Whiting, Charles I.

WHITING, GIDDINGS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/13/2007 at 23:50:44

Charles I. Whiting, Cashier of the Mapleton Bank, and one of the leading citizens of that prosperous village, was born at Huntsville, Ala., December 6, 1855, and is the son of Newell A. and Eliza Whiting, a sketch of whom is given elsewhere in the pages of this Album. He came to Monona County with is parents in the spring of 1858, and grew to manhood in the then little village of Onawa, receiving his education in its graded schools. He also was in attendance at Bayliss’s Business College at Dubuque and Des Moines, and assisted his father in the latter’s store at Onawa until the fall of 1877, when he removed to Mapleton, and in company with his uncle, Baxter Whiting, engaged in the hardware business under the firm name and style of Whiting & Co. This was one of the pioneer mercantile establishments of the place, and was operated by them until March, 1881, when they disposed of it to James Garrison, by whom it is still carried on. The Mapleton Bank, which was organized September 1, 1878, by Baxter Whiting, W.H. Bliss and Charles I. Whiting, demanding his entire attention, our subject, in March, 1881, assumed the position of Cashier, which he has held ever since. The bank had originated in their hardware establishment, occupying one corner of their store room, but on their selling out to Mr. Garrison it was removed to its present handsome quarters. A close attention to the business needs of the community, and a courteous and affable manner toward all with whom he comes in contact, have won Mr. Whiting a warm place in the hearts of almost the entire community, and he is one of the most popular business men of that section of the county. Nowithstanding his business cares, which have ever given him ample employment, he still takes time for reading, thought and study, and keeps himself thoroughly well-posted upon matters of general interest. He is a young man who labors not for himself alone but may always be found aiding the enterprises calculated to advance the interests of the community in which he has cast his lot. He has taken charge of the Mapleton Park, under the direction of the village board, and has made it what it is, a place of beauty and the pride of the people. He has served in the city government, both on the village board and as Recorder, with considerable ability and credit to himself, and is ever foremost in all public enterprises.
Mr. Whiting was united in marriage, September 25, 1879, with Miss Flora E. Giddings, a native of Luzerne County, Pa., who was born March 8, 1860, and is the daughter of James D. and Mary Giddings. Her father was for years a merchant at Onawa, but is now a resident of Mapleton. Of this marriage there have been born two children – Mary E., July 19, 1880 and Flora S., June 25, 1883.
During the summer of 1889 Mr. Whiting completed at Mapleton one of the finest residence in the county, at a cost of over $10.000, including grounds, which is a model of modern architecture and convenience. Heated by furnace, lit by gas, with hot and cold water, bath rooms, electric bells etc., it leaves little to be desired as a place of residence. A view of this, the finest dwelling house in Monona County, may be found on another page in this volume.
Socially Mr. Whiting is a member of Quarry Lodge, No. 404, A. F. & A. M., at Mapleton, and of Maple Valley Lodge, No. 399, I. O. O. F. His wife is a member of the Episcopal Church.

Source: History of Monona County, Iowa 1890
Chicago National Pub. Co.
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The Whiting Family
The Whiting family name has been prominent in the agricultural and commercial development of Monona County since 1855 when brothers Charles E., and Newell A. Whiting invested in farm lands in the Whiting vicinity. Concluding the wagon making business near Huntsville, Alabama, the families in 1857 established residence locally. Charles E. developed the Whiting Settlement engaging in farming while Newell A. pioneered a hardware business in Onawa.

Newell A and Eliza Whiting were the parents of Charles I and Eva (Whiting) Pike. Charles I Whiting, after attending business school in Des Moines set out to expand the family business into new areas. Impressed with the potential of the New Mapleton community, he with his uncle Baxter in the fall of 1877 built a two story building in Mapleton to house the hardware establishing of Whiting & Company, and later that of the Mapleton Bank. Charles I. Whiting continued as president of the Bank for the remainder of his lifetime.

In 1879 Charles I, married Flora E. Giddings, daughter of James D. and Mary Giddings of Onawa. To this union were born, Mary, Flora and Charles G. Whiting. Following his graduation from the University of Iowa Law School Charles G. married Agnes Hester, daughter of the Wm. Hesters of DesMoines, and became associated with his father in the Mapleton Bank. Born to Charles G. and Agnes were Flora (Whiting) Baker and James G. Following a period of service with the Army Air Corps James G. Whiting with his bride Jean Stewart (Wilson) purchased a home in Mapleton where James gained employment with the Mapleton Bank.

James and Jean raised three children, Sue Hoyt, James Thomas and Craig William. Charles R md Sue Ragan and live with their daughters Lisa Merideth and Laura Jean in Elk River, Minnesota. Craig is married to Julie (Ponath) residing with their daughter Elizabeth in Lakeshore Village, Minnesota. James T. and his wife Diane (Peld) and the two boys, Christopher Rodney and Spencer Charles maintain their home in Hudson, Wisconsin.

Charles G. Whiting continues his duties as Chairman of the Board of the Mapleton Trust & Savings Bank, James G. of Mapleton and Lakeshore Village, Minn. Continues as President of the institution. Craig W. is a vice president of the Nisswa State Bank of Nisswa, Minn. And James T. is an officer with the Minnesota Federal Savings and Loan Assn. of the Twin Cities, Minnesota.

Submitted by James G. Whiting
Source: History of Monona County, Iowa 1982
Taylor Pub. Co.
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