representatives of sterling pioneer families of that 
state, and there they still maintain their home. The parental 
grandparents were of the old Knickerbocker stock, and were born in 
Columbia county, New York, on the Hudson, where their respective parents 
settled upon coming from Holland. The father of the subject devoted his 
active life to agricultural pursuits and has lived retired for the past 
three years. The maternal grandfather was born in New England and his 
wife was of Holland Dutch extraction. 

	The subject of this sketch was reared on the homestead farm and 
after completing the curriculum of the district schools continued his 
studies in Sodus Academy and in the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, at Lima, 
New York, where he completed a scientific course, being graduated as a 
member of the class of 1882. He then went to Poughkeepsie, New York, and 
was there graduated in the Eastman Business College, after which he 
accepted a position as city editor of the Poughkeepsie Daily News, being 
retained in this capacity until after the consolidation of the paper 
with the Evening Press, under the name of the Daily News-Press. His 
duties in the connection were arduous and exacting, and his health 
became so much impaired that he resigned his position in the autumn of 
1883. After recuperating from a serious illness he came west to Iowa and 
entered the employ of his uncle, Almon G. Case, working in his banking 
houses in Charles City and Nashua. In September, 1884, Mr. Whitbeck came 
to Chamberlain, South Dakota, where he became the first bookkeeper of 
the First National Bank, ill health compelling him to resign the 
position about six weeks later, whereupon he returned to his home in New 
York and passed a year on the home farm, being thus enabled to regain 
his health. In January, 1886, he came to Kimball, South Dakota, and 
secured the position of cashier in the Henry & Case Bank, gradually 
working himself up in the business and eventually purchasing the 
interest of Mr. Henry in the institution, of which he became sole owner 
in 1895, by acquiring the interest of Mr. Case, his uncle. This bank was 
established in 1883 and is still conducted by our subject, its affairs 
being in a most prosperous condition and being conducted under state 
supervision. In June, 1897, Messrs. Case and Whitbeck opened a private 
banking institution in Oacoma, and in August, 1901, became associated in 
the establishing of the Case & Whitbeck Bank in Chamberlain, our subject 
being thus identified with three substantial and popular banking 
institutions in the state and being known as an able and discriminating 
financier, while his course has been such as to ever commend him to 
popular confidence and esteem. In politics Mr. Whitbeck is a staunch 
Democrat, and while never a seeker of public office he served as mayor 
of Kimball, while since taking up his residence in Chamberlain he has 
served as a member of the board of aldermen. He is a member of Castle 
Lodge, No. 10, Knights of Pythias, of which he is chancellor commander. 

	On the 23d of May, 1888, Mr. Whitbeck was married to Miss Emily 
May Pomeroy, of Nashua, Iowa, and they are the parents of two children, 
Clarence A. and Laura M. Mrs. Whitbeck was born at Greenwood, Iowa, 
September 1, 1865, the daughter of George A. and Catharine Pomeroy. She 
affiliates with the Episcopal church, which her husband and children 
also attend.