WHITMORE, Charley Erwin: 1878-1951

WHITMORE, MURRAY

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 3/23/2014 at 06:49:34

CHARLEY WHITMORE

Charley Erwin Whitmore, son of Hazard A. and Lydia Ann Whitmore, was born June 13, 1878 and departed this life Jan. 12, 1951. He was reared on the old Whitmore farm a little north of Bonaparte, and graduated from the Bonaparte High School, with the class of 1896.

Immediately following his graduation he went to Rockford, Illinois, where to took a course in art at the Rockford Art School. His work as an artist took him to Boise, Idaho, where he married Miss Ethel Leone Murray, Oct. 15, 903. After spending two or three years in the western towns they gravitated to Chicago, and soon to Oak Park, Illinois, which has since been their home.

In about 1916, he formed a partnership with LeRoy Berry, this firm afterwards becoming Whitmore & Berry Company, active real estate brokers in Chicago and suburbs. In about 1923 he retired from the firm to enter into the subdivision business at Camp Lake, Wisconsin, temporarily moving to that place.

While there he became interested in radio work, and built the broadcasting station WCLO, one among the first broadcasting stations in the Chicago area. Later he sold this station to a firm in Janesville, Wisconsin, where it is still in operation.

With the coming of the depression he returned to his art work, and established a studio at 600 Blue Island Ave., Chicago, where he continued his work as a commercial artist till the recent illness which cased his death.

He leaves to mourn his loss, his beloved wife, Ethel, three brothers Gerry E. and Herbert L. of Bonaparte, Bruce A. of Cotopaxi, Colorado, and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held Monday, at 2:00 p.m. in the Bonaparte Methodist Church with the Rev. John S. Ellis officiating. Interment in the Bonaparte Cemetery.

Source: Scrapbook of Unknown Origin, Page 140