James G. Whitney, President of the Whitney Bank and Whitney Loan and Trust Co., was born near Whitneyville, Cass county, Iowa, January 20, 1864, and afterwards lived in Lewis and then came with his parents to Atlantic in 1869. When fourteen years of age he was taken into the Bank of Atlantic by his father and he has been behind bank counters in responsible positions ever since, or more than thirty-three years. He was his father's business confidant, and from him learned the banking business in all its ramifications. He was appointed by the creditors of the Bank of Atlantic to adjust his affairs and he discharged his obligations so well that every dollar of the indebtedness, with 30 per cent of the accrued interest, was paid. He finds his chief pleasure in his home and is a member of but one lodge, the Elks. No man in any business stands higher in the public esteem than he and his personality is best described by the statement that it will be "Jimmy" to the end of the chapter. He is public-spirited and an ardent lover of the town and the county his father did so much to develop, as well as of his fellowmen.

Mr. Whitney and his brother, T. H., together direct the destinies of the Whitney Bank and Whitney Loan and Trust Co. and are premier boosters for the city and county.