W. H. Whitehouse, one of the representative citizens and worthy
native sons of Mount Olive, has served in the capacity of postmaster
since June, 1902. His birth occurred in Mount Olive on the 22d of July,
1859, his parents being Henry and Amelia (Lehmann) Whitehouse, both of
whom were natives of Germany. They crossed the Atlantic to the United
States in young manhood and young womanhood, locating in Macoupin
county, Illinois, where their marriage was celebrated. Henry Whitehouse
followed general agricultural pursuits as a means of livelihood. In 1864
he took a carload of hogs to St. Louis, Missouri, and while crossing the
river on a ferry boat fell therefrom and was drowned. His wife still
survives him and resides on the old homestead adjoining Mount Olive.
W. H. Whitehouse was reared under the parental roof and obtained his
education in the public schools, also pursuing a course of study in
Greer’s Commercial College of St. Louis. After putting aside his
text-books he secured a position as clerk in a grocery store in St.
Louis. Eight months later he returned to Mount Olive and obtained
employment in the store of Keiser, Niemeyer & Company, remaining with
that concern for about eighteen months. On the expiration of that period
a mine shaft was sunk in Mount Olive and Mr. Whitehouse became one of
the stockholders. After it was opened he took a position at the mine and
a short time later was made clerk. In 1885 the mine was sold to the
Ellsworth Coal Company and Mr. Whitehouse entered the employ of that
concern, being afterward made head clerk over all their properties in
Macoupin county. Some two years later the Ellsworth Company was merged
into the Consolidated Coal Company of St. Louis, with which our subject
remained as chief clerk until 1889, when he severed his connection
therewith. In April, 1890, he embarked in the mercantile business at
Mount Olive as a member of the firm of J. H. Johnson & Company, with
which he was identified until December, 1898, when he disposed of his
interest and accepted the position of deputy sheriff under Sheriff
Fahrenkrog, serving in that capacity until June 15, 1902. On that date
he resigned the position in order to take up his duties as postmaster of
Mount Olive, to which office he had been appointed on the 27th of May,
1902. On the 10th of December, 1906, he received a reappointment and is
therefore still the able incumbent, discharging his responsible duties
in a most faithful and acceptable manner. He likewise owns and
cultivates sixty-five acres of farm land adjoining the corporate limits
of Mount Olive.
Mr. Whitehouse has been married twice. In 1886
he wedded Miss Mathilda Rosenthal, of New Douglas, Illinois, by whom he
had one child, who died in infancy. The wife and mother passed away in
1887 and in 1888 Mr. Whitehouse was again married, his second union
being with Miss Margaret Arkebauer, of Mount Olive, by whom he has four
children, as follows: Mollie, assistant postmistress of Mount Olive;
Theodore, who is employed as a clerk in the postoffice; Alvin; and
William. The children are all at home.
In politics Mr.
Whitehouse is a republican, loyally supporting the men and measures of
that party. He served as justice of the peace for four years and for two
years held the office of township supervisor. His religious faith is
indicated by his membership in the Evangelical Lutheran church. His
friends, and they are many, speak of him in terms of warm praise and
good will and his life record shows that he is well entitled to mention
among the distinctively representative citizens of Macoupin county.
Extracted 18 Oct 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 160-161.
Macoupin County ILGenWeb Copyright
Design by
Templates in Time
This page was last updated
07/01/2022