Whitham, William L.

WHITHAM, BREWER, CAMERON

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 4/7/2011 at 17:24:05

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Vol. II, 1912, J.W. Lee, pp210-213.

William L. Whitham is engaged in the real-estate and insurance business at suite No. 4, Hamilton County State Bank building, Webster City, Iowa. He has an exhaustive knowledge of agricultural values and has sold land in all parts of the United States and Mexico. He is known throughout Hamilton county as a reliable and enterprising business man and has built up an extensive patronage in his chosen line of activity. He was born in 1866, at Elk Grove, Lafayette county, Wisconsin. His parents were William Cameron and Fanny (Brewer) Whitham. His father was born in Philadelphia in 1833 and came to Wisconsin when he was still a young man. He was active and prosperous in the livestock business and was also well known as a successful auctioneer, until his death, which occurred in 1904. when he was seventy-one years of age. Mrs. Fanny Whitham died in 1896, when she was fifty-four years of age.

William L. Whitham was educated in the common schools of Wisconsin, where he pursued the usual course of study. He supplemented his education by attending the Northern Illinois Normal School at Dixon, Illinois, from which institution he was graduated in 1891. He commenced his business career as a bookkeeper and general manager in a merchandise business at Lead Mine, Wisconsin, and was successful in this field for four years. In 1895 he moved to Webster City, where for eight years he was engaged as a traveling salesman for a Dubuque and also a Milwaukee boot and shoe house. In 1903 he entered upon an independent commercial career by establishing himself in his present real-estate and insurance business. His success has been continuous and rapid since that time and is founded on his well proven integrity and his upright and honorable principles. He makes a specialty of farm lands in various parts of the United States and is an expert judge of their value. He has sold property in nearly all the agricultural states of America and has even extended his activities into Mexico. He also deals in city property and this part of his business is rapidly becoming important.

In 1893 Mr. Whitham was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Frances Cameron, a daughter of John D. Cameron of Montfort, Wisconsin. They have two children: Matred, born in 1895; and Ruby, whose birth occurred in 1897. Both of Mr. Whitham's children are natives of Webster City.

In his political views Mr. Whitham is republican. He is a prominent Mason, holding membership in Acacia Lodge, No. 176, F. & A. M., of which organization he was master in 1909. He is also connected with Hope Chapter, No. 88, R. A. M., of which he is at present high priest. He belongs to Triune Commandery, No. 41, Knights Templar, and is active in the affairs of the Eastern Star order, of which he was worthy patron in 1911. He holds membership in the Congregational church. The family residence is at No. 826 Walnut street. Webster City. Mr. Whitham is well known as a public-spirited man, interested in every movement looking toward civic development and welfare. He is serving his city as a member of the council and has been active in this public office since 1911. He was a director of the Webster City Commercial League and this affiliation afforded him an adequate field for his municipal ideas. He is one of the substantial and valued citizens of Webster City, where his activities have influenced business development. As a real-estate agent he never takes advantage of his patrons and has built up upon the solid basis of commercial honor and morality an enterprise which in its expansion and development is keeping pace with the civic progress and upbuilding of Webster City.

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