The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.
Chicago and New York, Volume II,
pg. 219

Charles O. Whitten is proprietor and active head of the Whitten Paint
Company of Charleston, the only exclusive paint supply house in the
capital city.  This is a prosperous business recently organized but Mr.
Whitten has been in business as a painting contractor, handling the
highest-class work for many years and is one of the most successful men
in his line in the state.

Mr. Whitten was born in Monroe county West Virginia in 1881, son of J.A.
and Margaret (Campbell) Whitten, residents of Hinton West Virginia.  His
father was also a native of Monroe County and represents an old Virginia
family.  The original seat of the Whittens in old Virginia was
Botetcourt County.

Charles O. Whitten acquired his early education in the public schools of
Monroe County and in that county learned his trade as painter and also
at Bluefield West Virginia.  He has been working as a painter at
Charleston at intervals since 1901 and as a journeyman his experience
has covered many states, particularly in the Southwest.

Soon after his return to West Virginia in 1916, Mr. Whitten entered
business on his own account as a painting contractor.  During the war
with Germany he did much Government work, the most important job being
as boss painter on the great naval ordinance and armor plant at South
Charleston.

The Whitten Paint Company of Charleston was organized by Mr. Whitten and
incorporated June 8, 1921, and he is practically the entire owner.  The
establishment is located at 119 Court Street and carries a complete
stock of paints, oils, varnishes, colors, painters' supplies and
painters' specialties.

As the largest painting contractor in Charleston Mr. Whitten has handled
many contracts involving thousands of dollars.  The work of his
organization extends to many other towns and cities of the state.  While
a complete list of his work would be too long, it will suffice to give a
comprehensive idea of the style and class of the contracts he handles by
noting some of the contracts performed by him during 1921.  These
include the residences on Quarrier Street, the Brawley, Doctor Davis,
Hughes, Clyde Swinburn and other modern residences; a number of the
large apartment houses, such as the Barkus apartments, the Cohen
apartments, the Schwabe and May apartments, the Lipske twenty-four
apartment house on Donnaly Street, the Shields apartment house on the
south side, the Soloff Hotel and the store building of the Wagner Candy
Company.  Mr. Whitten is in every way an expert in the painting business
and is a thoroughly able businessman as well.

He married Miss Catherine Selby of Charleston.  They have one son,
Charles O., Jr.  Mr. Whitten is a member of Charleston Lodge No. 153,
A.F. and A.M., a Knight of Pythias and a D.O.K.K.  He is also a member
of the Baptist Church of Charleston.

Submitted by:  burns@asu.edu (Elizabeth Burns)

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