Frederick C. Whitehouse, born on March 18, 1870, in Boone, Iowa, was a prominent real estate and loan businessman in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Raised in Cherokee, Iowa, Whitehouse began his career in the loan and abstract business and served as deputy auditor of O’Brien County before becoming the cashier of the Primghar State Bank. After relocating to Sioux Falls in 1896, he co-founded the firm F. C. Whitehouse & Company, which played a significant role in developing eastern South Dakota. A dedicated community leader, Whitehouse was active in various fraternal organizations and politically aligned with the Republican Party. He married Abigail C. Blake in 1889, and they had three children: R. Harold, Leland B., and Marie A.
Frederick C. Whitehouse was born in the town of Boone, Iowa, on the 18th of March, 1870, being the eldest son of Julius F. and Elizabeth (Duckworth) Whitehouse, the former of whom was born in Maine and the latter in Iowa. The ancestry in the agnatic line is traced back to English and Holland derivation, while the maternal ancestry was of Scottish extraction. Isaac and Mary C. Whitehouse, the paternal grandparents of the subject, removed from the old Pine Tree state to Iowa in 1867, locating in Boone County, where Mr. Whitehouse continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1870, when he removed with his family to Cherokee County, where he and three of his sons took up homestead claims of government land, enduring the hardships and encountering the vicissitudes which ever are the portion of the pioneer, but ultimately meeting with a due measure of success. About 1880 the father of the subject disposed of his farm, which had greatly appreciated in value under his manipulations and through the rapid settling of the country, and removed to the town of Cherokee, where he engaged in the work of his trade as a carpenter and builder, which he has since followed. He and his wife are now residents of Primghar, O’Brien County, Iowa. The maternal grandfather of our subject was one of the earliest settlers in Boone County, Iowa, where he became a prosperous and influential farmer and there both he and his wife passed the closing years of their lives, honored by all who knew them.
Frederick C. Whitehouse, the immediate subject of this sketch, received his early educational discipline in the public schools of Cherokee, Iowa, where he completed a course of study in the high school. At the age of eighteen years, he engaged in the loan and abstract business in Primghar, Iowa, and simultaneously held the office of deputy auditor of O’Brien County. After being thus engaged for one year, he was tendered the responsible office of cashier of the Primghar State Bank, of which position he continued incumbent for three years, when his impaired health led him to resign and he thereupon established himself in the land, loan, and abstract business in the same town, continuing the enterprise most successfully until December 1, 1896, when he disposed of his interests there and came to Sioux Falls, where he has ever since maintained his home and where he has attained a position of prominence as a citizen and business man. From a copy of the O’Brien County Bell, bearing the date of November 26, 1896, we quote the following words as indicating the estimate placed upon the subject in the town where he was formerly engaged in business: “During his residence in Primghar, Mr. Whitehouse has won for himself the reputation of dealing honorably and fairly with those who have had business transactions with him, and has always been identified with whatever he considered for the best interests of the town and good of the community, and as an indication of the esteem in which he is held we may point to the fact that our citizens for three successive terms elected him mayor of our city, which office he filled acceptably to the citizens and creditably to himself. This, together with the further fact that he has held several other positions of trust, among which are the deputy auditorship of O’Brien County and the cashiership of the Primghar State Bank, prompts us to say that with the departure of Mr. Whitehouse, Primghar loses one of its best citizens; and it is safe to say that none will be missed more, by a large circle of friends, than Mrs. Whitehouse, who accompanies her husband in a few days to their future home.”
Upon coming to Sioux Falls, Mr. Whitehouse at once established himself in the real estate and loan business, as a member of the firm of Scott, Whitehouse & Company, under which title operations were continued until 1893, when the present firm of F. C. Whitehouse & Company was formed, the junior member being John M. Zeller. The firm has operated extensively in lands in eastern South Dakota and has been the means of bringing hundreds of eastern people to this section, the greater portion of the number still occupying the homes purchased from the firm and being contented, prosperous, and happy. Mr. Whitehouse is also secretary and treasurer of the Minnehaha Land and Investment Company, of Sioux Falls, the same being capitalized for fifty thousand dollars, and he is recognized as one of the loyal citizens and progressive young business men of the state. In politics, he gives his support to the Republican party, and fraternally is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Ancient Order of United Workmen.
On Christmas day of the year 1889 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Whitehouse to Miss Abigail C. Blake, who was born in Shell Rock, Iowa, being a daughter of George G. and Mary E. Blake. Mr. and Mrs. Whitehouse have three children, R. Harold, Leland B., and Marie A.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.