- History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Instutions, Ed. John W. Mason. Vo l I. 1916, Indianapolis, Ind.: B. F. Bowen & Co., Inc. p. 125-127.
Albert G. Whitson
Numbered among those who have stood representative of marked progressiveness and civil loyalty in Fergus Falls and who have contributed a large share to the industrial and civic advancement of the community is Albert Whitson, who is one of the prominent business men in that section of Minnesota in which he lives. In his chosen field of endeavor he has accomplished most valuable results through his earnest and well-directed business policies. A man of recognized ability and judgement, he is regarded as an authority on questions of civil importance, and as a consequence of his admirable traits of character has reached a position of distinction in his chosen field of industry.
Albert G. Whitson was born near Smith Falls, Canada, on April 18, 1867, and is a son of John and Jane (Lawson) Whitson, representatives of an honored family, known in Minnesota for almost fifty years. His father was a farmer and miller by vocation and the family were in modest financial circumstances during the early years of the subject of this sketch. The parents left Canada in 1868 and moved to Granville Mills, Minnesota, where the father engaged in the milling business for ten years. The family then moved to Owatonna, Minnesota, where Mr. Whitson returned to the occupation of farming, until the year 1884. In the spring of that year he came to Otter Tail county and settled in Aastad, six miles from Fergus Falls. Shorty after his arrival in that township John Whitson was made foreman of the waterworks, which was in the course of building at that time.
As a boy Albert Whitson received his educational advantages in the schools of Northfield and Owatonna. The career of the subject of this sketch has been one of various occupations, the first of which was railroading. Later he engaged in farming in Orwdl and the wide experience gained in these two fields proved to be extremely valuable to him later in life. In 1904 he moved to Fergus Falls and engaged in the livery business. Later he was associated with a Mr. Elliot, and took over the control of the ice plant on Stanton avenue. They sold out to John W. Campbell in July, 1912.
The business of Elliott & Whitson was opened in the same year, when they bought out F. H. Gary, dealer in coal, lime, and cement. Since that time the firm of Elliott & Whitson has been doing an unusally successful business. In his chosen field of work, Mr. Whitson has made a large circle of friends, his ability and thorough business methods have won for him a place of distinction.
The marriage of Albert Whitson to Mary Elliott, the daughter of John Elliott, was solemnized on January 9, 1891. They are the parents of the following children: Elsie and Emile, who are teaching school at Western; George and Sidney, who are at home with their parents. In fraternal affairs Mr. Whitson has always taken an active interest. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge and the Modern Woodmen of America. In his political relations he is affiliated with the Republican party.
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1867 - 1953 (86 years)
