DANIEL R. WHITTAKER

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 343
McDowell County

DANIEL R. WHITTAKER, store manager and purchasing
agent for the Crozer Coal & Coke Company at Elkhorn, Mc-
Dowell County, is one of the efficient and popular executive
employes of this important industrial corporation. He was
born in Giles County, Virginia, on the 4th of March, 1875,
and is a son of George and Matilda (Shimalt) Whittaker,
both natives of Virginia and representatives of families
there established in an early day. George Whittaker has
long held prestige as one of the successful farmers and mer-
chants of Giles County, and is one of the sterling and
influential citizens of his community.

In 1896 Daniel R. Whittaker graduated from the high
school at Giles, Virginia, and within a short time thereafter
he became a clerk in the McQuail general store at Ennis,
McDowell County, West Virginia. Later he was made man-
ager of this store, and in 1913 ha severed this connection
and took the position of manager of the large and well-
equipped general store of the Crozer Coal & Coke Company.
He has given most effective administration in this position,
and the business has been specially successful under his
vigorous and progressive management.

Mr. Whittaker is a democrat, he and his wife are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he is a
Knight Templar Mason, besides being affiliated with the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

September 17, 1898, recorded the marriage of Mr. Whit-
taker and Miss Elizabeth Saumbers, daughter of Alvin and
Lavelett (Miller) Saumbers, natives of Virginia, in which
state the father became a representative farmer near Paris-
burg. Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker have one son, Julian, who
is married and who is now his father's assistant in the store.
Julian Whittaker was a student in the Virginia Military
Institute at Staunton at the time when the nation became
involved in the World war. He entered the Officers' Train-
ing Camp at Camp Lee, Virginia, and had been stationed
there about five months when the armistice brought the war
to a close.