Chilton C. Whistler Biography


	This biography appears on pages 732-733 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				CHILTON C. WHISTLER. 

	Chilton C. Whistler, proprietor of the C. C. Whistler meat market 
and one of the enterprising business men of Watertown, was born in 
Morrow county, Ohio, January 21, 1852, his parents being Joseph C. and 
Sarah E. (Craven) Whistler, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the 
latter of Virginia. They were married in Knox county, Ohio, whither 
they had removed with their parents, and later they became residents of 
Morrow county, that state. About 1859 they settled in Sparta, 
Wisconsin, where the father passed away. He was a live-stock dealer, a 
farmer and miller and was successful in his various business 
undertakings, but death called him when he was still in the prime of 
life, being but in his fiftieth year. 

	Chilton C. Whistler was reared at home and acquired a public-
school education. In early life he learned the butcher,s trade and in 
1874, when twenty-two years of age, he made his first independent 
business venture by opening a meat market in Kankakee, Illinois. Two 
years later he transferred his business operations to Sparta, 
Wisconsin, but in 1879 he came to Watertown, South Dakota. He was 
associated in business with O. D. Stevens when in Sparta and Mr. 
Whistler came to Watertown to assume the management of a branch market, 
operations being carried on at the same time in Sparta, both 
establishments being conducted under the firm style of Stevens & 
Whistler. The new enterprise prospered under the capable direction and 
management of the partner in charge, and in the spring of 1887 Mr. 
Whistler purchased the interest of Mr. Stevens and admitted to 
partnership his brother, O. N. Whistler. For twenty years the business 
was then carried on under the firm name of Whistler Brothers, but in 
the spring of 1908 C. C. Whistler purchased his brother's interest in 
the business, which he has since carried on independently. In 1902 the 
firm of Whistler Brothers erected the Whistler block, a modern business 
and office structure, which C. C. Whistler now owns. 

	On the 17th of March, 1880, occurred the marriage of Mr. Whistler 
and Miss Jennie E. Andrews, of Sparta, Wisconsin. To them have been 
born four children: Fred C., who is now a partner in his father,s 
business; Ella E., the wife of O. M. Pease, of Watertown; Jessie, who 
married J. A. Wigaard, of Lemmon, South Dakota; and Alice, the wife of 
G. H. Kile, of Pipestone, Minnesota. 

	Mr. Whistler is a republican in politics, was the first town 
treasurer, and also the first city treasurer of Watertown after its 
incorporation, serving for seven years in the two offices. He has also 
been a member of the city council for two years and he exercises his 
official prerogatives in support of many progressive public movements 
for the benefit and upbuilding of the city and for the advancement of 
those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. He 
has membership in Watertown Lodge, No. 838, B. P. O. E.; in Watertown 
Lodge, No. 24, I. O. O. F.; in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and 
in the Watertown Commercial Club. In the years which have come and gone 
since his arrival in this city his record has been most creditable, 
contributing to the commercial development and public progress of the 
city, and at the same time he has carefully controlled his business 
affairs so as to win a comfortable and well deserved competence.